Just what is the truth? People usually define it by what they perceive truth to be, and only sometimes later find out what they thought was truth, was not. It's not a lot different today than it was in the days when the Bible was written. The church was in its beginning, and there were itinerant prophets who would go from city to city sharing “truth” with congregations. There was one problem, some of these prophets who “heard a word from the Lord” were false prophets. How were the congregations to know? Was there a way to determine whether a prophet was a false prophet or true one? Today we begin a new book named Second John, and John the apostle helps us to find the answers to these questions and discover ways to reveal false prophets. We read in Second John in verse one:
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;
Notice first that John calls himself “the elder”. Once again John is writing this book somewhere around the time he is ninety years old. He has experience. He knows the different schemes and lies that roaming at this time, and now he addresses “the elect lady and her children.” It is not really known as to who this “elect lady” is. Some think it could have been someone John knew personally. Others believe it is a direct reference to Jerusalem or the church, but whomever it may be we can put ourselves in her place and listen to what John has to say.
John emphasizes his love to the one addressed and attaches “in the truth” to his love, and therefore we begin our theme for this book. Then John reenforces his words with other witnesses. John says “not only I but also all they that have known the truth;” The Bible is very clear about having two or three witnesses whenever something is proclaimed. In Jesus' discourse on the subject of forgiveness he said in the book of Matthew in chapter eighteen and verse sixteen:
But if he will not hear [you, then] take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
John uses this idea to present the truth to “the elect lady and her children.” Notice with me as we begin this book once again: John establishes his credentials; John addresses this woman and her children; John expresses his love in truth for her; and John shares that there are witnesses who also have known the truth that he will discuss with her.
For us today, we might with anticipation be closely observing just what John the apostle has to say to us about truth. With the variety of religions and ways of thought available today, it is important that we know how to distinguish truth from error. There is one proverb that comes to mind as we study this book together. It is found in the book of Proverbs in chapter fourteen and verse twelve:
There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.
That which is offered to us today may “seem” right, but could be leading to “the ways of death”. May we learn from John the apostle the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth as we study his words.
Next time we shall take a look at why we should know the truth, so read ahead and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
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