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[[File:Toros Roslin Manrankar.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|Armenian icon of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, 13th century]]

[[File:Toros Roslin Manrankar.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|Armenian icon of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, 13th century]]

The '''Second Epistle of John''' or '''II John''' (usually referred to as '''2 John''') is a [[book]] in the [[New Testament]].  It is one of the five biblical books which consists of a single chapter in the modern Bible, and is only 298 words long.  It takes less than 3 minutes to read aloud.

The '''Second Epistle of John''' or '''II John''' (usually referred to as '''2 John''') is a [[book]] in the [[New Testament]] written by the [[Saint John|Apostle John]].  It is one of the five biblical books which consists of a single chapter in the modern Bible, and is only 298 words long.  It takes less than 3 minutes to read aloud.

The main [[theology|theological]] themes of 2 John center on the importance of [[truth]], [[love]], and obedience - with a strong emphasis on spiritual discernment and the importance of guarding against false religious teachers.<ref>[https://enterthebible.org/courses/2-john/lessons/theological-themes-in-2-john Theological Themes in 2 John]</ref>

The main [[theology|theological]] themes of 2 John center on the importance of [[truth]], [[love]], and obedience - with a strong emphasis on spiritual discernment and the importance of guarding against false religious teachers.<ref>[https://enterthebible.org/courses/2-john/lessons/theological-themes-in-2-john Theological Themes in 2 John]</ref>

== Author ==

== Author ==

The author identifies himself as John, historically considered to be the [[Apostle John]], who also wrote the [[Gospel of John]] along with [[I John]], [[III John]] and the [[Book of Revelation]].  Liberal theologians disagree, conceding only that all three epistles were likely written by the same person.

The author identifies himself as John, historically considered to be the Apostle John, who also wrote the [[Gospel of John]] along with [[I John]], [[III John]] and the [[Book of Revelation]].  Liberal theologians disagree, conceding only that all three epistles were likely written by the same person.

The use of the phrase "[[eternal life]]" occurs repeatedly in the [[Gospel of John]] and [[1 John]], but not in [[II John]] or [[III John]], which leads some to suggest that the authorship of the first two were the same, but the authorship of the latter two may have been different. However, due to the brief length of II John and III John, only about 10% the length of [[I John]], attempts to refute traditional authorship are difficult to substantiate. Numerous similarities in writing style and tone in the Gospel and Epistles of John indicate they were penned by the same individual, such as the term "antichrist" used only in I and II John.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=antichrist&version=ESV 4 Bible results for "antichrist" from English Standard Version]. ''Bible Gateway''. Retrieved April 5, 2023.</ref>

The use of the phrase "[[eternal life]]" occurs repeatedly in the [[Gospel of John]] and [[1 John]], but not in [[II John]] or [[III John]], which leads some to suggest that the authorship of the first two were the same, but the authorship of the latter two may have been different. However, due to the brief length of II John and III John, only about 10% the length of [[I John]], attempts to refute traditional authorship are difficult to substantiate. Numerous similarities in writing style and tone in the Gospel and Epistles of John indicate they were penned by the same individual, such as the term "antichrist" used only in I and II John.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=antichrist&version=ESV 4 Bible results for "antichrist" from English Standard Version]. ''Bible Gateway''. Retrieved April 5, 2023.</ref>