Overall Question: What are the main ideas of 2 John?

Memory Text: 2 John 1:9 NRSV “Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God; whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”
2 John 1:9 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES Probably the immediate allusion here is to those to whom John so frequently referred as "antichrist," who denied that Jesus had come in the flesh.
2 John 1:9 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY There is nothing wrong in going ahead so long as one remains within the framework of the Saviour’s own doctrine. But he who tries to go where Christ has not led, places himself outside Christ’s domain, and thus remains not in the doctrine given by Jesus.

Sunday – In Love and Truth
2 John CEV “1 ¶ From the church leader. To a very special woman and her children. I truly love all of you, and so does everyone else who knows the truth. 2 We love you because the truth is now in our hearts, and it will be there forever. 3 I pray that God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son will be kind and merciful to us! May they give us peace and truth and love. 4 I was very glad to learn that some of your children are obeying the truth, as the Father told us to do. 5 ¶ Dear friend, I am not writing to tell you and your children to do something you have not done before. I am writing to tell you to love each other, which is the first thing you were told to do. 6 Love means that we do what God tells us. And from the beginning, he told you to love him. 7 ¶ Many liars have gone out into the world. These deceitful liars are saying that Jesus Christ did not have a truly human body. But they are liars and the enemies of Christ. 8 So be sure not to lose what we have worked for. If you do, you won’t be given your full reward. 9 Don’t keep changing what you were taught about Christ, or else God will no longer be with you. But if you hold firmly to what you were taught, both the Father and the Son will be with you. 10 ¶ If people won’t agree to this teaching, don’t welcome them into your home or even greet them. 11 Greeting them is the same as taking part in their evil deeds. 12 ¶ I have much more to tell you, but I don’t want to write it with pen and ink. I want to come and talk to you in person, because that will make us really happy. 13 Greetings from the children of your very special sister.”
2 John 1:1 COMMENTARY BY ADAM CLARKE John the apostle, who was now a very old man, generally supposed to be about ninety, and therefore he uses the term o presbuterov, presbyter or elder, not as the name of an office, but as designating his advanced age. He is allowed to have been the oldest of all the apostles, and to have been the only one who died a natural death.
2 John 1:2 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY Presumably, the truth had also once dwelt in the hearts of those who later apostatized, but here the apostle expresses firm confidence that truth will perpetually abide with the members of his circle. Such confidence does not preclude individual apostasy, but does proclaim the consistent adherence of the church to its Heaven-sent doctrine.
2 Thessalonians 2:10 CEV “Lost people will be fooled by his evil deeds. They could be saved, but they will refuse to love the truth and accept it.”

Monday – Walking According to the Commandments
2 John 1:4-6 ESV “4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5 ¶ And now I ask you, dear lady––not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning––that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.”
2 John 1:6 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY John then defines that love as walking “after his commandments.” Love consists not only in cherishing kind feelings toward others but in observing right conduct toward our fellows as directed in God’s commandments. These commands, faithfully observed, will result in practical demonstrations of love to our fellows.
2 John 1:6 COMMENTARY BY ADAM CLARKE That is, our love is shown and proved by our walking according to the commandments of God; for love is the principle of obedience.
Revelation 14:12 ESV “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”

Tuesday – Going Beyond the Teaching of Christ
2 John 1:7-9 Holman “7 ¶ Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we have worked for, but you may receive a full reward. 9 Anyone who does not remain in the teaching about Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son.”
2 John 1:8 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES The truth which is taught here is one of interest to all Christians--that it is possible for even genuine Christians, by suffering themselves to be led into error, or by failure in duty, to lose a part of the reward which they might have obtained. The crown which they will wear in heaven will be less bright than that which they might have worn, and the throne which they will occupy will be less elevated. The rewards of heaven will be in accordance with the services rendered to the Redeemer; and it would not be right that they who turn aside, or falter in their course, should have the same exalted honours which they might have received if they had devoted themselves to God with ever-increasing fidelity. It is painful to think how many there are who begin the Christian career with burning zeal, as if they would strike for the highest rewards in heaven, but who soon waver in their course, and fall into some paralysing error, until at last they receive, perhaps, not half the reward which they might have obtained.
2 John 1:7 COMMENTARY BY WILLIAM BURKITT even from the beginning our Lord Jesus has had those who have disowned his natures, and denied his offices, the divinity of his person, the meritoriousness of his satisfaction; these are antichrists, persons maliciously set against Christ, and they shall find him righteously set against them in the day when they shall be summoned by him solemnly to appear before him.
Matthew 16:12 KJ21 “Then understood they that He bade them not to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”
Acts 2:42 KJ21 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread and in prayers.”
Romans 6:17 KJ21 “But God be thanked that though ye were the servants of sin, now ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”
Revelation 2:14-15 KJ21 “14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So thou also hast them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.”

Wednesday – Refraining From Hospitality?
2 John 1:10-11 “10 ¶ If anyone comes to you and doesn’t bring these teachings, don’t take him into your home or even greet him. 11 Whoever greets him shares the evil things he’s doing.”
2 John 1:10 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES The true rule would seem to be, in regard to such persons, that, so far as we have intercourse with them as neighbours, or strangers, we are to be honest, true, kind, and just, but we are to do nothing that will contenance them as religious teachers. We are not to attend on their instruction, Pr 19:27; we are not to receive them into our houses, or to entertain them as religious teachers; we are not to commend them to others, or to give them any reason to use our names or influence in propagating error. It would not be difficult to practise this rule, and yet to show to others all the kindness, and all the attention in circumstances of want, which religion demands.
[i]2 John 1:11 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY John makes it clear why we should not entertain false teachers: voluntary association with them will make it appear that we approve of their teachings, and the undiscerning might misinterpret even well-meaning hospitality given to such teachers.
Hebrews 13:2 20th Century NT “Do not neglect to show hospitality; for, through being hospitable, men have all unawares entertained angels.” 1 Peter 4:9 20th Century NT “Never grudge hospitality to one another.”
Matthew 10:14-15 God’s Word to the Nations “14 If anyone doesn’t welcome you or listen to what you say, leave that house or city, and shake its dust off your feet. 15 I can guarantee this truth: Judgment day will be better for Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city.”
Matthew 18:15-17 God’s Word to the Nations “15 ¶ "If a believer does something wrong, go, confront him when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won back that believer. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you so that every accusation may be verified by two or three witnesses. 17 If he ignores these witnesses, tell it to the community of believers. If he also ignores the community, deal with him as you would a heathen or a tax collector.”

Thursday – Communicating With One Another
2 John 1:12-13 God’s Word to the Nations “12 ¶ Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 13 The children of your elect sister greet you.”
2 John 1:12 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES The material designated by the word used by John (carthv) was the Egyptian papyrus, and the particular thing denoted was a leaf made out of that plant. The sheets were made from membranes of the plant closely pressed together. This plant was found also in Syria and Babylon, but it was produced in greater abundance in Egypt, and that was the plant which was commonly used. It was so comparatively cheap, that it in a great measure superseded the earlier materials for writing--plates of lead, or stone, or the skins of animals. It is probable that the books of the New Testament were written on this species of paper.
Acts 2:42-47 ESV “42 ¶ And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:42 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY Here were four basic elements in the life of the new Christian society: (1) The believers grew in knowledge of the truth through the teaching of the apostles. (2) They were conscious of fellowship with Christ, and with one another in acts of common worship and mutual kindness and benevolence. (3) They participated in the “breaking of bread,” probably including the Lord’s Supper. (4) They engaged in prayer, both private and corporate.

I like the memory verse better in the NKJV

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 2Jo 1:9

What is the CEV?

Contemporary English Version. It is similar to the Good News Bible, but the GNB is better. The GNB is also called Today's English Version.

Thanks.

The Good News Bible is paraphrased, no?

Jim, perhaps I am getting tired this evening but I do not understand your poll for this lesson.

If the visitor doesn't agree with the 'Christian's ideas about the Sabbath, how else are you going to share with them why you keep the Sabbath?

If the visitor has subtle heresy thoughts, how would one know unless they have been very vocal about their ideas during SS or Church.

If the visitor is not an Adventist or you don't get the chance to visit with them, how would you know what their views are?

Should we not extend to all within our range of influence, fellowship without the 3rd degree or are we too concerned about what others may say or even worse, what changes the 'visitor' might effect in our own lives? Let's just invite all who are willing to come sit at the feet of Jesus with us. It is not about us...It is all about Him.

Just a comment about this week's pole question: I don't believe I could vote for any of the answers. John wasn't talking about what a person might understand about Christ, or their belief about any other doctrine, he was talking about what they were teaching! The quote above in the lesson,from the Bible Commentary makes it clear why we should not entertain false teachers: 'voluntary association with them will make it appear that we approve of their teachings, and the undiscerning might misinterpret even well-meaning hospitality given to such teachers.'

From Wednesday's lesson were these comments: If such a teacher would propagate false doctrines, hospitality would be understood as an encourageent of his position and would actually help his work. Also there is the continued question of influence - another person might make a wrong decision if they saw a prominent church member or leader letting a 'deceiver' stay with him or her. The church should not encourage a teacher who preaches heresy.

The big problem comes with the notion that insisting on 'truth' is considered by some as 'judgmental', - so how are we kind and loving and still maintain 'pure doctrine'?

I put that one in there because there are a lot of people who are very friendly with people with some heretical religious views that they quietly weave into their presentations. In the end, it costs them their salvation.

Most of the time, these people have had dealings with many other churches; their reputation is well-known.

And, then again, maybe I was too tired when I wrote the poll.

Whether we agree with someone's theology or not ... we should always exchange hospitality. Probably more so with those we disagree with than those we do agree with.