These small group studies of 2 John contain outlines, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, and applications. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.

2 John 1:-6 Bible Study with Discussion Questions, Verse by Verse Commentary, and Cross References

2 John 1-6

Walk in Love and Truth

Summary- John is able to love the elect lady and her children in truth because he and others have known the truth, and it abides in them now and forever. In truth and love, he sends grace, peace and mercy to them from God the Father and the Son. He rejoices greatly that some of her children are walking in the truth, as commanded by the Father. He pleads with them as he has from the beginning, to love one another. The love that they are to exercise is manifested in their walking in obedience to His commandments, which they have heard from the beginning.

Central Teaching- Walk in truth and love according to the commandments which we have heard from the beginning.

Key Verse- 6

Key Words- elect lady, children, love, truth, abides, forever, grace, mercy, peace, walk, commandments, new, beginning, one another

Ten things this passage says-

John and all those who had known the truth loved the elect lady and her children in truth.
Their true love was enabled by the truth that was in them then and forever.
God the Father and the Son are the givers of grace, mercy and peace.
It is because of love and truth that God gives us grace, mercy and peace.
Some of the recipients of this letter were walking in the truth.
God’s commandments are a measuring stick by which we measure truth and our obedience to truth. There is absolute truth.
The commandment to love one another is not new, but has been heard from the beginning.
Loving one another is important, and should be a key point on which we encourage one another and teach our students.
We show love by walking according to His commandments.
God’s commandments don’t change, nor should our obedience to them waver.

Ten things this passage does NOT say-

John and his fellow believers only loved out of a sense of emotion or obligation, or else were merely putting on a display of love for selfish reasons of their own.
Truth changes with the times. What is true for one generation may not be true for the next. We should be flexible in our interpretation of what “truth” is.
Grace, mercy and peace can come from sources outside of God and His Son.
The Father and the Son give us grace, mercy and peace in a deceptive and/or unloving way.
All of the recipients of John’s letter were walking in the truth, and we should necessarily expect that all of our students and fellow believers will do the same.
There is no absolute truth, or if there is, we have no way of discerning what it is. Certainly, God does not tell us.
Loving one another is a new concept, with no precedent or example from which we might learn how to do it.
Loving one another is not so important. As long as we have correct doctrine, a vast knowledge of the Bible, and numerous good works, it is enough.
It’s not necessary to obey His commandments in order to love.
God’s commandments have changed over time, and we must constantly reinterpret what it means to obey them.

What does this passage teach me about God?

He loves in truth.

He is truth.

He gives us truth now and forever.

He is the giver of grace, mercy and peace, in truth and love.

He rejoices when His children walk in the truth.

He commands us in the way we should go.

His commandments are unchanging.

He demands obedience as proof of love.

He does not consider one-time obedience to be true love. We must walk in obedience in order to show our love for Him.

Questions-

Who do you think “the elder” is? Why did he call himself that? V 1

Who do you think “the chosen lady” and “her children” are? V 1

What is the basis of the love that John had for these people? V 1

Why is it significant that the basis for our love as Christians is truth? V 2

What is the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever? V 2 The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6), the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:6) or the Bible (John 17:17).

Why do you think “grace, mercy and peace” are mentioned specifically here? V 3

Why does it mention that these gifts are our from God the Father and from Jesus Christ? V 3

Why is it significant that these three gifts are ours “in truth and love”? V 3

What do you think John means by “some” of your children? Do you think that true Christians will walk in the truth all the time? V 4

What does it mean to “walk in the truth”? V 4

Why are we to walk in the truth? V 4

Why is it important to understand that the command to love is not a new commandment? V 5

When did we first hear this commandment? V 5

What do you think it means to “love one another”? V 5

What is love, according to this verse? V 6

Why did he mention commandments, and then only commandment? V 6

Why is it significant that we have heard the same commandments since the beginning? V 6

Cross References-

2 John 1-

1 Peter 5:1

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,

3 John 1

The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

Eph 1:4-5

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

1 Thess 1:3-4

3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, 4 knowing, brethren beloved by God,His choice of you;

2 Thess 2:13-14

13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:22-23

22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

1 John 3:18

18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

John 8:32

32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Gal 2:5

5 But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

Gal 5:7

7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?

Col 1:5

5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth,

2 Thess 2:13

1 Tim 2:4

4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Heb 10:26

For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

1 John 2:21

21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

2 John 2-

1 Cor 9:23

23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

2 Cor 4:5

5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.

John 15:7

7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Col 3:16

16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

2 Tim 1:5

5 For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

1 Peter 1:23-25

23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,

“ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS,

AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS.

THE GRASS WITHERS,

AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,

25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.”

And this is the word which was preached to you.

1 John 2:14

14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

1 John 2:17

17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

Deut 6:6

6 ” These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.

1 John 1:8

8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:10

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

1 John 2:24

24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

1 John 2:27

27 As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

3 John 3

3 For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth.

2 John 3-

Rom 1:7

7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Tim 1:2

2 To Timothy,my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 2:23-24

23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

1 John 4:10

10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Gal 5:6

6 For in C