2 John
The Orthodox perspective on 2 John emphasizes the warning against false teachers who deny that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. The epistle urges the faithful to remain steadfast in truth and love, but love is not extended to heretics; the Orthodox view is that believers should not show hospitality to or associate with those who deny core Christian doctrines. This is interpreted as a call to guard the integrity of the Church from spiritual deception and to have a discriminating, holy love that is consistent with God's character.
Combating heresy: The primary purpose of the epistle is to combat false teachings, which are described as being spread by those who have left the church but are still trying to influence believers.
The Incarnation: A specific focus is on the consequence of the denial of the physical incarnation of Jesus Christ, a key heresy of the early church. This idea is linked with the Eucharist and the personal experience offered in the Divine Liturgy.
Truth and Love: Orthodox interpretation stresses that true love must be grounded in truth. Therefore, love for the truth means not welcoming or supporting those who are actively seeking to deceive others about Christ.
Discriminating hospitality: The instruction to not offer hospitality or even a greeting to false teachers (2 John 10-11) is not seen as unloving but as a necessary protection against evil. It means that hospitality should not be indiscriminately given to those who are a threat to the faith.
Spiritual children: The letter is addressed to the "elect lady and her children," which is interpreted to mean a community of believers (the "lady") and their spiritual children, rather than a literal family.
Apostasy: The letter serves as a warning that it is possible for those who have been part of the Church to leave the faith, a concept supported by the Orthodox understanding of salvation as a synergy that requires continued cooperation with God's grace.
Title - Thesis | Scroll | Short Description | Synthesis 2nd Temple | Antithesis | Synthesis Apostolic | Synthesis Amoraim | Continent Origin | Southern Worldview | Northern Worldview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 John | Scroll 107 | Differentiating Hospitality and Apostasy | Second Epistle of John | B΄ Ιωάννη | Didactic | NA | Asia | General Epistle | Catholic Epistle |
Category Reference Guide
Title/Thesis - The name of the book in American English
Synthesis 2nd Temple - The name of the book in order of its presentation other than the Apostles, ranging from 2nd temple Judaism up to the 1st century
Antithesis - The name of the book in another language
Synthesis Apostolic - The identity of the book in order of its presentation according to Tradition in the church after the 3rd century
Synthesis Amoraim - The name of the book in order of its presentation other than the Apostles, ranging from Tannaim up to the 5th century
Continent Origin - Continent from where the Text Type Source comes from
Southern Worldview - Catalog strategy for storing the scrolls include the interpretation. South means Africa or Egypt (Alexandrian) such as LXX. South of Palestine.
Northern Worldview - Catalog strategy for storing the scrolls include the interpretation. North means Asia or Persia (Babylonian) such as Masoretic. North of Palestine.
Here are additional resources for those who want to continue learning and exploring:
Link to some reference to the Kyria or Lady addressed