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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:

Reading:

  • 2 John
  • 3 John

Key verse(s):

"We love Him because He first loved us" 1 John 4:19

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 to not 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

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

  1. CHAPTER 1
    1. What is the importance of confession?
    2. What are the conditions for fellowship with God?
  2. CHAPTER 2
    1. When in the Divine Liturgy do we recite vv 15 and 17?
    2. How can we protect ourselves from deception?
  3. CHAPTER 3
    1. Does St. John claim that Christians do not sin at all?
    2. What attitudes and actions characterize the children of God?
  4. CHAPTER 4
    1. How did God express His love for us and how should we respond?
    2. What do you learn about the relationship between the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit?
  5. CHAPTER 5
    1. What do water and blood refer to?
    2. What is the difference between a sin leading to death and a sin not leading to death?

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

 
  1. CHAPTER 1
    1. What is the message St. John heard and is declaring?
    2. What would cleanse us from all sins?
  2. CHAPTER 2
    1. Who is our Advocate with the Father?
    2. Who does the antichrist deny?
  3. CHAPTER 3
    1. What is the message we have heard from the beginning?
    2. Why did Cain murder his brother Abel?
  4. CHAPTER 4
    1. Who is the source of love?
    2. What can cast out fear?
  5. CHAPTER 5
    1. What can overcome the world?
    2. Name the three that bear witness in Heaven.