Behind | Workbook: 2 John and the Gospel of John

Grab your Workbook Journal!

[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]

In the next few exercises, we’ll be considering the likelihood of 2 and 3 John being written by John, the author of the fourth gospel. Be looking at Johannine (John-like) themes and phrases, as we did in 1 John, we’ll see his fingerprints here as well.

Some books in the New Testament were accepted into the Bible mainly because of their immense theological importance and their widespread use in early Christian liturgies and teachings. Others were accepted more because of their authorship and the authority of the people who wrote them. Both 2 and 3 John fall into this second category. 

In spite of the short length of these letters, and their reliance on the authority of their author for inclusion in the biblical canon, they are still letters of substance. 

2. Read 2 John 1–2, 9. What do you find to be the distinctive Johannine focus in these two passages?