The Second Letter of John

The Second Letter of John is one of the shortest books in the Bible. It has only one chapter and just a few verses. But even though it is short, it shares an important message. It reminds Christians to hold on to the truth and to love one another.

This letter was written by someone called “the elder.” Most people believe this is the Apostle John. He also wrote the Gospel of John, First John, and Revelation. He was an old man at the time and had been a follower of Jesus for many years. He cared deeply about the Church.

John writes to a woman he calls “the chosen lady” and her children. This might be a real woman and her family, or it could be a way to talk about a local church and its members. Either way, John wants them to stay strong in their faith.

The letter warns about people who teach false things about Jesus. John says not to welcome them or support them. He also reminds the readers to love each other and to walk in God’s commandments. Truth and love are the main points of this short message.

The Second Letter of John was likely written near the end of the first century. This was a time when the early Church was growing, but also facing some problems. Some people were teaching false ideas about Jesus. Others were trying to divide the Church. Christians needed guidance and support.

The writer of this letter calls himself “the elder.” Most people think this was the Apostle John. He had followed Jesus during His time on earth. By the time this letter was written, John was very old. He had seen many changes in the Church. He wanted to protect it.

John was known for his focus on love and truth. He had seen how Jesus lived and taught. So he reminded Christians to love each other and stay true to the faith. He had a simple message: follow Jesus, keep His commandments, and stay away from false teachers.

This short letter shows us that the early Church needed strong leaders. They needed reminders to stay close to what Jesus taught. John wrote with care and wisdom to help them stay on the right path.

Second John is written like a simple letter. It starts with a greeting from “the elder” and ends with a short goodbye. The letter is not long. It has only one chapter and just a few verses. But every word has meaning. The writer does not waste time.

The style is clear and direct. The elder says what he means. He repeats words like “truth,” “love,” and “commandments” to make his point. These words are easy to understand, but they are also very important. He uses them to remind the readers of what they already know.

The letter sounds personal. It feels like it was written to someone the elder cares about. He speaks with kindness but also with care. He wants the reader to listen and take his words seriously. His tone is gentle but firm.

Even though the letter is short, it is full of purpose. It shows that strong teaching does not need to be long or fancy. A simple message, spoken with love and truth, can help people stay faithful and strong.

The Second Letter of John shares simple but strong themes. These ideas are important in Catholic teaching. The letter helps us remember how to live as faithful followers of Christ.

• Truth and love go together
  The elder reminds the Church to stay in the truth and to love one another. In Catholic life, we are called to do both. We follow the truth of Jesus and show love in action, like feeding the hungry or caring for the sick.
• Obeying God’s commandments
  John talks about walking in the commandments. This means we don’t just believe with our minds. We live our faith by keeping God’s laws. Catholics do this through the teachings of the Church and the sacraments.
• Warning against false teaching
  The elder warns about people who deny Jesus came in the flesh. The Church has always guarded against false teaching. The Creed helps us stay true to the real Jesus—fully human and fully God.
• Staying faithful as a community
  The letter is not just for one person. It speaks to a whole group. Catholic faith is not lived alone. We are part of the Body of Christ. We support each other and stay strong together.

These themes remind us to hold on to Jesus, to love others, and to live as a faithful Church family.

Second John is short, but it still has a clear structure. The letter has four main parts. Each one has a purpose. These sections help the message stay clear and easy to follow.

• Greeting (verses 1–3)
  The elder greets the chosen lady and her children. He speaks about truth, love, and grace. He reminds them that truth stays with us and brings peace.
• Encouragement to love and obey (verses 4–6)
  The elder is glad to see that some are walking in truth. He asks them to love one another. He also reminds them that love means keeping God’s commandments.
• Warning against false teachers (verses 7–11)
  He warns that many deceivers have gone out into the world. These people deny that Jesus came in the flesh. The elder says not to support them or welcome them.
• Closing and final greetings (verses 12–13)
  The elder says he has more to share, but he wants to visit in person. He ends with greetings from the children of the chosen sister.

Each part of the letter has a clear message. Together, they guide the Church to stay faithful, to love, and to watch out for false teaching.

Even though 2 John is very short, its message still fits our world today. The Church still needs to stay true to the teachings of Jesus. We also still need to love each other every day.

Many voices today say different things about Jesus. Some twist His words. Others ignore them. Just like in the time of John, we must be careful. We need to know what is true and follow the real Jesus. The Church helps us do that through Scripture, the sacraments, and the teachings passed down over time.

We also need love in a world that often feels cold or angry. John reminds us that real love means following God’s ways. It means being patient, kind, and honest. It means caring for others, even when it’s hard.

This letter may be short, but it helps us check our hearts. Are we walking in truth? Are we showing love? Are we staying close to Jesus and His Church? Those are questions we still need to ask today.

The Second Letter of John is not read often at Mass. It only appears once in the Roman Catholic lectionary. Because it is so short, it is easy to miss. But when it does appear, it carries a strong message.

At Mass, we hear the part where John speaks about love and truth. He reminds the Church to walk in God’s commandments. He also warns against false teachers. This reading helps us remember to stay close to what Jesus taught.

Even though it shows up just once, it still matters. Every reading at Mass has something to teach us. Second John reminds us to live out our faith with both love and truth. The Church includes it in the lectionary because its message is still needed.

When we hear this short letter at Mass, we are invited to check how we live. Are we following Jesus? Are we loving one another? These questions never get old.

• Friday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time II –  2 John 4-9: Walking in Truth and Love

Truth and Love Together

In this episode of the Bible in a Year Podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz reflects on the Second Letter of John. He says this short letter focuses on two key things: truth and love. John reminds the Church to stay rooted in both, not just one or the other.

Fr. Mike explains that truth without love becomes harsh, like a hammer. But love without truth becomes soft and empty, like syrup. We need both truth and love if we want to build up others and live well.

He says real love is not just a feeling. It’s shown by obeying God’s commandments. That’s what John means when he says love is following the truth.

Fr. Mike reminds us that Jesus calls us to this kind of love—love that acts and obeys. The Second Letter of John shows how important it is to stay close to Christ by living in both truth and love.

The Bible

The Second Letter of John shows how even a short book of the Bible can teach us something important. It reminds us to follow the truth, love one another, and be careful of false teaching. These are simple lessons that still matter today.

If you want to learn more about how the whole Bible fits together, visit our page called Understanding the Bible. It explains how the books of the Bible are grouped and how they tell the story of God’s people. This is a great place to start if you are new to reading the Bible or just want a quick refresher.

Who wrote the Second Letter of John?

Most people believe the Apostle John wrote it. He was one of Jesus’ closest followers. He also wrote the Gospel of John, First John, and Revelation.

Who is the “chosen lady” in the letter?

The “chosen lady” might be a real woman and her children. But some think it means a local church and its members. Either way, the message is for a Christian community.

Why is 2 John so short?

It is a short letter with a clear message. John wanted to remind the Church to love one another and avoid false teachers. He also hoped to visit them in person soon.

What is the main message of 2 John?

The main message is to walk in truth and love. This means keeping God’s commandments and being careful of people who teach lies about Jesus.

Is 2 John important for Catholics today?

Yes. It reminds us to stay true to Jesus and to love others. These are still very important in our Catholic life.

The Second Letter of John is one of the shortest books in the Bible. But its message is clear and needed. The letter reminds us to stay faithful to Jesus and to love one another. It also warns us to watch out for false teachers who try to confuse people.

The letter is written by someone called “the elder.” Most Catholics believe this was the Apostle John. He writes to a woman he calls the “chosen lady,” which may mean a local church and its people. His tone is caring, but also strong. He wants the readers to remember what they already know.

John repeats two ideas: walk in truth and walk in love. This means living the faith every day. We must follow God’s commandments and treat each other with kindness. These two things go together.

The Church includes 2 John in the Bible because it reminds us how to live as Christians. It may be short, but it calls us to be careful, faithful, and loving.

Take a few minutes this week to read the Second Letter of John. It’s short and easy to read, but the message is strong. It speaks about truth, love, and staying faithful to Jesus.

After you read it, come back and share what stood out to you. Did anything surprise you? Did it make you think about your own walk with Christ? Let us know in the comments below.