Are Truth and Love Compatible?
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Are Truth and Love Compatible?
1 This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth—as does everyone else who knows the truth—
2 because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever.
3 Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.
2 John 1-3
INTRODUCTION:
Second John is the second shortest book in the New Testament. It has only 245 words in the Greek text and would have easily fit on a single piece of papyri. Today we might call it a “postcard epistle.”
Each of John’s second and third letters contains less than 300 Greek words and was no doubt written on a single sheet of papyrus.
We live in a world that insists that truth and love are incompatible.
To speak the truth or claiming that there is such a thing as objective truth is considered unloving.
Are truth and love incompatible?
Sharing biblical truth is “hate-speech,” because
Notice that in 2 John, truth and love appear together repeatedly.
Truth appears six times in 13 verses.
Love appears five times in 13 verses.
In verses 1-3, love and truth in a directly linked fashion twice (v. 1 and v. 3).
Truth and love are not incompatible!
I- LOVE AND TRUTH ARE UNDENIABLY LINKED ()
I- LOVE AND TRUTH ARE UNDENIABLY LINKED ()
1 This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth—as does everyone else who knows the truth—
A- Love within the family of God is rooted in the truth. (2 John 1a)
A- Love within the family of God is rooted in the truth. (2 John 1a)
“This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth.”
1- The writer of this letter is an apostle and elder in the early church.
a. The aged Apostle John (also an elder). (Ὁ πρεσβύτερος) This position places him in a position of unique authority.
An elder was a man whose life was exemplary and thus an example () worthy of the church’s imitation.
Ὁ πρεσβύτερος) This position places him in a position of unique authority.
An elder was a man whose life was exemplary and thus an example () worthy of the church’s imitation.
3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.
2- The recipient is “the chosen (elect) lady.” (ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ)
B- Love within the family of God is extended and expanded through commitment to the truth. (2 John 1b)
B- Love within the family of God is extended and expanded through commitment to the truth. (2 John 1b)
most likely written to a church:
Lady (κυρίᾳ) is the feminine form of “lord.”
κυρίᾳ) is the feminine form of “lord.”
ἐκλεκτῇ = elect, chosen. The church is chosen by Christ to belong to Himself.
Cambridge Greek Testament: Greek Text ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ Β
ἐκλεκτῇ
Lady (kuria) is the feminine form of “lord.”
Proper name not used.
ἐκλεκτῇ
The lack of any personal references in the letter, in contrast to 3 John, suggests to many that it is addressed to a church.
The last verse uses similar terminology (ἀδελφῆς σου τῆς ἐκλεκτῆς) for the sister who sends greetings.
The lack of any personal references in the letter, in contrast to 3 John, suggests to many that it is addressed to a church.
ἀδελφῆς σου τῆς ἐκλεκτῆς)
3- John’s love for the church is linked to the grounding of both parties in the truth.
()
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
()
17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.
ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ)
B- Love within the family of God is expanded through commitment to the truth. (2 John 1b)
B- Love within the family of God is expanded through commitment to the truth. (2 John 1b)
“...as does everyone else who knows the truth—”
II- LOVE AND TRUTH ARE LINKED TO BLESSING FROM GOD ()
II- LOVE AND TRUTH ARE LINKED TO BLESSING FROM GOD ()
A- The believer is to internalize the truth. ()
A- The believer is to internalize the truth. ()
2 because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever.
B- Truth internalized is eternal. ()
B- Truth internalized is eternal. ()
2 because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever.
C- Truth and love internalized and lived-out produces a truly blessed life. ()
C- Truth and love internalized and lived-out produces a truly blessed life. ()
3 Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.
CONCLUSION: