2 John
Author: John
See Ecclesiastical History by Eusebius - Book 6, Chapter 25, Verse 10.
Date: Unknown, nineties at the latest.
Language: Greek
Place: Unknown, probably Ephesus.
See Ecclesiastical History by Eusebius - Book 4, Chapter 14 and Book 3, Chapter 31.
Purpose: Encouragement to obey the commands of Jesus.
What kind of book?: Letter to "the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth..." (2 John 1 NIV).
Reflection: This letter gives a teaching of Jesus which John recorded Jesus stating in John 14:15 and in John 15:17. A radical statement, thus I asked myself many years ago: "Why does loving Jesus require obeying His commands?" Obeying the commands of Jesus always result in true love.
If your friend said, "If you really loved me, you would obey me." That is not the case if the friend ever gave a command which was apart from God's will. The commands of Jesus are God's will, and the result is always good.
Hunter Irvine
