If there come any unto you and bring not THIS doctrine

I’d like to take a look at 2 John 1:10-11 because I’ve seen it used so many times by Christians as an excuse to dismiss, even disfellowship, other Christians. As soon as they can’t agree on a particular doctrine or its importance they decide it’s time to take out the garbage, so to speak, and they justify it by quoting John:

2Jo 1:10-11 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Then they proceed to cast the person out/aside based on the fact that they disagree with whatever “doctrine” is being discussed at the time. When, if we actually read more than just two verses – ripping them out of context completely- we can see exactly what “this” doctrine is, that we are to bring:

2Jn 1:1-13

1  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;

2  For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

3  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.

4  I rejoiced greatly 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 though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

6  And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

7  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.

8  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

10  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

12  Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

13  The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

The doctrine of Christ and the commandment that they had heard FROM THE BEGINNING was:

Mat 22:36-40 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

John speaks of these very things in his first epistle, as well:

1Jn 3:14-15 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

1Jn 4:19-21  We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

God forbid any Christian speak of the love or the mercy of God, or even God as love, if they do not also acknowledge the justice, judgment and wrath of God and preach a God that is to be “feared”; to do so is to be seen as being “too lovey dovey” or to be accused of having “no fear of the Lord”.

The problem with this is that fear is the beginning of wisdom, not the end all, as perfect love casts out fear and TRUE JUDGMENT (that we told to EXECUTE) is to SHOW MERCY AND COMPASSION every man to his brother!!

Zec 7:9  Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:

Let us acknowledge that it was the unmerciful servant (who refused to forgive, as he was forgiven) whom his lord called the "wicked servant" and whom his lord turned over to the tormentors UNTIL he paid all that he owed (to show others the same mercy and forgiveness that was shown to him).

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.

All Blessings in Christ!

Christine