2 John study section
2 John word studies
A handful of Greek words carry the theology of 2 John. Tap the speaker next to any word to hear it pronounced.
Key words
ἀλήθεια (alētheia) — “Truth”
Usage: 2 John 1-4
Meaning: Truth, reality, that which corresponds to fact — especially the truth of the gospel about Christ.
Theological Significance: Alētheia dominates the opening: John loves “in truth,” rejoices that they “walk in the truth,” and speaks of the truth that “abides in us.” The truth about Christ is the ground of both love and fellowship, and the standard by which teaching is tested (2 John 1-4; John 14:6; 17:17).
ἀγάπη (agapē) — “Love”
Usage: 2 John 3, 5-6
Meaning: Self-giving love that seeks the good of another.
Theological Significance: John repeats the command to agapē one another, and defines it concretely: “this is love, that we walk according to his commandments.” Genuine love is not mere sentiment but obedience grounded in the truth (2 John 5-6; John 14:15; 1 John 5:3).
διδαχή (didachē) — “Teaching, Doctrine”
Usage: 2 John 9-10
Meaning: Teaching, instruction, doctrine — here “the teaching of Christ,” the apostolic message about Him.
Theological Significance: To “abide in the didachē of Christ” is to “have both the Father and the Son”; to go beyond it is to lose God. Faithful adherence to the true teaching about Jesus is the boundary of genuine faith and fellowship (2 John 9; 1 Timothy 6:3; Jude 3).
πλάνος (planos) — “Deceiver, One Who Leads Astray”
Usage: 2 John 7
Meaning: A deceiver, impostor, one who leads others astray from the truth.
Theological Significance: The planoi deny “the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh.” Such a one is “the deceiver and the antichrist.” John warns the church to recognize and refuse these deceivers, for their error destroys the gospel (2 John 7; 1 John 4:1-3; Matthew 24:24).
μένω (menō) — “To Abide, Remain”
Usage: 2 John 2, 9
Meaning: To abide, remain, dwell, continue.
Theological Significance: The truth “abides” (menō) in believers forever, and those who “abide in the teaching” have the Father and the Son. Remaining steadfast in the truth about Christ, rather than moving “on ahead” into error, is the mark of those who belong to God (2 John 2, 9; John 15:4-7).
My notes
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