PTET - godless culture

Discussing 2 John 1:10 (from a reply to Moodygoldencow on the IMBD::Saved Boards)

Hi Moody

Your interpretation of 2 John 1:10 is all very sweet - but look at the surrounding text in context. You can see 18 translations of 2 John:5-15 here: http://tinyurl.com/39oel.

In the most literal translations, 2 John 1:7 is clear who the deceivers are:

"because many leading astray did enter into the world, who are not confessing Jesus Christ coming in flesh; this one is he who is leading astray, and the antichrist." [YLT]

As you admit yourself, this tells believers to shun non-believers.

The passage *could* have told believers to show love to and welcome non-believers to demonstrate the error of their ways. But it doesn't.

Jesus himself, in the literal words of the Bible, expresses quite bizarre intolerance. Look at Matthew 11:20-24 (see http://tinyurl.com/2zx8b for various versions). Here's the KJV:

"Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee."

Are you saying that these words are "true", but not meant "literally"? Because your interpretation changes the meaning of the literal words of the text.

The literal words most certainly do not teach tolerance - although I'm glad that you do.

PTET

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