I tend to believe that the recipient, “the chosen lady”, is likely a cryptic way to address a local church, as John ends the letter with “the children of your chosen sister send their greetings”. This is the basis on which we shall study this letter:
(1) John purposely uses the literary tool of repetition to show his emphases. Read the introductory address in vv. 1-2:
a. How many times is the word “truth” used?
b. Each time that the word appears, a different aspect of the truth is mentioned.
- What or who is the truth that lives in us forever? (Jn. 14:6)
- What then is meant by to “love in the truth”?
- What is meant by to “know the truth”?
(2) In his greeting, what emphasis does he put on who Jesus is?
(3) While his Prologue in the gospel (Jn. 1:14, 17) emphasizes truth and grace, what is the emphasis here in the greeting? (v. 3) Why?
(4) With this emphasis in the greeting, John now turns it into an admonition (vv. 4-6).
a. What is the admonition (or command) which is both old and new that has already been given in 1 John? (1 Jn. 3:11)
b. In giving this command, John used the words “walk” and “walking” a few times: What is he trying to emphasize? (vv. 4, 6)
c. In asking us to “walk”, he mentions both the walking in truth, and the walking in love. Is there a difference?
d. Can we walk in love without truth and vice-versa? Why?
(5) Truth twisted (vv. 7-11)
a. What kind of heresy did the deceivers preach in John’s time? (v. 7)
b. How does such a heresy nullify the work of atonement accomplished by the work of Jesus Christ on the cross? (Heb. 2:14)
c. According to John, who are these deceivers? (v. 7)
d. How would one lose what the Apostles have worked for? (vv. 8-9)
e. What if we hold on to the teaching of the Apostles? (v. 8b and v. 9b)
- What is meant by being “rewarded fully”? (v. 8b)
- What is meant by having “both the Father and Son”? Can the two be separated? (Jn. 10:30)
f. How should we deal with such deceivers and teachers? Why? (vv. 10-11)
(6) How might you put love in action today?