PREFACE. THE Second Epistle of S. John was not always considered canonical, It belongs to the deutero-canonical books of the Sacred Scripture. The doubts about its authenticity arose from a mistake which was cleared away before the Fourth century. There are many who think Electa was not the name of a lady but rather of a special Church; and some, like P. Curci, think it meant Rome. Most writers consider it to mean a pious lady who was very kind to messengers of the gospel. It is probable that the Epistle was written from the Isle of Patmos, or shortly after the Apostle's return from exile. It is the production of his old age; and written (if after the exile) about the time he had finished his Gospel. He died at the age of 101 years according to the most reliable accounts. THE SECOND EPISTLE OF S. JOHN. 1. Senior Electæ dominæ et natis ejus, quos ego diligo in veritate; et non ego solus, sed et omnes qui cognoverunt veritatem, 2. Propter veritatem quæ permanet in nobis, et nobiscum erit in æternum. 3. Sit vobiscum gratia, misericordia, pax, à DEO Patre et à Christo JESU Filio Patris, in veritate et charitate. 4. Gavisus sum valdè quoniam inveni de filiis tuis ambulantes in veritate, sicut mandatum accepimus à Patre. 5. Et nunc rogo te, domina, non tanquàm mandatum novum scribens tibi, sed quod habuimus ab initio, ut diligamus alterutrum. 6. Et hæc est charitas, ut ambulemus secundùm mandata ejus. Hoc est enim mandatum, ut, quemadmodùm audîstis ab initio, in eo ambuletis. I. 1The ancient to the lady Elect and her children whom I 'love in truth, and not I only, but also all they who have known the truth: 2. For the sake of the truth, which abideth in us, and shall be with us for ever: 3. Grace be with you, mercy, and peace from "God the Father, and from Christ Jesus "the Son of the Father, in truth and charity. 4. I was exceeding glad that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as writing a new commandment to thee, but that which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6. And this is charity, that we walk according to his 10commandments. For this is the commandment, That, as you have "heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. DD A letter from S. John, at the time of life in which he wrote, and when the whole Christian world reverenced him as the last survivor of the Apostles, and the disciple who had seen the Lord, and was so loved by Him, was a great gift. Many are the surmises as to who this lady Electa was. She was a matron evidently, had sons and daughters who walked in the way of salvation, and was herself a very excellent Christian. Those who say that S. John wrote from Ephesus, after returning from exile, think that he met her sons and nephews in Ephesus, where her sister dwelt, and sent this letter back by them to her residence. Being so charitable, she would receive to hospitality all those who went about preaching the glad tidings of salvation. Amongst the servants of God, some heretical ones would be found, and she would extend the same hospitality to these also. S. John heard this from her sons, and sends this letter to warn her, and perhaps a copy of the First Epistle to let her know how to distinguish between the true and the false preachers of the Gospel of Christ. This seems the simple occasion of the Epistle being written. The Inspiration and Divine direction of the obedient few are other matters for discussion. It is a plain, simple letter to all appearance, and meant to put a good holy woman on her guard against hypocrites, and what he gently calls liars. He saw through their impositions. She had her daughters spending the life of nuns in her house, with their virginity consecrated to God, and the Saint wished to forewarn such lambs against the wolves prowling about the premises. The Epistle is styled in some old manuscripts Πρός Πάρθενους, ad virgines, to the virgins, and the contraction to Parthous gave rise to the mistake about it and the First Epistle. It gave rise to another curious mistake or theory, namely, that it was written to Babylon, the capital of the Parthians, and that this was a disguise, put on in time of persecution, to show that it was addressed to Rome. 1The Ancient. In the Greek the word is "Оπρeσbúrερos, and in the Latin Senior. The first word, which means elder, the comparative of πρéσ¤ʊç, has had a history. It was first transposed from its ordinary adjectivial meaning in Greek to become a substantive, presbyter in Latin as well as in its own original tongue. From this we have the following words :-Latin, Presbyter; Italian, Prete; French, Prêtre; English, Priest; German, Priester; Danish, Präst; and Icelandic, Prestr, a whole long list of terms transformed according to the genius of each tongue, but all signifying a Priest, or one who offers sacrifice. Senior has given a root for a great many more extraordinary terms of courtesy. We have: Italian, Signore; Spanish, Senor; French, Seigneur English, Sire, Sir; German, Herr; Dutch, Heer. S. John takes the title on account of his age. Lady Elect.-Some think lady Kupia, Cyria or Cyra was the proper name, and that elect meant her conversion. Then Cyra or Domina is Martha in Hebrew, and there are not wanting writers who make this noble dame be the same as the sister of Lazarus. There is nothing more known about her than what we have in this Epistle. Tradition and history are both silent. 3Love in truth. This is the new love according to the Gospel, in which people are loved for the sake of Christ. Abideth in us.-To embrace the truth was one thing, but to continue in it, in spite of heresies and persecutions, was another. God the Father.-The peace here wished is the peace of God which comes from a good conscience, and not the old Jewish one which meant temporal prosperity. The Son. This is to remind them of His Divinity. "Of thy children.-Some conclude from this that all her children were not walking in truth. Does it not suffice for the meaning to think that such of them as the Saint met were all that could be expected? Lady. The repetition of lady shows that it was not a Church he addressed. Love one another.-This is his one great instruction. 10 Commandments.—He always stops the barren faith which was then preached by the innovators. 11Heard from the beginning.-The traditional teaching which S. John and other accredited disciples had given. 12 Walk in it.-Heresy and error are likened unto bye-ways out of the wide and straight road of truth. Courtesy: Ist. A guard of chastity. Pure love: 1st. Exists only in pure hearts. 2nd.It alone deserves blessings. 3rd. The love preached and taught by Christ and His Apostles. |