1. 2 JOHN Watch out for “The Antichrist”!

2. THE LETTER One of only 4 one-chapter books in the NT Unlike 1 John, clearly in letter form (vs 1-3 & 13) “The elect lady” & “your elect sister” probably = churches Author calls self “the elder”; obviously well known to his audience & can speak authoritatively; traditionally believed to be JohnAp Deals with same false teaching as 1 Jn: “those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh” (v 7) Theme = not showing hospitality to those spreading falsehood

3. THEMES “Walking in the truth” – Following the commandments of God should be the pattern for every Christian life By contrast, not showing hospitality to those who don’t walk in the truth, but who spread falsehood instead

4. WHO IS “THE ANTICHRIST”? Often equated with “the Beast” in Rev. & the “man of lawlessness” in 2 Thess, but this is questionable Wasn’t just one “antichrist” (1 Jn 2:18) The antichrist = anyone “who denies that Jesus is the Christ” (1 Jn 2:22, 4:3) “The deceiver & the antichrist” = the “many deceivers” who have gone out into the world & don’t confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh (2 Jn 7) So, anyone who is anti-Christ is “the antichrist” May be a particular “antichrist” to come in the future, but “many” already here: those who do “not abide in the teaching of Christ” & don’t have God

5. WHAT ABOUT VS. 10- 11? Taken absolutely, would mean no hospitality toward anyone not a Christian. Doesn’t seem likely In context, not to offer hospitality/housing, etc. to traveling false teachers Not everyone who believes something false is a “false teacher” We should treat everyone with kindness & respect, but w/out “taking part in his wicked works“ (v 11)

6. LESSONS FOR TODAY 1.The gospel never ______________, so we should continue to “__________” in it just as we first learned it. 2.False teaching is nothing ______; it shouldn’t ___________ us when we encounter it. 3.What we believe about _____________ is of central importance, & we don’t know _______ until we know who Jesus is. 4.We should never do anything that would ______________ the teaching of falsehood about _________.

7. KEY VERSE “Whoever goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” 2 John 9