The Second Letter of John: Truth and Love in Communion
1. The Elder to the Elect Lady
“The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not only I but also all who know the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us for ever.” (2 John 1–2)
St John writes as the elder — the shepherd and witness who has grown old in love.
“The elect lady” likely refers to a local Christian community personified as a woman — the Bride, image of the Church — and “her children” are the faithful.
St Bede the Venerable explains:
“He calls the Church a lady because she is espoused to Christ; her children are the souls begotten in faith and baptism.” (Commentary on the Catholic Epistles, 2 John 1)
To love “in the truth” means to love rightly — not sentimentally, but according to the Gospel.
2. Grace, Mercy, and Peace
“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.” (v. 3)
John unites the two poles of Christian life: truth and love.
They are not opposites but inseparable realities — truth without love becomes cruelty; love without truth becomes corruption.
St Augustine writes:
“Truth and love are the two feet on which the Church walks. If either be wounded, she limps.” (Tractates on John LXXXVII.2)
In this greeting lies the whole Gospel: grace given, mercy received, peace bestowed.
3. Joy in Faithful Children
“I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father.” (v. 4)
This echoes 3 John 4: the joy of the shepherd is the faithfulness of his flock.
Christian maturity is not novelty but perseverance — “walking” (continuous action) in the truth received.
St John Chrysostom observes:
“He does not praise them for knowing new things, but for keeping what they had been taught. For constancy is greater than curiosity.” (Homilies on 2 John, 1)
To walk in the truth is to live the faith day by day, humbly, steadily, joyfully.
4. The Commandment of Love
“And now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.” (v. 5)
Love is not a modern innovation but the oldest commandment — “from the beginning.”
John repeats what he heard from Christ’s own lips at the Last Supper.
St Augustine explains:
“He says ‘not a new commandment’, yet it is always new, because love never grows old.” (Tractates on John LXV.1)
To “love one another” is the abiding identity of the Church; yet John will soon show that this love must be guarded by truth.
5. Love Defined by Obedience
“And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.” (v. 6)
Here John gives love its true definition — not sentiment, but obedience.
Genuine charity springs from fidelity to God’s law.
St Bede comments:
“He who separates love from commandments loves not God but an idol of his own heart.” (Commentary on 2 John, v. 6)
Obedience is love’s language; faithfulness is its proof.
6. The Danger of Deceivers
“For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh; such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.” (v. 7)
The early Church faced false teachers — Gnostics — who denied the real Incarnation, claiming Christ only appeared to be human.
John names this spirit antichrist because it undermines the very foundation of salvation: the Word truly became flesh.
St Irenaeus warned:
“They confess Jesus in name, but deny Him in reality. If He did not truly take flesh, neither did He truly redeem.” (Against Heresies III.18.7)
Every age faces this temptation — to make faith “spiritual” while denying its concrete, sacramental reality.
7. Watchfulness and Perseverance
“Look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but may win a full reward.” (v. 8)
The gift of faith can be lost through negligence.
The Apostle calls for vigilance — not fear, but fidelity.
St Augustine writes:
“He who loves watches; he who watches perseveres; and he who perseveres receives the reward.” (Sermon 169.2)
Grace does not remove responsibility; it empowers perseverance.
8. The Boundary of Truth
“Anyone who goes ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” (v. 9)
This verse stands as one of Scripture’s clearest affirmations of doctrinal fidelity.
To “go ahead” — that is, to rush beyond the apostolic faith in pursuit of novelty — is to depart from God Himself.
St John Chrysostom comments:
“Progress outside the rule of faith is not progress but ruin. For truth is a path, not a frontier to be crossed.” (Homilies on 2 John, 2)
In Catholic theology, this verse guards the deposit of faith: the Church may deepen her understanding, but never contradict what she has received.
9. The Discipline of Communion
“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting; for he who greets him shares in his wicked work.” (vv. 10–11)
This is not a rejection of courtesy but a defence of faith.
The Church must be hospitable — but never to heresy. Charity must be discerning.
St Augustine clarifies:
“We are to love all, even enemies, yet we may not cooperate with falsehood. Love aids the person, not the error.” (Letter 211.11)
To “receive” means to give public support or approval to false teachers. The Church’s unity requires both love and discipline.
10. The Joy of Face-to-Face Fellowship
“Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink, but hope to come to you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.” (v. 12)
The Apostle longs for personal presence — communion beyond words.
The faith is always incarnate: real people, real fellowship, real joy.
St Bede reflects:
“As Christ was seen in the flesh, so the fellowship of the saints is perfected in bodily presence and mutual love.” (Commentary on 2 John, v. 12)
This anticipates the eternal joy of heaven — when we shall see God face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12).
11. The Children of the Elect Sister
“The children of your elect sister greet you.” (v. 13)
This closing line unites two sister Churches in mutual love — a miniature picture of Catholic communion.
St Augustine remarks:
“The children of one Church greet those of another, for all are children of one Mother, the Church of Christ.” (Tractates on John X.3)
Thus, John’s letter ends where it began — in the fellowship of truth and love.
12. Theological Summary
| Theme | Revelation |
| The elect lady | The Church as Bride of Christ |
| Truth and love | Two inseparable marks of Christian life |
| Incarnation confessed | The test of genuine faith |
| Watchfulness | Grace co-operating with perseverance |
| Doctrinal fidelity | Boundaries of authentic communion |
| Discerned charity | Love guided by truth |
| Face-to-face joy | The communion of saints in hope of heaven |
St Bede summarises:
“John’s brief letter teaches that the Church stands by two pillars — truth that keeps her from error, and love that keeps her from schism.” (Commentary on 2 John, Prologue)
13. Moral and Spiritual Application
Hold fast to revealed truth. The faith is not ours to modify but to guard.
Love within boundaries. True charity never abandons doctrine.
Stay vigilant. Error begins with small compromises.
Value personal communion. The Church is not an idea but a family.
Live the Incarnation. Confess Christ in word and deed — in flesh and spirit alike.
14. Christ the Truth Incarnate
All of 2 John points back to the Incarnate Word:
Truth made flesh in Jesus Christ.
Love poured out on the Cross.
Fellowship renewed in the Eucharist.
St Augustine writes:
“Love the truth; live the truth; let the truth dwell in you — for Christ is the truth that never grows old.” (Sermon 34.2)
He is the Truth who unites doctrine and devotion, faith and charity, heaven and earth.
15. Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Word made flesh and Truth eternal,
You have called us to walk in love and abide in the truth.
Keep Your Church pure in doctrine and fervent in charity;
guard our hearts from deception,
and make our joy complete in the fellowship of Your saints.
May we confess You faithfully in this world,
and see You face to face in the world to come.
Who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 