Author and Date
The author is John the apostle. Obvious similarities to 1 John and the
Gospel of John suggest that the same person wrote all three books. Compare the
following:
;
Date
The letter was probably written about the same time as 1 John (a.d. 85-95),
as the above comparisons suggest (see Introduction to 1 John: Date).
Occasion and Purpose
During the first two centuries the gospel was taken from place to place by
traveling evangelists and teachers. Believers customarily took these
missionaries into their homes and gave them provisions for their journey when
they left. Since Gnostic teachers also relied on this practice (see note on
), 2 John was written to urge discernment in
supporting traveling teachers; otherwise, someone might unintentionally contribute to the propagation of heresy rather than truth.