Scofield Reference Bible Notes/2 John
Book Introduction - 2 John[edit]
Read first chapter of 2 John
WRITER: The Apostle John.
DATE: Probably A.D. 90.
THEME: Second John gives the essentials of the personal walk of the believer in a day when "many deceivers are entered into the world" (2 John 1:7). The key phrase is "the truth," by which John means the body of revealed truth, the Scriptures. The Bible as the only authority for doctrine and life, is the believer's resource in a time of declension and apostasy.
The Epistle in three divisions:
- The pathway of truth and love, vs. 1-6
- The peril of unscriptural ways, vs. 7-11
- Superscription, vs. 12,13
CHAPTER 1[edit]
Verse 5[edit]
that we love one another
Law (of Christ), Summary: The new "law of Christ" is the divine love, as wrought into the renewed heart by the Holy Spirit Romans 5:5; Hebrews 10:16 and outflowing in the energy of the Spirit, unforced and spontaneous, toward the objects of the divine love ; 2 Corinthians 5:14-20; 1 Thessalonians 2:7,8. It is, therefore, " the law of liberty" ; James 1:25; 2:12 in contrast with the external law of Moses. Moses' law demands love, ; Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:5; Luke 10:27 Christ's law is love ; Romans 5:5; 1 John 4:7,19,20 and so takes the place of the external law by fulfilling it ; Romans 13:10; Galatians 5:14. It is the "law written in the heart" under the New Covenant.
(See Scofield "Hebrews 8:8").
Verse 7[edit]
world
kosmos = mankind. (See Scofield "Matthew 4:8").
Verse 9[edit]
transgresseth
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").