The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth (2John 1:1).
2John, with its single chapter that contains 13 verses and 298 words in the King James, is pretty small. It is, in fact, the smallest in the entire Bible in terms of verses. John's third epistle, however, is the tiniest based on word count as it has only 294 words.
2John does not have any direct quotes from the Old Testament like several other New Testament writings.
[Why Is the Bible Hard to Read?]
The Apostle John does not mention himself, by name, in 2John. He also does not mention himself by name in his Gospel or in 1John or 3John. He does, however, record his name five times in the book of Revelation (Revelation 1:1, 4, 9, 21:2 and 22:8).
2John is one of only five Biblical books that contain only one chapter, the others being 3John, Philemon, Jude and Obadiah.
2John is one of seventeen Scriptural books whose name begins with a number. Of these seventeen writings 2John is one of eight that starts with the number 2.
[What Are the Numbers of Prophecy?]
The Apostle John holds the distinction of being the only Biblical author whose name is prefaced by three different numbers to delineate three separate writings (1, 2 and 3 John).
The Greek word hagios (Strong's Concordance #G40) is usually translated as "holy" in the King James. 2John, along with Galatians, James and 3John, are the only New Testament writings that do not use the word.
[What Does It Mean to Be Holy?]
2John, in the KJV, records the word "truth" five times in its first four verses. It also uses the word "love" four times in its first six verses.
Antichrist
The word antichrist, or its plural, comes from the Greek antichristos (Strong's #G500). It is recorded only five times in four Greek New Testament verses. Found only in 1John 2:18, 22, 4:3 and 2John 1:7, it refers to someone who is an opponent or adversary of the Messiah.
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 (antichristos) (2John 1:7, KJV).
The first and foremost antichrist is, of course, Satan the devil. Interestingly, the devil is never called antichrist in Revelation even though he is undoubtedly God's greatest adversary of all time.
A Most Unique Greeting
Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love (2John 1:3).
2John's opening greeting is wholly unique in the New Testament! It conveys, in a single verse, grace, mercy and peace, in truth and love, upon his readers from God and Jesus. It also offers one of the many proofs that Jesus is a member of the Godhead.
[Is Jesus the God of the Old Testament?]
For comparison purposes, in Paul's fourteen writings he usually opens them with a greeting of grace and peace from God the Father and Jesus. The exceptions are 1Timothy, 2Timothy and Titus which starts with a greeting of grace, mercy and peace from the Godhead.
Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord (1Timothy 1:2).
Paul's book of Hebrews has no greeting whatsoever to its readers.
[Timeline of Apostle Peter's Life]
The books of James, 1Peter, 1John and 3John do not have an opening greeting that conveys grace, peace or other blessing to its readers. Both 2Peter and Jude, however, do convey a blessing.
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord . . . (2Peter 1:2).
Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied (Jude 1:2).