By: Robert Serreyn
Question? I have heard different explanations of 2 John 1:10, could you PLEASE give your explanation?
2 John 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.
Answer:
This verse has caused much confusion for many christians due to some of the extreme explainations that have been given.
Back in biblical times christians used to meet in their homes (houses) unlike today were christians meet in a church building.
The warning given here was to “Not Allow” anyone that was a false teacher to “Enter your House”.
2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an Antichrist.
Today the same principle is to be applied to the modern day local church NO PASTOR should allow any false teachers to occupy the pulpit lest they lead astray their congregation WITH false doctrine.
As scripture states in 1 John 4:1… Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets (preachers) are gone out into the world.
There is also a mis – understanding concerning this verse, There are those that take this verse to mean that you MUST NOT allow anyone into your home that is not a christian, if that was so, THEN a person would have to forbid ANY Family Member, Service Repair Person, Neighbor, or Friend that were NOT SAVED from entering into their homes, of course that is crazy thinking and NOT what the context of this verse is talking about as I had explained above.
In Conclusion:
To recap this verse, let’s break it down this way…
– If there come any unto you. IE. False Teachers.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
– Bring not this doctrine = The denial that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh OR any teaching / doctrine that is contrary to the Word of God.
Galatians 1:8-9 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (9) As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
– Receive him not into your house (church) = DO NOT welcome that person into your church and forbid them to occupy the pulpit.
Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
– Neither bid him God speed = DO NOT praise them or applaud their false teachings for in doing so according to V11 your just as guilty for encouraging their false beliefs as they are in teaching them.
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH