Verse 1: The note in the ESV Study Bible reads: “Beloved! Conveys the truth that Christians are linked by the love God has shown them in Christ (cf. I John 4:9-10). Love in truth: could simply mean ‘True love’ as a Christian brother, or it could refer to the ‘truth’ of the gospel, in the […]
3rd John: A Candid Look at Congregational Life Introduction to 3rd John The postcard of Third John pictures a N.T. congregation, warts and all. Sometimes I am convinced that we imagine life in the first-century church as postcard perfect. For sure, there are some passages that might lead us to that conclusion (Acts 2:44-46; 4:32-37). […]
John’s Farewell Greetings (2nd John 12-13) Verse 12: Since we have called this series of lessons “New Testament Postcards,”what John is saying is that he has more to say than would fit on one sheet of papyrus. So he wants to come and express his thoughts personally where he is not bound by having to […]