Free Bible Commentary
“Second John 1:9-11”
Categories: Second John“Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.”
---End of Scripture verses---
This brief epistle is concluding quickly with what in many ways seems a synopsis of 1 John 2:23-24. There has been essentially one singular theme in each of our readings in 2 John – you are either in or out, for Christ or anti Christ. There have been a few tests illustrated so far, most notably the test of obedience to the truth in love and consent to the belief that Jesus came in the flesh.
At this point, John becomes immensely practical. He has one more test to share: respect for God’s Word. In other places, the same condemnation is found for disrespecting God’s Word – “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19) Paul wrote to the Corinthians that they needed to learn to “not exceed what is written” (1 Corinthians 4:6). This was in no way a New Testament only command, for God had always commanded highest reverence for His Word (e.g. Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:6). His words and commands are life; to disrespect His Word was to prove one’s self a hater of God.
The sad reality is that one who does not abide in Christ and in His Word does not have God. Any claims to the contrary would be in violation of the tests given in this brief letter. Obedience to God has always been the true test of faith, for faith must be perfected by works (James 2:14-26). And all of this forms a tragic irony: the Gnostic claims were that they, through special knowledge, had gone farther than anyone else in understanding. The reality was that they had gone far beyond God’s Word and thereby brought judgment upon themselves. This is in no ways a condemnation of progress for there certainly is room for growth insofar as it is development in God’s Word (1 Peter 1:5-10; 2 Peter 3:18).
Paul W. Hoon comments thus on this passage: “When is a progressive not a progressive? When he parades his progressivism for its own sake, and falsely supposes that the new is always the best or that mere movement is progress. In theology and in Christian ethics, as in the everyday world of politics, art, and social reform, the new must be tested by the old. Jesus significantly describes the man who qualifies for the kingdom for heaven as one who brings forth from his treasure both what is new and what is old (Matt. 13:52). The false progressive also fails to test whatever truth he believes in or whatever ideal he seeks by the doctrine of Christ, i.e., the mind of Christ revealed in apostolic Christianity.” (Interpreter’s Bible: XII:307)
Another connection to be made is with the parallel statement to 2 John 2:9-11 that is found in the early second century document known as the Didache: “Now, you should welcome anyone who comes your way and teaches you all we have been saying. But if the teacher proves himself a renegade and by teaching otherwise contradicts all this, pay no attention to him. Now about the apostles and prophets: Act in line with the Gospel precept. Welcome every apostle on arriving, as if he were the Lord. But he must not stay beyond one day. In case of necessity, however, the next day too. If he stays three days, he is a false prophet, and if he asks for money, he is a false prophet.” (11:1-6)
Having established this last test, John’s turns to action. So what should we do if someone comes to us espousing Christ but in violation of these scriptural tests? Should Christians be privately or collectively hospitable to such? John provides a consummate answer: “do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting.” This flies in the face of modern culture has done in warping the concept of Christianity. Relativism and ecumenicalism falsely teaches that all espousing Christ are brothers and sisters no matter how different their beliefs, even if contradictory and mutually exclusive. If only such would read this letter as it has been written! Does not this letter teach otherwise? Does not this letter teach that it does matter? That obedience to God’s Word is the test and those in violation are not abiding in Christ? There needs to be a recognizable rejection of those opposed to Christ through disobedience to His commands. All is not well and that needs to be conveyed in the spirit of Christ. Why? Because as John so tersely states: “...for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.” Acting as if all is well is not how Jesus would respond. In fact, acting as if all is well is the exact opposite of Jesus’ response and constitutes rebellion against God, an obviously condemnable choice. Jesus would establish and distinguish disobedience and obedience. He would be loving and compassionate, but also straightforward and honest. So must we be. So next time someone expresses spiritual kinship with you, don’t agree for the sake of comfort (see Romans 16:17). Stand on God’s Word and be convicted that Truth matters!
One last thought for today. How do we decipher whether or not espousing believers are worthy of private or collective hospitality? Obviously, Christians must ask questions. This is inescapable. This is not creedalism if done correctly and is actually scripturally attested by 1 John 4:1-3. Letters of commendation can also be helpful. We have to be watchful of who we affiliate with on an individual and congregational level. There needs to be a clear demarcation between the sheep and the goats.
Please read 2 John 1:12-13 for tomorrow.
Have a wonderful day!
-Eric Parker
