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More II John commentaries
II John 1:1-6
Love because you are loved
II John 1:7-13
Don’t provide hospitality to false teachers
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II John 1:1-6
Love because you are loved
II John 1:7-13
Don’t provide hospitality to false teachers
© Family Times | About Us | Donate | Contact Us
Search for sermons by: Commentaries | Scripture search | Topics
Don’t provide hospitality to false teachers
II John 1:7–13
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
Muslims believe that all dead people are in some sort of dreamless state. Some Muslims believe that after a person dies, two angels ask him to write down his good deeds and bad deeds. Others believe that there will be a religious examination, with dire consequences for those who … More
Here we see very clearly the danger which John saw in these false teachers (vv. 7-9). They are to be given no hospitality; and the refusal of hospitality would be the most effective way of stopping their work. We can never compromise with mistaken teachers but we are never free from the obligation of seeking to lead them into the truth. When we realize how the false view of the person of Christ affects man’s eternal destiny then we can understand the reason, John, the “Apostle of love” used such strong words in this passage in regard to false teachers.
There is absolutely no place among Christians for false teachers. They are not to be helped at all, not even to be given cordial welcomes or farewells. We are not to agree with their teaching or invite them into our home (v. 10). Greeting them is the same as taking part in their evil deeds (v. 11). Perhaps this sounds rigid and harsh to us today, especially if we have become very tolerant of religious differences and lost our strong convictions about truth. However, the New Testament writers did not share this toleration. They were committed to truth and the warning of false teachers.
The writer says I have much more to tell you, but I don’t want to put it in writing (v. 12). I want to come and talk to you in person, because that will make our joy more complete. He ends by saying, “greetings from the children of your sister church” (v. 13).
Application
"Abstain from all appearance of evil” (I Thes. 5:22). Am I doing that with my eyes and with my hands and feet? The closer I am to the truth the more I will recognize the false teaching.
II John 1:7-13 (English Standard Version)
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. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who 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. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete. The children of your elect sister greet you.
View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »
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