A single small folded letter tied with cord, lying on a worn stone threshold at morning, the wooden door of a house ajar behind it.

The Book of

2 John Intro

One short letter to a church: hold to the truth, and love one another.

Before chapter 1≈ 2 min1 chapters

Images are artistic interpretations.

How it’s built

One page, four moves

Whiteboard

Thirteen verses: love one another, hold on to the truth about Jesus, and be careful whom you welcome as a teacher.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Who wrote it

The elder

Traditionally John the apostle

He signs himself simply “The elder.”2 John 1:1
From the 100s the church has received him as John the apostle. Some think he was another John, ‘John the elder’, whom Papias mentions.Irenaeus, c. AD 180
Traditionally written from Ephesus late in John’s life, perhaps AD 85–95.Church tradition
Sent to “the chosen lady and her children”: a church, or perhaps a family.2 John 1:1

Where it was written

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Ephesus and the churches of Asia

The letter names no city. Tradition places John at Ephesus in his last years, caring for the churches of the province of Asia.

Watch for

And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.

2 John 1:6

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