Thru the Bible in a Year
December 25 carries a sacred resonance for the Church, a day set apart to remember that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). It is fitting, then, that today’s readings—2 John, 3 John, and Jude—invite us to reflect not on the birth narrative itself, but on the lived implications of Christ’s coming for the life of the Church. These brief epistles, written to real people facing real pressures, remind us that the incarnation of Jesus does not end at Bethlehem. It presses forward into how believers love, discern truth, confront error, and remain faithful in a world where devotion is tested. Christmas is not only about what God has done; it is about how God’s people now live in light of that gift.
The tone of 2 John is deeply pastoral and relational. John writes to “the elect lady and her children,” a phrase that has stirred discussion for centuries. Whether he addresses a specific woman of faith or symbolically refers to a local church, the emphasis is clear: affection rooted in truth. John rejoices that her children are “walking in the truth” (2 John 4), using the Greek peripatountes (περιπατοῦντες), a word that implies an ongoing, habitual way of life. Truth is not merely believed; it is walked. Love and obedience are inseparable here. John insists that love expresses itself through faithfulness to God’s commandments, guarding the church from the subtle danger of false teaching. He speaks plainly about those who deny that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, identifying such teaching as antichrist. This warning is not alarmist but protective. Love, in John’s understanding, includes discernment. As Augustine once noted, “Love the truth, but do not love error.” On Christmas Day, this letter quietly reminds us that honoring the incarnation means defending its meaning.
3 John shifts from affection to tension, revealing that even in the early church, conflict and wounded relationships were present. The letter centers on three men whose lives illustrate contrasting responses to truth. Gaius is commended for his faithfulness and hospitality. His life demonstrates that truth shapes behavior, especially toward others. John celebrates that Gaius supports traveling teachers, embodying generosity rooted in shared faith. In contrast stands Diotrephes, whose animosity toward John reveals a deeper spiritual issue: pride. John notes that Diotrephes “loves to be first,” a telling phrase that exposes a heart misaligned with Christ’s servant leadership. Pride manifests itself through malicious speech, control, and exclusion. Yet John does not leave us in discouragement. He introduces Demetrius, a man with a good report from everyone and from the truth itself. His presence reassures us that faithfulness often persists quietly, even when conflict dominates attention. On a day when the Church celebrates Christ’s humility, 3 John gently asks us to examine how we wield influence and whether our leadership reflects Christ’s character.
The Epistle of Jude confronts perhaps the most sobering theme of the day: apostasy. Jude writes with urgency, calling believers to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). The Greek term epagōnizesthai (ἐπαγωνίζεσθαι) conveys intense effort, like an athlete straining toward the finish line. Jude does not sugarcoat the danger. He portrays false teachers through vivid biblical imagery, drawing on Israel’s failures, fallen angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah to show that rebellion against God carries real consequences. Yet Jude’s purpose is not fear, but faithfulness. He calls believers to remember the apostles’ words, to build themselves up in their most holy faith, and to rescue others with compassion—“snatching them out of the fire.” Even here, love remains central. Discernment does not eliminate mercy; it directs it wisely.
Taken together, these three letters form a quiet but firm pastoral chorus. They speak of love that guards truth, leadership that serves rather than dominates, and faith that stands firm amid deception. On Christmas Day, they remind us that the Christ who came in humility calls His people to live with clarity, courage, and compassion. As scholar N. T. Wright has observed, the early Christian letters show us that theology was never abstract; it was always meant to shape daily life in community. These short epistles may be easily overlooked, but they offer enduring wisdom for a Church still navigating affection, animosity, and apostasy.
Thank you for your commitment to studying the Word of God, even on a holy day set apart for celebration. Scripture assures us that God’s Word does not return void, but accomplishes what He intends. As you continue this year-long journey, may these brief letters strengthen your discernment, deepen your love, and steady your walk with Christ.
For further reading on Jude and the call to contend for the faith, see this helpful article from The Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/jude-contend-for-the-faith/
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