2. We turn to the _contents_ of the Epistle.
We shall be better able to appreciate the value of these, if we consider the state of Christian literature at that time.
What had Christians to read and carry about with them? The excellent work of the Bible Society was physically impossible for long centuries to come. No doubt the LXX. version of the Old Testament was widely spread. In every great city of the Roman Empire there was a vast population of Jews. Many of these were baptized into the Church, and carried into it with them their passionate belief in the Old Testament. The Christians of the time and place to which we refer could, probably, with little trouble, if not read, yet hear the Old Covenant and able expositions of it. But they had not copies of the entire New Testament. Indeed, if all the New Testament was then written, it certainly was not collected into one volume, nor constituted one supreme authority. "Many barbarous nations," says a very ancient Father, "believe in Christ without written record, having salvation impressed through the Spirit in their hearts, and diligently preserving the old tradition."[359] Possibly a Church or single believer had one synoptical Gospel. At Ephesus Christians had doubtless been catechised in, and were deeply imbued with, St. John's view of the Person, work, and teaching of our Lord. This had now been moulded into shape, and definitely committed to writing in that glorious Gospel, the Church's Holy of Holies, St. John's Gospel. For them and for their contemporaries there was a living realization of the Gospel. They had heard it from eye-witnesses. They had passed into the wonderland of God. The earth on which Jesus trod had blossomed into miracle. The air was haunted by the echoes of His voice. They had, probably, also a certain number of the Epistles of St. Paul. The Christians of Ephesus would have a special interest in their own Epistle to the Ephesians, and in the two which were written to their first Bishop, Timothy. They had also (whether written or not) impressed upon their memories by their weekly Eucharist, the liturgical Canon of consecration according to the _Ephesian usage_--from which, and not from the Roman, the Spanish and Gallican seem to be derived. The Ephesian Christians had also the first Epistle of St. John, which in some form accompanied the Gospel, and is, indeed, a picture of spiritual life drawn from it. But let us remember that the Epistle is not of a character to be very quickly or readily learned by heart. Its subtle, latent links of connection do not present many grappling hooks for the memory to fasten itself to. Copies also must have been comparatively few.
Now let us see how the second Epistle may well have been related to the first.
Supremely, and above all else, the first Epistle contained _three_ warnings, very necessary for those times. (1) There was a danger of _losing the true Christ_, the Word made Flesh, Who for the forgiveness of our sins did shed out of His most precious side both water and blood--in a false, because shadowy and ideal Christ. (2) There was danger of _losing true love_, and therefore spiritual life, with truth. (3) With the true Christ and true love there was a danger of losing _the true commandment_--love of God and of the brethren. Now in the second Epistle these very three warnings were written on a leaflet in a form more calculated for circulation and for remembrance. (1) Against the peril of faith, of _losing the true Christ_. "Many deceivers are gone out into the world--they who confess not Jesus Christ coming in flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist."[360] With the true Christ, the true doctrine of Christ would also vanish, and with it all living hold upon _God_. _Progress_ was the watchword; but it was in reality _regress_. "Every one who abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God."[361] (2) Against the peril of _losing love_. "I beseech thee, Kyria ... that we love one another."[362] (3) Against the peril of losing _the true commandment_ (the great spiritual principle of charity), or the true commandments[363] (that principle in the details of life). "And this is love, that we walk after His _commandments_. This is the _commandment_, that even as ye heard from the beginning ye should walk in it."[364]