An Exposition of Pauls Epistles, Letter 20
The second Epistle of IOHN, Analytically expounded.
The Contents.
AS Luke writ the Book of the Gospel, and the Acts of the Apostles to a certain noble Theophilus, for the use of all the faithful; So John wrote this familiar Epistle to one Noble and Holy Matrone, and her children, not onelyonly that hee might appropriate the Doctrine (which hee had commended in his former Epistle to the universal Church of the faithful, to this private family) but also that hee might teach the Pastors, how they ought to teach publickly, and from house to house, from the Apostles example, Act. 20▪ 20. The parts of the Epistle are three; the Preface, containing the direction of the Epistle, and Salutation, to vers. 4. An Exhortation to perseverance in the obedience of the Gospel, or a constant exercise of Faith working by love, to vers. 12. The third is the conclusion.
Vers. 1. THe Elder unto the Elect Lady and her Children, whom I love in the Truth: and not I onelyonly, but also all they that have known the Truth:
The direction of the Epistle shews, who, to whom, and with what minde hee wrote this Epistle. The writer is Iohn the Apostle, who makes no doubt of his authority in this family, content with the title of the ordinary and common ministery; hee calls himself an Elder, by which name hee being now very antient, hee also notes his age, to the end that his admonition, who could not live long by reason of his age, might bee the more deeply fixed in them. The person whereunto it is chiefly writ, is the Elect Lady. To signifie civil and due honour, hee calls her Lady, acknowledging her more happy spiritual condition in the Lord. Hee calls her Elect, because in that this Matron had (from the sincerity of her Faith) declared her self to bee elect, a farre more excellent commendation, than that shee was accounted a Lady in a civil condition by men; Her children are adjoyned, because they were partakers with their Mother of the Grace of God, in the knowledge of Christ.
As for the mind of the Writer towards those, to whom hee writ, hee professes both his love and sincerity of it, and also testifies concerning the love of all other beleevers, that embraced the truth of the Gospel, and had heard of this family.
Vers. 2. For the Truths sake which dwelleth in us, and shall bee with us for ever.
That hee might manifest his sincere love, hee affirms, that the cause of it is the common Faith of the Truth of the Gospel, wherein hee was confident that this Lady would persevere, and her children with her, and the rest of the faithful would enjoy the virtue and fruit of the truth of the Gospel for ever: Therefore the whole Preface is intended for the confirmation of the Faith of this pious family. (1) Because shee is an Elect Matrone, (2) Because her children are faithful, (3) Because they are beloved of the Apostle, (4) Because they are beloved of all the Faithful, (5) Because they are beloved rather for the Truth, than the nobility of their stock, (6) Because the Truth of the Gospel in them, both as to the faith and the fruits of it, would remain, and indure in them for ever.
Vers. 3. Grace bee with you, Mercy and Peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in Truth and Love.
In the salutation, or Apostolical blessing (wherein is not contained a bare wish, but also a certain applying of that wished good) hee confirms them (1) Concerning the Grace or good will of God towards them, whereby hee freely makes us acceptable to him, and bestows upon us all things that may repair Gods Image in us. (2) Further concerning the Mercy of God, which if it be distinguished from Grace, signifies the taking away our sinnes and miseries. (3) Concerning the Peace of God, which comprehends reconciliation, peace of conscience, and all the degrees both of inchoate and perfect felicity: And because a blessing is expected in vain, unless from the true fountain, hee brings them to God the Father (from whom the whole divine essence is communicated to the Son, and the Holy Ghost) and to Christ the Mediatour (the second Person of the God-head incarnate, invested with the office of salvation for us) whom hee calls the Son of the Father in Truth and Love: (1) Because hee is full of Truth and Grace, together with his Father, of the same nature or essence, because hee is his most true and beloved Son, Ioh. 1.14. (2) Because the mind of the Father is no other, nor his will no other towards us, than hee is, The same purpose of both is firm concerning us, and the same love towards us. (3) Because hee reveals the truth of the Fathers counsel and purpose to us, and the love wherewith hee loves us, hee brings it forth, and derives it, or communicates it to us, and shews himself every way to bee the Son of the Father, both in truth of Doctrine, and effectual love towards us resembling his expresse Image.
Vers. 4. I rejoyced greatly that I found of thy children walking in the Truth, as wee have received a commandement from the Father.
Here follows the body of the Epistle, wherein hee exhorts this Matrone with her children to persevere in the obedience of the Gospel, i. e. in Faith working by love towards God and the Brethren. The Arguments of the Exhortation are nine. The first is premised in this verse, wherein hee confesses his joy, that this family hitherto had continued in the obedience of the Gospel; hee confirms them as to what was past, and also stirs them up to persevere for the future. Your constancy in the obedience of the Gospel, will administer to mee and all the faithful (who hear of you) abundant matter of spiritual joy, and consequently of thanksgiving to God: Therefore persevere in the Faith.
Vers. 5. And now I beseech thee, Lady, not as though I wrote a new Commandement unto thee: but that which wee had from the beginning, that wee love one another.
From hence hee infers an Exhortation chiefly to the Matrone or Mother of the Family, under whose tuition the children were, together with the second Argument. The commandement for the demonstration of the efficacy of your Faith in the love of the Brethren hath nothing new in it, besides that which yee have learned by the gift of God from the beginning of your vocation, and have accustomed your selves to, viz. that from the Faith and love of Jesus Christ, yee also love the Christian brother-hood: Therefore go forward in the obedience of Faith working by love.
Vers. 6. And this is love, that wee walk after his Commandements; this is the Commandement, that as yee have heard from the beginning, yee should walk in it.
Argum. 3. There is no other true love, either of our neighbour, or of God, besides that which consists in a constant indeavour of keeping all Gods Commandements, and walking or going forward in that obedience: Therefore; or thus: The command, or the summe of the Doctrine delivered to us in the Gospel, is, that wee should keep faith and a good conscience, that wee should beleeve in Jesus Christ, and love our neighbour: Therefore persevere yee in the obedience of faith, or this commandement.
Vers. 7. For many deceivers are entred into the world, who confess not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh, This is a deceiver, and an Antichrist.
A…gum. 4. There is danger, lest yee bee deceived, by reason of the multitude of seducers that are gone out into the world, and impudently boast of themselves: Therefore yee ought the more diligently to endeavour after perseverance. But hee calls seducers, not onelyonly those who openly oppose the person of Christ, his offices and power, but also those who did not confess Christ, nor ascribe all glory unto him, which the Spirit of God in holy Scripture teaches us to ascribe unto him. For whosoever hee was, hee is so far forth Antichrist, as hee doth neither confess nor acknowledge Christ, such as hee hath shewn forth himself to us in his holy Doctrine.
Vers. 8. Look to your selves, that wee lose not those things which wee have wrought, but that wee receive a full reward.
Argum. 5. Unless yee constantly persevere in the true Faith of the Gospel, or the obedience to it, yee will lose all the fruit of that Faith which yee have hitherto professed, and afflictions also, which yee have suffered, and the works which yee formerly performed; because by your drawing back yee will manifest, that your Faith was never sincere, but a vain profession without truth: Therefore yee ought to indeavour through perseverance to receive a full and plentiful reward, promised to all those that faithfully cleave unto God.
Vers. 9. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ, hath not God: Hee that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ, hee hath both the Father and the Son.
Argum. 6. Whosoever transgresseth the Doctrine of Christ, and doth not constantly abide in it, i. e. hee that either teaches, or receives a contrary Doctrine, or doth not abide in the obedience of Christs Doctrine, hath no communion with God, but is without God in the world.
Hee that abideth] Arg. 7. Hee that remains constantly in the Faith of, and obedience to Christs Doctrine, hath and will have communion with God and Christ, and for his reward hee hath the Father and the Son by the Spirit dwelling in himself.
Vers. 10. If there come any unto you, and bring not this Doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.
Argum. 8. Propounded by way of Commandement; Yee ought earnestly to endeavour after perseverance in the Faith, that whosoever hath been discovered to bee a seducer of men from the Doctrine of Christ, or teacheth another Doctrine than that Christ hath taught, must not bee entertained, yea, not so much as courteously saluted, so that any respect bee, or seem to bee given to his errour, or to him for his errours sake, but rather by all means to be so handled, that it may bee understood both by him, a false Prophet, and by All) that the errour which hee teaches is detested.
Vers. 11. For hee that bideth him God speed, is partaker of his evil deeds.
Hee gives the reason of this Argument, or Commandement, because hee that doth the least matter in favour of a seducer, whereby it can be gathered, that his errour is any way liked by him that salutes, or entertains him, hee is partaker of his evil deeds.
Vers. 12. Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with Paper and Inke, but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may bee full.
The conclusion remains, wherein are two Articles: In the first hee excuses his brevity, hoping to come to this family, and being present, to instruct and confirm it more fully in the doctrine of Faith, that all the faithful in it might out of a larger and more fruitful instruction receive more fully of spiritual joy.
Vers. 13. The children of thy Elect Sister greet thee, Amen.
In the second Article hee salutes this Matrone from the children of her Sister, who was also faithful, and shewed the signs of her Election: Amen, sealing up the Doctrine of the whole Epistle.