The New Testament · Hebrews and the Catholic Letters · Book 70 of 73
Prophecy in 2 John
A short note from “the Presbyter” to a church he calls “the chosen Lady.” It asks for one thing, that we love one another, and warns of one danger, deceivers who deny that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. Its single prophetic verse names them with the word John alone uses: the antichrist.
1 passage
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The book at a glance
The letter is thirteen verses long. “The Presbyter” writes “to the chosen Lady and to her children” (verse 1), most likely a local church and its members, as “your chosen sister” in verse 13 suggests. Tradition attributes it to St. John the Apostle; many scholars think the Presbyter is a leader of the Johannine community, perhaps the same author as 1 John. The Church receives it as inspired Scripture either way.
Its message repeats 1 John in brief. “Let us love one another” (verse 5), and love means to “walk according to his commandments” (verse 6). Then comes the warning that gives this page its one passage card. The rest of the letter, practical advice about not welcoming false teachers and a hope to visit “so that our joy may be complete” (verse 12), holds no prophecy, and this page does not read any into it.
Key to the labels
How a passage stands
Fulfilled Accomplished in history, above all in Christ.
Unfolding Being worked out now in the life of the Church.
Future Clearly still to come at Christ's return.
Mystery Its meaning or moment is not yet settled.
What kind of passage it is
Prophecy God's word through a prophet, or Christ, about what will come.
Promise A pledge God makes, kept over generations.
Type A person or event that foreshadows Christ or the Church.
Image A picture Scripture returns to and completes at the end.
Apocalypse A vision unveiling history from heaven's side, in symbols.
More on the labels
| Passage | Subject | Standing |
|---|
| Verses 7–8 | The deceitful one and the antichrist | Unfolding Future |
The passage
“Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh; such is the deceitful one and the antichrist.”
- Reading
- The verse gathers what 1 John says at length (1 John 2:18–22; 4:1–3), as the NABRE note points out. The test is the Incarnation: whoever will not confess that the Son of God truly came in our flesh is the deceiver. The Catechism cites this verse among those that teach that belief in the Incarnation is the mark of Christian faith (CCC 465), and again, with 1 John 2:18, 22 and 2 Thessalonians 2, when it teaches about the final trial and the deception of the Antichrist (CCC 675).
- Why two labels
- John speaks of the deceivers as already gone out into the world, so the spirit of antichrist is at work now. The Church also awaits a final trial and deception before Christ's return (CCC 675). The Church names no one as the Antichrist, and neither does this site.
- For now
- John's answer to the deceivers is vigilance, not panic: “Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for but may receive a full recompense” (verse 8).
- See also
- 1 John 2:18–22; 2 Thessalonians 2; Newman on the Antichrist.
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