Welcome Valley Reader
2 John 1
The elder unto the elect
lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all
they that have known the truth;
Background Information
The book of 2 John is what we
call an epistle. An epistle is a letter. The epistles of the New Testament are
letters written by Christian leaders to churches and individuals. The thing that
makes these letters unique is that God directed the writers so that what they
wrote was exactly what He wanted said. In other words, while we think of them as
letters from men like Paul and John, they are ultimately letters from God.
The John who is believed to
have written 2 John (as well as the Gospel of John, 1 John, 3 John, and
Revelation) was one of Jesus’ original twelve disciples or apostles.
The term elder was
commonly used of church leaders in the New Testament. While it can denote an
older person who would have been a natural leader, it also refers to those who
held the office that we would call pastor today. Unlike many modern
churches, the churches of the New Testament period seem to have had multiple
pastors. There may have also been a wider use of the term elder, as the
Jews of the New Testament era called their religious-political leaders elders
too.
Related Scriptures
Matthew 10:2
Acts 14:21-23 (Here the
apostles who had started churches appointed elders to lead
those churches.)
Acts 15:22-31
1 Timothy 5:17-19
1 Peter 5:1-5 (An example of
another apostle, Peter, who calls himself an elder,
followed by an example where elder
also refers to older men.)
Questions:
Matthew 24:31
Luke 18:7
Romans 8:33
Colossians 3:12-13
1 Peter 1:1-2
The lady to whom this letter
is addressed is described as “elect”. Elect in the Bible refers to those
who are chosen or favorites. While Christians argue over whether God
individually chooses some people to be saved or not, we must all recognize that
He has chosen to save all who trust Jesus as Savior. We must also realize that
salvation gives us a special place in relation to God.
Mark 15:39-41
Acts 1:13-14
Acts 9:1-2
Acts 9:36-42
Acts 12:11-16
Acts 21:8-9
Romans 16:1-4
Philippians 4:3
1 Timothy 5:1-4
This letter is addressed to
a lady. One of the issues that Christians fail to deal with well is the role
that women have in the church. While the Bible in 1 Timothy 2:11-12 and 1 Corinthians 14:34-35
clearly shows that men are to be the speakers and leaders in the formal church
meeting, we have to recognize that women have been among Jesus’ followers and
those who served Him from the very beginning. While we should all strive to
obey those teachings about authority and proper conduct in the church service,
it is important that we realize that women are as important in the eyes of God
as are men. Even though men are to be the pastors and church leaders, there is
a place for women in God’s work that is both Scriptural and important. The “Related
Scriptures” above are some of the ones that show us this.
John 13:34-35 (Jesus is
speaking here.)
1 John 3:14
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