2&3 John

Objective: 

• Greeting the Elect Lady

• Walk in Christ’s Commandments

• Beware of Antichrist Deceivers

• Greetings to Gaius

• Gaius Commended for Generosity

• Diotrephes and Demetrius

• Farewell Greeting

Resources:

• Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
• Catena Bible Commentary
• HEMY
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
  

Reading:

• 2 John
• 3 John

Key verse(s):

"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers" 3 John 2

Comments:

• The Catholic Epistles are Seven
• Catholic = Universal
• The Catholic Epistles differ from the Pauline Epistles as they were not sent to specific persons (Timothy - Titus) or Churches (Galatians - Romans) but sent to Christians in the world
• The Author:
  • He is St. John the Beloved
  • Wrote 5 books
  • He was the last disciple to depart (the only disciple who was not martyred)
  • His writings focus is characterized by the Apologetic theme
  • He defended the true existence of Our Lord and His one nature out of two
• 2 John
  • V.1: The Elder means priest or bishop
    • The Elect lady has different interpretations:
      • A real lady, and St. John preferred not to mention the name
      • Means the Church. St. John sent an epistle to the Church. This opinion is supported by V.4
    • This is the only epistle sent to a woman
  • V.2: The truth abides with the Church at all ages
  • V.5: Again, he is repeating the commandment of love and its importance
  • V.7: At this time, some heretics started to claim that God did not incarnate. Whoever denies the reality of the incarnation of God is a deceiver and against God (Antichrist)
  • V.8: St. John is encouraging his children not to lose faith and to keep fighting the pressure of the heresies so they don't lose what they have and attain a great reward (which is eternal life)
  • V.10-11: St. John, who talked a lot about love in 1 and 2 John, mentions that if a heretic comes to church or home, we should not receive them or talk to them. This shows the importance of setting firm boundaries with heretics, as they can easily sway people away from the Truth.
  • V.12: Shows the importance of the Oral Holy Tradition
  • V.13: The elect sister - The sister church, which is Ephesus, from where St. John sent his epistle
• 3 John
  • The name Gaius in Greek means Joyful
  • Scholars had different opinions on who this person is
    • From Corinth - Romans 16:23
    • Another person - 1 Corinthians 1:14
    • Acts 19:23-29
    • Acts 23:4
    • A different Gius from all of the ones listed above
  • V.3: St. John is encouraging him, not to make him fall into pride, but to strengthen him in his spiritual struggles. We all need encouragement. It is a good practice to encourage each other
  • V.4: Every parent, servant, or church leader has no greater joy than making sure that his/her children are walking in God's commandments
  • V.9-10: Diotrephes fell into pride and did not want to accept St. John
    • A prideful person/servant is characterized by:
      • Loves to have the preeminence among the people
      • Does not receive Church authorities (clergy) and goes against them
      • Does not receive the brethren. Does not serve others, but himself
    • V.10: St. John will remind him of his mistakes to save him from going astray. St. John understands his responsibility towards his congregation, as he was considered a "Patriarch" at that time
  • V.11: It is very crucial that we do not copy the world in its evil ways, but of what is good
  • V.12: On the contrary, Demetrius has good testimony
  • V.13: Again, shows the importance of the Oral Holy Tradition

Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions

1. 2 John
   1. What Truth is St. John talking about in this Letter?
   2. What does St. John say about welcoming different missionaries into our houses?
2. What were the problems with Diatrephes?
3. 3 John
   1. For what was Gauis commanded? 
   2. What were Diotrephes' weaknesses?

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

1. 2 John
   1. What does St. John plead in this Letter?
   2. 2. How do we recognize false teachers?
2. 3 John
   1. What were the problems with Diotrephes?
   2. Was Demitrius a help to St. Paul? How so?