Deceivers and the Antichrist

2 John 1:7-11

7.  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Yeshua Hamashiach has 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  Yeshua Hamashiach, hath not Yahuwah.  He that abideth in the doctrine of Yeshua Hamashiach, 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 Yahuwah speed: 11.  For him that biddeth him Yahuwah speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

The deceiver and his deceit are described here because he brings some error concerning the person or office of Yeshua Hamashiach.  Such a one is a deceiver and an antichrist, he deludes and undermines the glory and kingdom of Yeshua Hamashiach.  Let us not think it strange, that there are deceivers and opposers of Yeshua Hamashiach's name and dignity now, for there were such, even in the apostles' times.  The more deceivers and deceits abound, the more watchful the disciples must be.  

Sad it is, that splendid attainments in the teaching of Yeshua Hamashiach, should ever be lost.  The way to gain the full reward is, to abide true to Yeshua Hamashiach and constant in his teachings to the end.  Firmly cleaving to Yeshua Hamashiach's truth unites us to him, and thereby to the Father also, for they are one.  Let us equally disregard such as abide not in the doctrine of Yeshua Hamashiach and those who transgress his teachings.  

Any who did not profess and preach of Yeshua Hamashiach, respecting him as the Son of Yahuwah, and salvation by him from guilt and sin, were not to be noticed and countenanced.  Yet in obeying, we must show kindness and a good spirit to those who differ from us in lesser matters but hold firmly the all-importance of Yeshua Hamashiach's person, atonement and holy salvation.  These are no mere generalities and it is not without reason that these facts are insisted upon.  The dangers which they suggest are not imaginary.  Mischief has already been done by neglecting them.  

"Deceiver" πλάνος here means "seducer," one who causes others to go astray.  The cognate verb πλανᾷν is frequent in the Scriptures, especially in the Revelation and commonly indicates seduction into grave error.  The true reading ἐξῆλθον gives "are gone forth," not "are entered" εἰσῆλθον.  We cannot be sure that "are gone forth" refers to their leaving the true Congregation, although inclines us to think so, it may mean no more than that they have gone abroad spreading their erroneous tenets.  Just as "love not" in and is equivalent to "hate," so "confess not" here is equivalent to "deny."  

These seducers deny "Yeshua Hamashiach as coming in the flesh," or (as the Greek may possibly mean) they deny "Yeshua Hamashiach is coming in the flesh."  The present participle ἐρχόμενον seems to indicate exactly the position of some of the Gnostic teachers.  The Jews denied that the Incarnation had taken place - the Messiah had not yet come.  The Gnostic denied that the Incarnation could take place, no such Person as Yeshua Hamashiach coming in the flesh was possible, that the Infinite should become finite, that the Divine Word should become flesh, was inconceivable.  The teacher who brings such doctrine as this "is the deceiver and the antichrist" about whom we have been so frequently warned. 

In the strong language which here and elsewhere uses respecting those who deny or pervert the truth, we hear the voice of the "son of thunder," ever jealous about whatever touched the honour of Yahuwah.  Such hatred of error was the outcome of a firm grasp and profound love, of the truth.  It is easy to imitate and to exceed such strength of language, but let us beware of doing so without having first attained to an equal comprehension of the truth and an equal affection for it.  The strong words of the apostle are the expression of a glowing conviction.  Our strong words are too often the expression of a heated temper and a man who loses his temper in argument cares more about himself than about the truth. 

"Let those who rage against you who know not with what toil truth is found and how difficult it is to avoid errors, who know not with how much difficulty the eye of the inner man is made whole, who know not with what sighs and groans it is made possible, in however small a degree, to comprehend Yahuwah."