2 John

2 John 1 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on 2 John 1 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment

1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

2 For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

(1:5) "Love one another."
Except for all those antichrists (non-Christians), that is. Stay the hell away from them. (See verses 7-10)

The author of the SAB is quite mistaken on who the antichrists are, see verse 7.

6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

(1:7) "This is a deceiver and an antichrist."
Non-Christians are deceivers and antichrists.
What the Bible says about non-Christians

Unbelievers, i.e. those who have never been Christians nor have called themselves Christians cannot be antichrists. Because that would make the word antichrist a synonym for unbeliever, which it is not. Antichrists are those who call themselves Christians, but are actually deceivers of themselves and others. As John Gill has it:

these were not the Jews who denied that Jesus was the Christ, though they would not allow that Christ was come in the flesh; but these were some who bore the Christian name, and professed to believe in Jesus Christ, but would not own that he was really incarnate, or assumed a true human nature, only in appearance; and denied that he took true and real flesh of the virgin, but only seemed to do so.

8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

(1:9) "Whosoever ... abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God."
What the Bible says about non-Christians

This is still about those who call themselves Christians but despise the Christian doctrines as can be seen from the preceding verse (verse 7) and the next verse (verse 10).

10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

(1:10) "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed."
Don't associate with non-Christians. Don't receive them into your house or even exchange greeting with them. This is the biblical justification for "Disfellowshipping" among the Jehovah's Witnesses.
Should believers discuss their faith with non-believers?

The Jehovah's witnesses reject most of the plain meaning of God's Word. They don't even want to be called Christians! And again this is not about unbelievers. The people who arrive here are preachers who reject Christ. This entire epistle isn't about unbelievers versus believers. It's about two classes of those who call themselves Christians. In our days it has even gone so far that you can be an atheist, denying the existence of God, and still be a preacher.
And you should certainly not bid the deniers of Christ God speed, which means you wish him success.

11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.