The Key of the Bible, Biblical commentary · Part 2 · Section 2 · Subsection 19 – Subsection 20
II John.
THe second Epistle of JOHN the Apostle. This Epistle of Iohn is nor, as the first, Catholique or Generall: but Particular, being written to particular persons, viz. The Elect Lady, and her children. Who she was, is not known; Some think that ELECT was her prop…r name: but that's improbable, for then Iohn would not have said, To the Elect Lady; but, To the Lady ELECT. Some turne this into an Allegory, and say that by the Elect Lady Iohn intended the whole Christian Church: But this is most unlikely, and plainly repugnant to this Epistle it selfe, for, 1. To write to the whole Christian Church under the Notion of an Elect Lady is so unusuall, that we find no such thing done in all the New-Testament. 2. This Epistle not onelyonly mentions this Lady and her children, v. 1.4. But also sends her salutations from the children of her Elect Sister, v. 13. 3. The Apostle speakes of his intention to come and see her, and speake face to face. Which cannot be understood of the whole Christian Church, ver. 12. She is thought to be some eminent religious Matron of great Estate, who much relieved and supported the members of the Church in her dayes. Bez. Annot. in 2 Ioan. Piscat. in 2 Ioan.
Penman. Some thinke was another Iohn then the Apostle, as is testifyed by Euseb. Eccles. Hist. l. 3. c. 39. But this seems to be a plain mistake, for 1. The Greek Copies call it in the Title, The second Epistle of Iohn the Apostle. 2. The matter of the Epistle is not only Divine and Apostolicall; but notably owns Iohn to be the writer, wherein Christian love, walking in the truth, and taking heed of Seducers and Antichrists, are pressed as in the first Epistle of Iohn. So that this is Iohns genuine language. Compare these passages among others, viz. 1 Ioh. 2▪ 7. with 2 Ioh. 5. — and 1 Ioh. 2.23. with 2 Ioh. 9. — and 1 Ioh. 4.1, 2, 3. with 2 Ioh. 7. — and 1 Ioh. 5.3. with 2 Ioh. 6. &c. 3. The Salutation is plainly Apostolicall. ver. 1, 2, 3. And notably relisheth of Iohn's Spirit. 4. Both ancient and modern Writers, account this Epistle Canonicall, and ascribe it unto Iohn the Apostle, Concil. Carthagin. 3. Can. 4.7. Concil. Laodic. c. ult. Hieronym, in Epist. 85. ad Euagrium. August. de Doctrin. Christian, l. 2. c. 8. Sentent. Episcoporum Concil. Carthaginens. apud Cyprian. Sent. 81. Cyprian op. edit. 1593. p. 449. Beda. Piscat. Bez. in 2 Iohan. So that this Epistle being written by Iohn the Apostle, is of unquestionable authority.
Occasion. Some thinke that Iohns familiar Christian acquaintance with this Elect Lady, gave him Occasion of writing this Epistle. Others rather think it was written against the Antichristian Heresie of Basilidis and his followers, who taught that Christ was not a true man but a phantasm, and therfore that he neither did, nor suffer'd those things which he is said to do and suffer. Epiphan. Heres. 24. Compare 2 Ioh. 7.
Scope. To incite the Elect Lady and her children, To persevere in the truth, and carefully to shun all hereticall Seducers, that bring not Christs Doctrine. A… also to adorne the truth, with love and good workes.
Principall parts. To this end, are,
I. The inscription of the Epistle, containing▪ 1. The writer. 2. Persons written to. 3. A testification of the Apostle's and other's sincere love to the Lady and her children. 4. His pious wish o… supplication for them, ver. 1, 2, 3.
II. The substance of the Epistle, wherein the Apostle, 1. Congratulates with the Lady, that some of her children walked in the truth, ver. 4. 2. Exhorts to constancy in the ancient Doctrine of love and truth, ver. 5, 6. 3. Warnes them against Seducers, denying Christs incarnation, shewing the danger of them, and forbidding all fellowship with them, ver. 7. to 12.
III. The conclusion of the Epistle with, 1. Intimation that he omits writing many other things, hoping to come to them and speak them by word of mouth, verse 12. 2. Salutations from her Sisters children, ver. 13.
III John.
THe third Epistle of IOHN the Apostle. This Epistle is not Generall, but Particular; written to Gaius.
Penman of this Epistle, also was Iohn the Apostle, and therefore it is Authentique and Canonicall. Both these are ev…dent by all the foure Reasons alleadged touching Iohn's second Epistle. And the word, phrases, and method of these two Epistles harmoniously agree, as an in…entive Reader may well observe. Iohn directs this Epistle, To the well-beloved Gaius, but what Gaius this was is not so evident. Scripture mentions three persons of this name, viz. 1. Gaius of Macedonia, Act. 19.21, 2. Gaius of Derbe, Act. 20.4. 3. Gaius of Corinth, 1 Cor. 1.14. Whom Paul cals, Gaius mine host, and of the whole Church, writing from Corinth to the Romanes. Rom. 16.23. This Gaius was a man eminent for Hospitality, especially to the Ministers and members of the Church of Christ. Perhaps this Gaius of Corinth was the Gaius to whom here Iohn also writes, for 1. He is singularly commended here for his charity and hospitality, 3 Ioh. ver. 5, 6. 2. The consent of writers subscribes hereunto. See Lorin. Comment. in 3 Iohan. Epist. ver. 1. However he was a very eminent man in the Church.
When or where this Epistle was written, is not certainly known.
Occasion. The bountifulnesse and Hospitablenesse of Gaius, which Iohn had some occasion to improve towards some Ministers that went to preach to the Gentiles, who seeme to have brought this Epistle from Iohn to Gaius, See ver. 6, 7, 8.
Scope, To request Gaius, according to his wonted bounty and benevolence to the Saints, to bring forward on their journey certain Ministers that went to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. To brand Diotrephes, and commend to him Demetrius.
Principall parts.
I. The Inscription, mentioning, 1. Who wrote this Epistle. 2. To whom. 3. The wel-wishing Prayer for him, verse 1, 2.
II. The Substance of the Epistle, which is partly,
1. Gratulatory, wherein he rejoyceth at Gaius his 1. W…lking in the truth, ver. 3, 4. 2. Charity and Hospitality to the Brethren and strangers, ver. 5, 6.
2. Hortatory, wherein by divers Arguments insinuated, he exhorts him to bring on their journey certaine brethren that went to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, ver. 6, 7, 8. Intimating that he wrote to the Church about this matter also, but feares it would be to little effect, because of Diotrephes his pride, contemning the Apostle; neither receiving the brethren himselfe, nor suffering others to do it, whom therefore he threatens, ver. 9, 10, 11. But contrariwise commends Demetrius, ver. 13.
III. Conclusion of the Epistle, with 1. An Apology for his writing so short an Espistle, because he trusted shortly to see him. 2. Salutations, ver. 13, 14.