2John in many ways continues some of the same themes as 1John. John is concerned for truth (vs2), love for other Christians (vs5) and obedience to the commands of God (vs6). Again, he warns against false teachers who would lead these believers astray (vs7-8). Some would say that John sounds very unloving when he encourages such harsh treatment (vs10), but actually this is the most loving thing that he can do. It would show a complete lack of love to withhold a warning that would protect these believers from the harm of false teachers.
In 3John, John heaps praise on this group of believers for their faithfulness to the truth of God (vs1-8), and then launches into a scathing rebuke of one of their number who was living his life in accordance with the truth of God. Diotrephes was a proud, slanderer who was not exhibiting true love of the brethren (vs9-10). This type of cancerous activity warranted John’s exposing it for what it was and also warning the true believers against this type of activity. Instead John tells them that they should be pursuing that which is good to the glory of God (vs11).
The epistle of Jude is a clarion call to contend for the truth of God's Word (vs3). His definition of that which is to be identified and rejected is anything that would either twist the truth of God into error or deny the Lord Jesus Christ (vs4). Of course it does take discernment to do this, but it must be done nonetheless. Before closing the epistle, Jude gives some direction for believers to keep themselves from falling to these perversions of the truth. This instruction consists of strengthening ourselves in the truth of God (vs20), praying in the Spirit (vs20), keeping ourselves in the love of God (vs21), waiting on Jesus Christ (vs21), and compassionate ministry toward others (vs22-23). Jude then closes with one of the most famous benedictions in the Bible (vs24-25). It is a glorious prayer for us to pray for ourselves and our fellow believers.
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