10 key words in 2 John #10: teaching
So today we arrive at the final blog post about 2 John.
This month, we’ve picked out 10 key words from the letter and unpacked those words to see what message they contain for us today. I hope this has been helpful.
It seems appropriate to end this study on 2 John with some thoughts on teaching.
The whole of 2 John:
1 The elder,
To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:
3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.
4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.
12 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
13 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.
The 10 key words:
- lady
- chosen
- children
- love
- truth
- Jesus
- joy
- command
- deceiver
- teaching
Today’s word: teaching
teaching: noun
– the occupation, profession, or work of a teacher.
‘I went into teaching because I like working with children’
– ideas or principles taught by an authority.
‘the teachings of the Koran’
teach: verb
– impart knowledge to or instruct (someone) as to how to do something.
‘she taught him to read’
– give information about or instruction in (a subject or skill).
‘he came one day each week to teach painting’
– work as a teacher.
‘she teaches at the local high school’
– cause (someone) to learn or understand something by example or experience.
‘travelling taught me that not everyone shared my beliefs’
– encourage someone to accept (something) as a fact or principle.
‘the philosophy teaches self-control’
– make (someone) less inclined to do something.
‘I’ll teach you to throw rocks at my windows’
It doesn’t take long to figure out as you get older that the more you learn, the less you actually know. We will never stop learning and developing in every area of our lives. We will never arrive. We will never know it all. We have to adopt the attitude of a student however old and experienced and knowledgeable we are.
Even when we are a teacher. I remember when I was a Languages teacher, my German wasn’t great and I was always only one step ahead of the kids – when I was asked what guinea pig was in German, I said ‘we’ll cover that next lesson’ and went away to find out! My German teaching didn’t last long! Teachers don’t always have all the answers and it’s OK for them to admit that – although I would hope that most teachers are more proficient in their subject than I was in German!
The only teacher who does have all the answers is Jesus. He’s the only one who can fully teach us how to live, because he created us and knows the best way to live in this world. We won’t find all the specific answers to the decisions we need to take in our lives, but we will find the right attitude of heart and right way to connect with ourselves, God and others…then the rest will follow.
So let’s take those definitions of teaching above and reframe them in the context of the teaching of Jesus.
– the occupation, profession, or work of a teacher.
While some of us will take on an official role as a teacher in the faith, we are actually all teachers, because at times, others will look to us as an example, a role model of how to live out the Christian faith in this world.
– ideas or principles taught by an authority.
As Christians, we are to follow first and foremost the teachings of Christ. That is our faith. That is our calling. Jesus Christ is to be the ultimate voice of authority in our lives and anyone that teaches us anything that is contrary to the teaching and example of Jesus should not be listened to, however persuasive they are.
teach: verb
– impart knowledge to or instruct (someone) as to how to do something.
The example and attitude of Jesus as he lived as a human on earth teach us all we need to know about the basis of how to live as God intended in this world.
– give information about or instruction in (a subject or skill).
We will never stop learning about God or how to live in connection with Him and others. No one will ever know it all.
– work as a teacher.
Yes, we all have a role as a teacher to some individuals in our lives and we need to take that role seriously.
– cause (someone) to learn or understand something by example or experience.
Often, the best way to learn is by example or experience – let me walk alongside you as we figure this out together…
– encourage someone to accept (something) as a fact or principle.
Jesus teaches us principles to live by – the way, the truth and the life.
– make (someone) less inclined to do something.
As we grow and develop, rooted in the teachings of Christ, we will be less inclined to make poor choices because we will be more aware of the consequences of the choices before us.
And that’s it. The end of this series.
We finish with a question to reflect on and I’ll see you next month!
In what ways do you consider yourself to be a learner? How can you ensure that you are learning from the teaching of Christ every single day?
