John’s Third Letter John’s letter to Gaius is a short one. It’s a warm note, full of encouragement and affirmation. John also reinforces some teachings with Gaius. The Bible preserves this letter for us to read in 3 John. This is likely the same Gaius grabbed by the riotous crowd in Ephesus. He, along with Aristarchus, […]
2 John Bible Study, Day 35 Today’s passage: 2 John 1:10–13 Focus verse: Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work. (2 John 1:11) Building upon his instruction about the deceivers—the antichrists—John warns the chosen lady to not welcome anyone who holds to their teaching and to not show them hospitality. If she does, she aligns […]
2 John Bible Study, Day 34 Today’s passage: 2 John 1:7–9 Focus verse: Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. (2 John 1:8) John moves from his encouragement to walk in love to a warning about being on alert for deceivers, whom he calls antichrists […]
2 John Bible Study, Day 33 Today’s passage: 2 John 1:5–6 Focus verse: As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. (2 John 1:6) In John’s second letter, he continues to repeat themes from his first one. He tells the lady chosen by God the same things he writes to […]
2 John Bible Study, Day 32 Today’s passage: 2 John 1:4 Focus verse: It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth. (2 John 1:4) Truth is a recurring theme in John’s writing. He addresses it in twenty-three verses in his biography of Jesus, the gospel of John. The word […]
2 John Bible Study, Day 31 Today’s passage: 2 John 1:1–3 Focus verse: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. (2 John 1:3) John opens his letter calling himself simply “the elder.” Though he could have used more prestigious labels, such […]
John’s Second Letter John writes a letter to the elect, the chosen lady, along with her kids. Some people assume John uses this intimate metaphor to refer to the church (the chosen lady) and its members (her children). But this interpretation falls apart because the New Testament considers the people as the church, not as […]
1 John Bible Study, Day 30 Today’s passage: 1 John 5:21 Focus verse: Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21) After John writes a fitting conclusion to his letter in 1 John 5:18–20, he tacks on one more verse. He simply tells his audience to keep themselves from idols. I imagine John finishing his letter and […]
1 John Bible Study, Day 29 Today’s passage: 1 John 5:18–20 Focus verse: He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20) Today’s trio of verses each begins with the same phrasing: We know that. What follows them are seven concepts John wants to remind his audience about. He has covered them throughout his letter […]
1 John Bible Study, Day 28 Today’s passage: 1 John 5:16–17 Focus verse: There is a sin that leads to death. (1 John 5:16) Today’s passage teaches us some unusual things about prayer. First, John encourages us to pray for others when we notice sin in their lives. This isn’t all people, but our brothers and sisters […]