WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.030 --> 00:00:02.860 Henry: Welcome To Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience. 00:00:02.978 --> 00:00:03.908 Day 74. 00:00:04.361 --> 00:00:06.941 Immersed in second and third John. 00:00:09.581 --> 00:00:10.181 Traveling. 00:00:10.186 --> 00:00:13.961 Teachers often visited the communities of Jesus followers throughout the 00:00:13.961 --> 00:00:17.981 Roman world, but some of these teachers brought a different message about 00:00:17.981 --> 00:00:19.811 Jesus than was originally shared. 00:00:20.711 --> 00:00:23.681 They taught that he hadn't come to earth in a real body. 00:00:24.566 --> 00:00:28.586 As a result, some churches were now refusing to receive the teachers who 00:00:28.586 --> 00:00:30.536 taught the true message about Jesus. 00:00:31.736 --> 00:00:35.936 John responds to these issues by writing two brief letters to the churches 00:00:35.936 --> 00:00:37.886 in the same area as those addressed. 00:00:37.886 --> 00:00:43.556 In the letter known as First John, the author refers to himself as the elder. 00:00:44.291 --> 00:00:48.401 However, it's clear from the language style and themes that the author is 00:00:48.406 --> 00:00:52.391 the same as the author of the Gospel of John and First John traditionally 00:00:52.391 --> 00:00:54.311 identified as John the Apostle. 00:00:55.631 --> 00:01:00.101 In the letter known as Second John, the Apostle addresses a lady and 00:01:00.106 --> 00:01:04.211 her children most likely referring metaphorically to one of the 00:01:04.211 --> 00:01:05.681 churches and the believers in it. 00:01:06.821 --> 00:01:09.971 John has just received a visit from some of them and is delighted 00:01:09.971 --> 00:01:13.001 to learn that they are faithfully following the truth of the gospel. 00:01:14.156 --> 00:01:18.176 But apparently they also reported that certain false teachers had 00:01:18.176 --> 00:01:23.396 arrived expecting to receive lodging meals and perhaps even funds to 00:01:23.396 --> 00:01:25.016 get them to their next destination. 00:01:26.426 --> 00:01:30.656 John strictly warns the church not to support or encourage those who do 00:01:30.656 --> 00:01:32.786 not teach accurately about Christ. 00:01:34.046 --> 00:01:38.006 The letter known as Third John is addressed to a man named Gaius. 00:01:38.636 --> 00:01:42.116 Presumably in a different church who had recently hosted some of 00:01:42.116 --> 00:01:43.646 the true teachers in his home. 00:01:44.486 --> 00:01:48.896 Those teachers reported this to John, who writes to thank Gaius and encourage 00:01:48.896 --> 00:01:50.846 him to continue doing this good work. 00:01:51.866 --> 00:01:56.726 Unfortunately, a leader named Dias is refusing to host the true 00:01:56.786 --> 00:02:00.716 teachers and is forcing anyone who supports them to leave the church. 00:02:01.751 --> 00:02:06.251 John urges Gaius not to let this bad example influence him, but rather 00:02:06.251 --> 00:02:10.001 to continue showing hospitality to those faithful traveling teachers. 00:02:11.141 --> 00:02:15.011 In both letters, John expresses his hope to see the recipients soon. 00:02:16.301 --> 00:02:20.321 Even though John has much more to say, these letters are brief because he 00:02:20.321 --> 00:02:22.301 wants to share his message in person. 00:02:23.051 --> 00:02:27.461 He's doing all he can to ensure that the resources of the churches go to support 00:02:27.491 --> 00:02:29.951 only those who are following the truth. 00:02:35.261 --> 00:02:36.701 The letter of second John, 00:02:39.281 --> 00:02:41.441 this letter is from John the elder. 00:02:42.806 --> 00:02:46.886 I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children whom I love in the 00:02:46.886 --> 00:02:51.566 truth, as does everyone else who knows the truth, because the truth lives 00:02:51.566 --> 00:02:54.116 in us and will be with us forever. 00:02:55.706 --> 00:03:01.046 Grace, mercy and peace which come from God, the Father, and from Jesus Christ, 00:03:01.166 --> 00:03:06.326 the Son of the Father, will continue to be with us who live in truth and love. 00:03:08.801 --> 00:03:12.821 How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to 00:03:12.821 --> 00:03:15.221 the truth, just as the father commanded. 00:03:16.271 --> 00:03:20.681 I'm writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. 00:03:21.371 --> 00:03:24.821 This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. 00:03:25.541 --> 00:03:29.651 Love means doing what God has commanded us and he has 00:03:29.651 --> 00:03:31.691 commanded us to love one another. 00:03:32.321 --> 00:03:33.941 Just as you heard from the beginning. 00:03:35.396 --> 00:03:38.786 I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. 00:03:39.386 --> 00:03:44.156 They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body, such a person 00:03:44.366 --> 00:03:46.856 is a deceiver and an antichrist. 00:03:47.756 --> 00:03:49.856 Watch out that you do not lose. 00:03:49.861 --> 00:03:53.936 What we have worked so hard to achieve, be diligent so that 00:03:53.936 --> 00:03:55.586 you receive your full reward. 00:03:56.606 --> 00:04:00.686 Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. 00:04:01.541 --> 00:04:05.831 But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship 00:04:05.921 --> 00:04:07.811 with both the father and the son. 00:04:08.951 --> 00:04:12.971 If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, 00:04:13.541 --> 00:04:17.591 don't invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. 00:04:18.551 --> 00:04:22.691 Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work. 00:04:24.671 --> 00:04:28.421 I have much more to say to you, but I don't want to do it with paper and ink. 00:04:29.021 --> 00:04:32.321 For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. 00:04:33.131 --> 00:04:35.021 Then our joy will be complete. 00:04:36.251 --> 00:04:39.821 Greetings from the children of your sister chosen by God. 00:04:54.836 --> 00:04:56.336 The letter of third John. 00:04:58.946 --> 00:05:01.376 This letter is from John the Elder. 00:05:03.206 --> 00:05:06.866 I'm writing to Gaius my dear friend whom I love and the truth. 00:05:07.176 --> 00:05:12.686 Dear Friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in 00:05:12.686 --> 00:05:14.906 body as you are, strong in spirit. 00:05:16.646 --> 00:05:21.446 Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling 00:05:21.446 --> 00:05:25.196 me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. 00:05:25.916 --> 00:05:29.966 I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. 00:05:30.746 --> 00:05:35.366 Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers 00:05:35.366 --> 00:05:39.806 who pass through, even though they're strangers to you, they have told the 00:05:39.806 --> 00:05:42.146 church here of your loving friendship. 00:05:42.971 --> 00:05:46.751 Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases 00:05:46.751 --> 00:05:51.101 God for they are traveling for the Lord and they accept nothing 00:05:51.101 --> 00:05:52.691 from people who are not believers. 00:05:53.411 --> 00:05:56.891 So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their 00:05:56.891 --> 00:05:58.751 partners as they teach the truth. 00:05:59.921 --> 00:06:04.571 I wrote to the church about this, but Dios who loves to be the leader, 00:06:04.871 --> 00:06:06.851 refuses to have anything to do with us. 00:06:07.676 --> 00:06:11.606 When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil 00:06:11.606 --> 00:06:13.616 accusations he's making against us. 00:06:14.246 --> 00:06:18.206 Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells 00:06:18.211 --> 00:06:23.126 others not to help them, and when they do help, he puts them out of the church. 00:06:23.356 --> 00:06:27.236 Dear friend, don't let this bad example influence you. 00:06:27.926 --> 00:06:29.426 Follow only what is good. 00:06:30.056 --> 00:06:33.266 Remember that those who do good prove that they are God's 00:06:33.266 --> 00:06:35.816 children and those who do evil. 00:06:36.431 --> 00:06:38.141 Prove that they do not know God. 00:06:39.311 --> 00:06:43.031 Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, as does the truth itself. 00:06:43.811 --> 00:06:47.261 We, ourselves can say the same for him and you know, we speak the truth. 00:06:49.391 --> 00:06:52.901 I have much more to say to you, but I don't want to ride it with pen 00:06:52.991 --> 00:06:57.821 and ink for I hope to see you soon and then we will talk face to face. 00:06:59.051 --> 00:07:00.041 Peace be with you. 00:07:00.491 --> 00:07:02.381 Your friends here send you their greetings. 00:07:02.846 --> 00:07:05.786 Please give my personal greetings to each of our friends there. 00:07:07.466 --> 00:07:10.316 This concludes today's Immer Reading experience. 00:07:10.436 --> 00:07:11.406 Thank you for joining us.