2 John: Beware of False Teachers

I recently had the privilege to study the second epistle of John, which John wrote primarily to warn Christians of false teachers and deceivers. (more background info here)

With only thirteen verses, it is the second shortest epistle in the Bible. However, it is packed with practical truths for Christian living. This post is a summary of the lessons I learned regarding false teachers.

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

2 John 1:7

It is no secret that false teachers abound in the church. Jesus repeatedly warned about their coming, and so did several New Testament writers. John also mentioned them in his first epistle (1 John 2:18; 2:22-23; 4:1-3) and urged us not to get deceived. 

However, in his second epistle, John gives us an important reason why. He said in 2 John 1:8, “Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.”

John wasn’t saying we will lose our salvation; it is secure. He was referring to the spiritual rewards that Jesus will distribute at the end of the age. (Matthew 16:27, 1 Corinthians 3:8, Hebrews 11:26, Revelation 22:12). 

False teachers threaten to undo our labor, impede our sanctification, and hence reduce our eternal rewards. Therefore, we mustn’t build our works from false teachings because it will burn up on judgment day. (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

Furthermore, we must have absolutely nothing to do with them!

2 John 1:10 says, “if anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting.”

The biblical prescription to false teachers is to mark and avoid them (Romans 16:17). We must not show them hospitality, do ministry with them, or even be friends with them.

Paul took it even further in Galatians 1:8-9 and said, “but even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one, we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”

It seems like harsh treatment, but John explained why such precautionary actions are necessary. Associating ourselves with false teachers makes us as guilty as them. 2 John 1:11 says, “For whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.” 

Some Christians do not see any harm in partnering with false teachers as long as it doesn’t affect their doctrine. They maintain these associations in the name of love and unity. But in so doing, they put their convictions above Scripture because the Bible makes no provision for associating with false teachers. Besides, a unity whose center isn’t biblical truth isn’t worth it.

And due to the severe treatment of false teachers in the Bible, I think we need to be careful when calling someone a false teacher and make sure we do it according to Scripture.

When John mentioned false teachers, he referred to people who did not confess Jesus is the Christ (John 2:22) and came as a man (John 4:2-3). 

Moreover,when Paul spoke of false teachers, he referred to people who taught anything contrary to the Gospel. His Gospel presentation in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, can be summarized as the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Therefore, we can confidently say a false teacher is anyone who does not affirm the deity and humanity of Jesus, His death, burial, and resurrection.

But should the definition end there? Some Christians would say yes, a popular pastor recently said, these truths ought to be enough to promote unity. But I don’t believe so.

2 John 1:9 says, “everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” The teaching of Christ refers to the teaching about Him, as well as by Him. And the Bible contains all His teachings.

Therefore, a false teacher is anyone who teaches things contrary to doctrines, either expressively stated in the Bible or strongly implied.

For example, the Bible unequivocally says Jesus is the only way to heaven. Anyone who teaches otherwise is a false teacher. Conversely, the Bible doesn’t clearly state or imply whether the rapture will occur before or after the great tribulation. Therefore, it is not heresy to teach either way.

The only caveat with this definition is non-salvific issues or secondary doctrines. Does the rule apply to things like complementarianism or homosexuality, which are not essential doctrines? The Bible is clear on these issues, but some people do not teach what it says. So should we call them false teachers?

We might disagree on this, but I wouldn’t call them false teachers sorely because of that. Nevertheless, I would still stay clear of such teachers and wouldn’t recommend them. 

I also think the frequency and consistency of the teaching matters when calling out false teachers. People make mistakes. No pastor or teacher has never made a mistake in his/her ministry, especially at the beginning. So, if we detect an error, we must be graceful and give the suspect the benefit of the doubt. They might just need correction and guidance like Apollos.

But if the said teacher has been corrected several times, and consistently and unrepentantly teaches heresy, then as the Bible commands us, we must mark and avoid them. They are not worth compromising the teachings of Christ and our eternal rewards, so let them be accursed.

  Grace and peace to you!