“Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. 13 The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.”
We come to the conclusion of 2 John in verses 12 and 13.
Having many things to write to you,
John has more to say on the subject of 2nd John.
I did not wish to do so with paper and ink;
“Paper” here is papyrus, not parchment (which is much more costly). They made papyrus by placing strips of pith side-by-side and then crosswise with a paste. They made “ink” from lampblack, carbon, or soot.
It is one thing to write something on paper, but it is another to speak personally “face to face.”
but I hope to come to you and speak face to face,
John hopes to visit his readers personally to explain more fully the principles behind 2nd John.
that our joy may be full
The readers of 2nd John will be full of joy when John comes to explain himself more fully. Spoken words face to face are a more suitable method of interaction than writing.
The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen
The reference here is to two Christian women and their children. The mother of the 2nd set of children may have died. These children may be the nephews and nieces of the elect lady (v. 1). These “children” may be those who informed John of the elect lady’s error in entertaining false teachers.
PRINCIPLE:
There is joy in Christian fellowship.
APPLICATION:
Far too many of us endure religion rather than enjoy the richness of Christian fellowship.
