Editorial Note: If you are not proficient in Greek, you will find
this work considerably more useful than the following work by Alford,
because in this volume he translates the Greek and Latin into English.
While the "The Greek New Testament" (see next entry below) is longer (e.g., English version
of 1John = 66 pages compared to Greek version = 94 pages
in part because the latter includes comments of more technical
nature), the substance of the commentary is otherwise similar to that
found in the "NT for English Readers".
Henry Alford's "The New Testament
for English Readers"
Henry Alford The Greek New Testament
2 John Commentary
Recommended
Charles Haddon Spurgeon writes that this text "is an invaluable
aid to the critical study of the text of the New Testament. You will
find in it the ripened results of a matured scholarship, the
harvesting of a judgment, generally highly impartial, always worthy of
respect, which has gleaned from the most important fields of Biblical
research, both modern and ancient, at home and abroad. You will not
look here for any spirituality of thought or tenderness of feeling;
you will find the learned Dean does not forget to do full justice to
his own views, and is quite able to express himself vigorously against
his opponents; but for what it professes to be, it is an exceedingly
able and successful work. The later issues are by far the most
desirable, as the author has considerably revised the work in the
fourth edition. What I have said of his Greek Testament applies
equally to Alford’s New Testament for English Readers,* which is also
a standard work." (Spurgeon,
C. H. Lectures to my Students, Vol. 4: Commenting and Commentaries;
Lectures Addressed to the students of the Pastors' College,
Metropolitan Tabernacle)
James Rosscup writes that Barnes "includes 16 volumes on the Old
Testament, 11 on the New Testament. The New Testament part of this old
work was first published in 1832–1851. Various authors contributed. It
is evangelical and amillennial...Often the explanations of verses are
very worthwhile."
(Commentaries
for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works
or
Logos)
C H
Spurgeon "Albert Barnes is a learned and able divine, but his
productions are unequal in value, the gospels are of comparatively
little worth, but his other comments are extremely useful for
Sunday-school teachers and persons with a narrow range of reading,
endowed with enough good sense to discriminate between good and
evil....Placed by the side of the great masters, Barnes is a lesser
light, but taking his work for what it is and professes to be, no
minister can afford to be without it, and this is no small praise for
works which were only intended for Sunday-school teachers." (Spurgeon,
C. H. Lectures to my Students, Vol. 4: Commenting and Commentaries;
Lectures Addressed to the students of the Pastors' College,
Metropolitan Tabernacle)
Johann A Bengel
Commentary on 2 John
Gnomon of the New Testament
James Rosscup writes "This work (Gnomon), originally issued in
1742, has considerable comment on the Greek, flavoring the effort with
judicious details about the spiritual life. It has much that helps,
but has been surpassed by many other commentaries since its day."
(Commentaries
for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works
or
Logos)
Johann Bengel
The Critical English Testament
Commentary on Jude
Represents Combination of Bengel's Gnomon (above) and
Comments
by more modern expositors (in brackets) to make this more usable for
those who do not read Greek.
Spurgeon comments on the goal to make Bengel's Gnomon
(listed above) more accessible -- "Such is the professed aim of this
commentary, and the compilers have very fairly carried out their
intentions. The whole of Bengel’s Gnomon is bodily transferred
into the work, and as 120 years have elapsed since the first issue of
that book, it may be supposed that much has since been added to the
wealth of Scripture exposition; the substance of this has been
incorporated in brackets, so as to bring it down to the present
advanced state of knowledge. We strongly advise the purchase of this
book, as it...will well repay an attentive perusal. Tischendorf and
Alford have contributed largely...to make this one of the most
lucid and concise commentaries on the text and teachings of the New
Testament" (Spurgeon,
C. H. Lectures to my Students, Vol. 4: Commenting and Commentaries;
Lectures Addressed to the students of the Pastors' College,
Metropolitan Tabernacle)
Bible.org
Resources Resources that
Reference 2 John
on the largest Bible Study Resource on the Web Hint: Do a "control +
find" when you open a "hit" and search only 2 Jo , not full
name.
This may take some practice but is guaranteed to yield some "gems"! Recommended Resource
Note: You can
retrieve more specific references by entering chapter and verse (the
above list reflects a search by chapter). Enter specific query
below...
Some
additional hints: For best results, be as specific as possible.
<>
You can search by book by typing in the book only (like: John
or Gen. standard abbreviations are accepted).
<>
You can also search by chapter like: John 1 or Gen. 2
<>
You can also search by simple or
complex references like:
James 1:2 or Hebrews 1:1-3,6; 5:4
Biblical Illustrator
Anecdotes, Illustrations,
Expositions on 2 John
Joseph Exell, Editor
Over 20 pages of resources
Miscellaneous Resources
The Epistle of 2 John Conservative,
Evangelical
Enter Query below to search
articles in 29 conservative Theological Journals - An annual
$50
fee (click
here) is required to view the entire article but will give you
access to literally thousands of conservative articles. Search by book You
can also search by chapter like: John 1 or Gen. 2 You can also search by
simple or complex references like: James 1:2 or Hebrews 1:1-3,6; 5:4
2 John 6
This is love, that we should walk after his commandments. (r.v.) (F B
Meyer)
Here is a solution to many
difficulties, and given so easily and naturally by this beloved elder to
the elect lady and her children. He had been laying much emphasis on
truth, and combining truth and love in an exquisite unity. Probably we can
never love perfectly, till we are perfectly true. If you examine yourself
in the feelings of distance and dislike which you have towards some
individual, it is almost certain that you will come on some want of
transparency and sincerity in your dealings with him. It is also the case
that if we put away all insincerity, and want of consecration, as between
us and God, we shall come to love God more perfectly.
What deep, sweet rhythm of
meaning there is in the first three verses of this letter! One reads them
over and over again. Oh that that grace, mercy, and peace, may be with us,
from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in
truth and love.
The difficulty that you
feel is that you do not love enough. You would like to love with a strong,
undying flame, burning steadily towards Jesus Christ, cleansing you with
its heat, constraining you with its love. But perhaps you fail to
distinguish between love and the emotion of love. They are not the same.
We may love without being directly conscious of love, or being able to
estimate its strength and passion. Here is the solution to many of our
questionings They love who obey.
It is recorded of Dr.
Chalmers that when a Scotch girl applied to be admitted to the sacrament,
her testimony was so halting that it seemed as though she must stand back;
but as she was leaving his room she turned back and said, “I canna speak
for the Lord Jesus, but I could dee for Him.” (Our Daily Homily)
2 John
9 Whosoever goeth onward and
abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God.-2 John 9.
Dr. Findlay has pointed out in his wonderful volume on the letters of
John, that both the second and the third have to do with the subject of
Christian hospitality. In this one, addressed to "the elect lady," perhaps
a church, and perhaps a person, the persons to whom no Christian
hospitality is to be extended are dealt with. These are described as
"deceivers . even they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the
flesh." It is with reference to such that this declaration is made. They
were persons who claimed to be leaders; they were advanced thinkers, they
were progressive. The Gnostic teachers of the time were claiming that
while the Gospel of the historic Jesus might be all very well for
unenlightened people, they had a profounder knowledge. Such were to
receive no hospitality. In this warning, we find a principle of perpetual
application. There is always room for advanced thinking, for progressive
interpretation, for the things of Christ are as profound as God and life.
We never ought to be content to tarry with the first principles of truth.
We should in know-ledge go on unto perfection. But there is one infallible
test for such advanced thinking, for such progressive interpretation. It
is that the advanced thinking do not contradict the first principles, or
deny the fundamental facts of our faith —those of the historic Jesus, that
of the fact that He came in the flesh. Such advanced thinking as denies
these things, is not progress, but retrogression and apostasy. (G
Campbell Morgan)
The story is told of a king who had a silver bell placed in a high
tower of his palace early in his reign. He announced that he would
ring the bell whenever he was happy so that his subjects would know
of his joy.
The people listened for the sound of that silver bell, but it
remained silent. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, and
months into years. But no sound of the bell rang out to indicate
that the king was happy.
The king grew old and gray, and eventually he lay on his deathbed in
the palace. As some of his weeping subjects gathered around him, he
discovered that he had really been loved by his people all through
the years. At last the king was happy. Just before he died, he
reached up and pulled the rope that rang the silver bell.
Think of it--a lifetime of unhappiness because he didn't know that
he was warmly loved and accepted by his loyal subjects.
Someone gave me a
cheering word
Of which I was in need,
And faith was bolstered once again
By just that tiny deed. --Sheldon
The human spirit
rings with hope at the sound of an encouraging word.
><>><>><>
Don’t Go Down
There - 2 John 1:6 - In his book Lessons Learned Early, Jerry
Jenkins tells a story about his freshman year in college. It was
1968, a year of tremendous political and social upheaval in the US.
Riots had broken out in many major cities. From the rooftop of his
dorm in Chicago, Jerry heard sirens and saw fires burning. Students
had been told to stay on campus, but Jerry wanted to see what was
happening.
As he ran toward a store that was blazing a few blocks away, a
police car pulled up beside him. “Don’t go down there,” the officer
warned.
Jerry waited till the car pulled away and then kept walking. The
officer returned. This time he made it more clear as he repeated,
“Don’t go down there”—and leveled a shotgun out the window.
Our rebellious or willful streaks often lead to unhappy outcomes. In
anger, Moses struck the rock to get water rather than just speak to
it as God had commanded. He forfeited the privilege of entering the
Promised Land with his people (Nu. 20:7, 8, 9, 10, 1112). Jonah
disobeyed an order to go to Nineveh and was given 3 days to think
about his choice—inside a big fish (Jonah 1).
What does it take for us to obey Him? Will we obey simply because we
love Him? (John 14:15,21).— Cindy Hess Kasper
DISCLAIMER: Before you "go to the commentaries" go to the
Scriptures and study them inductively (See overview of how to do
Inductive Bible Study) in dependence on
your Teacher, the Holy Spirit, Who Jesus promised would guide us into all the truth (John
16:13). Remember that Scripture is always the best commentary
on Scripture. Any commentary, even those by the most conservative and
orthodox teacher/preachers cannot help but have at least some bias of the
expositor based upon his training and experience. Therefore the inclusion
of specific links does not indicate that we agree with every comment. We
have made a sincere effort to select only the most conservative, "bibliocentric"
commentaries. Should you discover some commentary or sermon you feel may
not be orthodox, please email your concern. I have removed several links
in response to concerns by discerning readers. I recommend that your
priority be a steady intake of solid Biblical food so that with practice
you will have your spiritual senses trained to discern good from evil (Hebrews
5:14-note).
