Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 John 1:7

"For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, [even] they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist." — 2 John 1:7 (ASV)

This verse is reminiscent of 1Jn 2:18, 27; 4:1–3. The “deceivers” (GK 4418) are those who have left the believing community for the world. It is unlikely that those who went out were members of the “lady’s” community. More likely they were members of the original community of the elder. Nonetheless, they may have been known to the community here addressed and were therefore a risk to that community also. What distinguishes them is their unwillingness to acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. Curiously the tense is changed from the past tense, “has come in the flesh” , to the present participle, “as coming in the flesh.” It would be possible, therefore, to interpret this as a reference to Jesus’ return in the flesh (cf. 1Jn 2:28; 3:2). But since we know of no controversy in this area, this seems unlikely. John’s intention is to say something beyond what he said in 1Jn 4:2. What the present tense emphasizes is the timeless character of the event (cf. Jn 3:31; 6:14; 11:27). It is not simply an event in history but an “abiding truth,” defining the union between humanity and deity that is present in Jesus’ person. This union is not limited to Jesus’ historical manifestation but remains true of him as the one at the right hand of the Father.