The Pulpit Commentary — 2 John — Section 7

days love the truth for the lady's sake 1-I mean for sinister ends nnd by-respects. It is a blossed thing when religion, and the grace of God shining in the lives of Christians, is the special loadstone of our love and affection towards them" (Burkitt). JIJ, AN EXPRESSION OF A CONFIDENT WIS!I THAT OTHERS MAY ENJOY THE RICHEST DLEBBINCJB. '' Grace be with you, mercy, and peace from God the Father," etc. 1. The blessings desired. (1) "Grace" is the free and unmerited favour of God towards man, manifested especially in his redemptive relations to us. Grace is the fountain whence all blessings flow to us. Here I ta.ko it as "meaning every Christian grace and virtue, which the Spirit of God imparts to the followers of Christ; Divine favour in the most extensive sense, but specially in the sense of spiritual blessings." (2) "Mercy" is pity or compassion for the sinful and wretched. The word is sometimes used to express the benefits which result from compassion. Mercy is exercised towards those who deserve punishment or need succour. It is the manifestation of grace towards the guilty and miserable. The forgiveness of sins is a mercy. Inasmuch as St.. John wishes mercy for "the elect lady," we infer that they "who are already rich in grace have need of continual forgiveness." (3) "Peace," like the Hebrew sltalom, means every kind of good and blessing. "Peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. v. 1). This implies forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God. Peace as denoting the absence of anxiety, fear, etc. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you," etc. (John xiv. 27; xvi. 33; Phil. iv. 6, 7). Peace also with our fellow-men and in our own souls. What a fine example is this of Christian well-wishing! Let us imitate it. Mark the confidence with which this wish is expressed. Literally, "there shall be with us grace, mercy, peace," etc. It is "a wish expressed by a confident assertion of its fulfilment." 2. The Persons from whom these blessings are de3ired. (1) "From God the Father," He is the Father (a) of all men, as created by him and in his image. Even since the fall of man he in some respects resembles his Creator; he is still possessed of reason, conscience, volition ( cf. ActR xvii. 28, 29). He is the Father (b) especially of all trne Christians, because they are renewed into moral resemblance to him (Col. iii. 10). They have been "begotten again," and are his children by a second birth. They also possess the :filial spirit (Rom. viii. 15). God the Father is the great original Source of all good. " Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above," etc. (Jas. i. 17). (2) "And from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father." .Alford, "This solemn title is used for the more complete setting forth of the union of Jesus with the Father in the essence of the Godhead." He is" such a Son as none else can be." "This is my beloved Son," etc. (Matt. iii. 17). "The Only Begotten of the Father . . . the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father" (John i.14- 18). Jesus Christ is the channel of communication between God and man. He is the medium through which these blessings are bestowed upon man. Nay, more, as being the only begotten Son of the Father, united with the Father in the essence of'the God- head, he is tile .Author and Communicator of these blessings. 3. The condition necessary to the enjoyment of these blessings. " In truth and love." We are not certain as to the exact interpretation of these words. Alford, "Truth and love are the conditional elements in which the grace, mercy, and peace are to be received and enjoyed." These blessings will not be granted unto us unless we are true and loving. Or we may take the clause thus: the grace, mercy, and peace are to be manifested in truth and love; they are to promote truth and love in us.-W. J, Ver. 4.-The rejoicing of the good in the exl!:TTlplification of the godly life. "I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth," etc. I. Trm RULE OF THE CJODLY LIFE. ""Walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father." The rule of the true Christian lifo is the revealed will of God. The authoritative command proceeds from the Divine Father. He is the great Source of law. Man in a state of sin is prone to regard law as proceeding from o.n arbitrary, tyrannical power. But the law and government of God a.re paternal (cf. Matt. xxi. 28-31). 'l'he rule of a well-ordered family is, perhaps, the highest illustration of the rule of Heaven in this world. God speaketh as a Father to his rebellious children when he saith, "Thou shalt," and "Thou shalt not." If the voice seem unfatherly and stern, it is because they who hear it dislike and disregard his authority. If to others it seem firm, authoritative, yet fatherly, it is because they are differently related to him by  8 THE Sjj;OOND EPISTLE OF JOHN.