Second John is widely recognised as one of the most friendly, personal letters in the New Testament.
Author
The author identifies himself as the elder (2 Jn. 1). There is nothing else in the book to further pinpoint the identity of the author. The similarities between 2 John and 1 John, as well as tradition, lead virtually everyone to the conclusion that the author was the apostle John.
Recipients
There is nothing anywhere in the book to indicate the date of writing. Most experts believe that 1 and 2 John deals with the same problem and use similar (in some cases identical) material. Therefore, they were written at about the same time. Like 1 John, 2 John was probably written between 67-90 AD, possibly about 80 AD. John says he is writing to an elect lady and her children. There are two basic interpretations of this phrase:
1) It refers to an individual Christian lady.
2) It used figuratively of a church.
Some, among those who say it was written to an individual lady, go further and say her name is Lady Electa, or even Mary the mother of Jesus but that term is not known to have been a personal name. Among those who believe the term is a personification of a church are those who hold that it is a reference to the universal church, the bride of Christ. Most, however, see it as a reference to a local church. The content as well as the use of the plural in verses 6-12 are most appropriate to a community. Like the recipients of 1 John, the readers of 2 John were faced with false teachers (2 John. 7). John instructed the church not to be deceived by them (2 John. 8), nor to receive them (meaning into the community of faith) (2 John. 10a), nor to greet them (2 John. 10b). If they greeted them and received them, they could be deceived by them. If they were deceived by them, they would cease to obey God and love others (2 John. 6).
Message
The one subject that fits everything in the epistle is truth, consider verse 1 where it is appears twice and verses 2, 3, and 4 also. Other verses talk about truth as a concept without using the exact word. The message is believers should continue practicing the truth and not support deceivers of the truth.
Structure
Second John follows the format of an ancient letter, at least to a degree. It contains the standard salutation (including author, recipients, and greeting), a main body of text, and ends with personal greetings. It does not have the familiar thanksgiving and prayer or benediction at the end though. The body is divided into two parts: exhortation and warning.
Purposes
The first purpose of 2 John is to encourage a local church to practice the truth (2 John. 5). He begins this exhortation by praising the fact that some of the children walk in the truth (2 John 4) and develops this into its end, which is love (2 John 5).
The second purpose of 2 John is to warn a local church about the perverters of truth. This practice of the truth was in danger from these corrupters of truth. Therefore, John writes to warn them about the deceivers, which had gone out into the world (2 John 7). If they do not abide in the doctrine of Christ, they could lose out at the Judgment Seat of Christ. He warns against becoming so outward looking and that you fail to keep to the truth. The bottom line in this case is, do not receive the deceivers into the fellowship (2 John 10). The term house used in verse 10 refers to the church, which in that day met in homes. This is not blocking the visit of a casual visit of a stranger, but the coming of a teacher claiming authority. ‘Receive’ means to let him speak and to support him, including giving him hospitality. Don’t even greet him, means, don’t say, “I’m glad to see you. I wish you well”. It has been suggested that all this means that they should make it plain by our actions that we in no way condone the activities or teaching of such people. In short, John wrote this letter for the practice and purity of the truth.
Summary:
John wrote his Second Letter in relation to the same false teaching as he opposed in his First Letter. This false teaching was not confined to the church addressed in just the first letter but was being spread around the region by travelling preachers. The short letter of 2 John was partly to encourage the believers and partly to warn them not to allow the teachers of false doctrine into their gathering. He does so to urge them to continue practicing the truth and to warn them not to receive deceivers. Believers should walk in truth and not support deceivers of the truth