XPost: alt.christnet, alt.bible, alt.messianic   
   XPost: alt.religion.christian.biblestudy   
   From: doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca   
      
   Day 353, 19 December 2025 - 27th Day of Advent   
      
   1) 2 John, 3 John   
      
   2 John 1   
      
   John   
      
   The second general epistle of John was probably written in Ephesus   
   in the AD90s by John the beloved disciple. It is a very personal   
   and wise exhortation that encourages believers to walk in the light   
   and warns them about deceivers and how they conduct their lives.   
   It is not only an encouragement to exhibit agape   
   (a Greek word for committed or volitional love),   
   but it is also a sound exhortation to separate from worldliness   
   and unholiness.   
      
   Salutation   
      
   The elder,   
      
   1 To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth,   
   and not I only, but also all those who know the truth,   
   2 for the sake of the truth, which remains in us, and will be with us forever:   
   3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the   
   Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.   
      
   [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.   
      
   Truth and Love   
      
   4 I greatly rejoiced that I found some of your children walking in truth   
   as we were commanded by the Father.   
   5 And now I ask you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you,   
   but that which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.   
   6 And this is love: that we walk according to His commandments.   
   This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning,   
   you should walk in it.   
   7 For many deceivers, who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come   
   in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Each one is a deceiver   
   and an antichrist.   
   8 Watch yourselves, so that we do not lose those things for which   
   we have worked, but that we receive a full reward.   
   9 Whoever transgresses and does not remain in the teaching of Christ   
   does not have God. Whoever remains in the teaching of Christ has both   
   the Father and the Son.   
   10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching,   
   do not receive him into your house, nor greet him.   
   11 For whoever greets him takes part in his evil deeds.   
      
   [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.   
   [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.   
   [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.   
   [10] If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him   
   not into your house, neither bid him God speed:   
   [11] For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.   
      
   Final Greetings   
      
   12 I have many things to write to you, but I prefer not to write   
   with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and speak face   
   to face that our joy may be complete.   
   13 The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.   
      
   [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.   
      
   3 John 1   
      
   John   
      
   John the Beloved probably wrote the third general epistle   
   of John in Ephesus in the AD90s. It addresses the reality   
   of true and false ministers. Addressed to Gaius, a local   
   church leader, it commends a disciple named Demetrius   
   while also warning against the tactics of Diotrephes.   
   The Holy Spirit provides sound instruction   
   and sober exhortations for all believers in this epistle.   
      
   Salutation   
   1 The elder,   
   To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth:   
   2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you   
   and that you may be in good health, even as your soul is well.   
   3 For I greatly rejoiced when brothers came and testified   
   of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.   
   4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.   
      
   [1] The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.   
   [2] Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in   
   health, even as thy soul prospereth.   
   [3] For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the   
   truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.   
   [4] I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.   
      
   Working Together   
      
   5 Beloved, you are faithful in all you do for the brothers and for strangers,   
   6 who have testified of your love before the church. You will do well to send   
   them along on their journey in a manner worthy of God.   
   7 For His name's sake they went out, receiving no help from the Gentiles.   
   8 Therefore we ought to receive such men, that we might be fellow workers   
   for the truth.   
   9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to put himself first   
   among them, did not accept us.   
   10 Because of this, if I come, I will bring up what kinds of works he does:   
   ranting against us with malicious words. Not content with that, he does not   
   accept the brothers, and stops those who want to, and throws them   
   out of the church.   
   11 Beloved, do not imitate that which is evil, but that which is good.   
   Whoever does good is from God, but whoever does evil has not seen God.   
   12 Demetrius receives good reports from everyone and from the truth itself.   
   Yes, and we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.   
      
   [5] Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren,   
   and to strangers;   
   [6] Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou   
   bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:   
   [7] Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the   
   Gentiles.   
   [8] We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to   
   the truth.   
   [9] I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the   
   preeminence among them, receiveth us not.   
   [10] Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating   
   against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he   
   himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth   
   them out of the church.   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)