SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:1
¶ El anciano a la seora elegida y a sus hijos, a los cuales yo amo en verdad y no yo solo, sino tambin todos los que han conocido la verdad,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 John 1:1
Verse 1. The elder] John the apostle, who was now a very old man, generally supposed to be about ninety, and therefore he uses the term o presbuterov, presbyter or elder, not as the name of an office, but as designating his advanced age. He is allowed to have been the oldest of all the apostles, and to have been the only one who died a natural death. This title led some of the ancients to attribute this epistle to a person called John the Presbyter, a member of the Church at Ephesus; and not to John the apostle. But this is a groundless supposition.
The elect lady] eklekth kuria? As kuria, kuria, may be the feminine of kuriov, kurios, lord, therefore it may signify lady; and so several, both ancients and moderns, have understood it. But others have considered it the proper name of a woman, Kyria; and that this is a very ancient opinion is evident from the Peshito Syriac, the oldest version we have, which uses it as a proper name (Syriac) koureea, as does also the Arabic (Arabic) kooreea.
Some have thought that Eclecta was the name of this matron, from the word eklekth, which we translate elect, and which here signifies the same as excellent, eminent, honourable, or the like. Others think that a particular Church is intended, which some suppose to be the Church at Jerusalem, and that the elect sister, 2 John 13, means the Church at Ephesus; but these are conjectures which appear to me to have no good ground. I am satisfied that no metaphor is here intended; that the epistle was sent to some eminent Christian matron, not far from Ephesus, who was probably deaconess of the Church, who, it is likely, had a Church at her house, or at whose house the apostles and traveling evangelists frequently preached, and were entertained.
This will appear more probable in the course of the notes.
Whom I love in the truth] Whom I love as the Christian religion requires us to love one another.
And not I only] She was well known in the Churches; many had witnessed or heard of her fidelity, and partook of her hospitality; so that she had a good report of all Christians in that quarter.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. The elder unto the elect lady and her children , etc.] By the elder is meant the writer of this epistle, the Apostle John, who so calls himself either on account of his age, he being now near an hundred years of age, having outlived all the apostles: or on account of his office, being a bishop or overseer, not only of the church at Ephesus, but of all the Asiatic churches, which is the same with an elder; nor is this incompatible with his being an apostle; (see 1 Peter 5:1), the elect lady is the person he writes unto; by whom is designed not the church of Christ, since such a way of speaking is unusual; and besides, he speaks of coming to see her face to face, and of the children of her elect sister: but some particular person, some rich, as well as gracious woman of John's acquaintance; and these words, elect lady, are neither of them proper names of the person: some think that the word Kyria, rendered lady, was the name of the person, as Domina with the Romans, and answers to the Hebrew word Martha; for as rm , Mar, signifies lord, so atrm , Martha, lady; and then the inscription runs, to the choice or excellent Martha; and the Syriac and Arabic versions read, to the elect Kyria: and others think that the word rendered elect is a proper name, and that this person's name was Electa, as Electus is a man's name; and then it must read thus, to the lady Electa; but her sister also is so called, and it can hardly be thought that two sisters should be both of a name; neither of them are proper names, but characters and titles of respect and honour: she is called a lady, because she was a person of distinction and substance, which shows that God sometimes calls by his grace some that are rich and noble; and also that titles of respect and honour, where flattery is avoided, may be lawfully given to persons of dignity and wealth; so Nazianzen calls his own mother by the same title; and it was usual to call women by this name from fourteen years of age f6 : and this person also is said to be elect; either because she was a choice, famous, and excellent person, not only for her birth, nobility, and riches, but for her virtue, grace, and good works; or because she was chosen unto eternal life and salvation; and which the apostle might know without a special and divine revelation, by the Gospel coming with power to her; by the grace that was wrought in her; by the faith of God's elect, which she appeared to have, seeing it worked by love; and which may be, and ought to be concluded in a judgment of charity, of everyone that professes faith in Christ, and walks according to it; and this also makes it appear that election is of particular persons, and not of nations, communities, and churches, as such; nor is it unusual to salute single persons under this character; (see Romans 16:13), this epistle is inscribed not only to this lady, but also to her children; who were not infants, but grown up, and had made a profession of the truth, and walked in it, ( 2 John 1:4), and both the mother and the children the apostle represents as the objects of his love: whom I love in the truth ; either as being in the truth and faith of the Gospel; for though all men are to be loved as men, and to be done well to, yet they that are of the household of faith, or are in the faith, are in and especial manner to be loved and respected; (see Galatians 6:10 Titus 3:15); or the sense is, that the apostle loved this lady and her children sincerely and heartily, without dissimulation; not in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth, ( 1 John 3:18): and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth ; either the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the truth; not with a notional knowledge, but with the knowledge of approbation and affection; with a fiducial and appropriating one: or the Gospel, the word of truth; not with a speculative, but with a spiritual and experimental knowledge of it: and this is not to be understood of every individual person then living, which had such a knowledge of the truth; for it cannot be reasonably thought that every individual person should know this lady and her children; but of all such persons who had any knowledge of them; for such who are born again by the word of truth, love not only him that begot them, but all those who are begotten of him: this shows in what sense the word all is sometimes taken.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-3 - Religion turns compliments into real expressions of respect and love And old disciple is honourable; an old apostle and leader of disciple is more so. The letter is to a noble Christian matron, and he children; it is well that the gospel should get among such: some nobl persons are called. Families are to be encouraged and directed in their love and duties at home. Those who love truth and piety in themselves should love it in others; and the Christians loved this lady, not for her rank, but for her holiness. And where religion truly dwells, it will abide for ever. From the Divine Persons of the Godhead, the apostle craves grace, Divine favour, and good-will, the spring of all good things. It is grace indeed that any spiritual blessing should be given to sinful mortals. Mercy, free pardon, and forgiveness; for thos already rich in grace, need continual forgiveness. Peace, quietness of spirit, and a clear conscience, in assured reconciliation with God together with all outward prosperity that is really for good: these ar desired in truth and love.
Greek Textus Receptus
ο 3588 πρεσβυτερος 4245 εκλεκτη 1588 κυρια 2959 και 2532 τοις 3588 τεκνοις 5043 αυτης 846 ους 3739 εγω 1473 αγαπω 25 5719 εν 1722 αληθεια 225 και 2532 ουκ 3756 εγω 1473 μονος 3441 αλλα 235 και 2532 παντες 3956 οι 3588 εγνωκοτες 1097 5761 την 3588 αληθειαν 225
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. The elder (o presbuterov). The word is used originally of seniority in age. So Luke xv. 25. Afterward as a term of rank or office. Applied to members of the Sanhedrim (Matt. xvi. 21; Acts vi. 12). Those who presided over the Christian assemblies or churches (Acts xi. 30; 1 Timothy v. 17, 19). The twenty-four members of the heavenly court in John's vision (Apoc. iv. 4, 10; v. 5, 6, 8, 11, 14). Here, with reference to official position, coupled, presumably, with age.
Unto the elect lady (eklekth kuria). An expression which baffles all the commentators. It is supposed by some that the title describes a person, by others, a society. The views of the former class as to the person designated, are
(1.) That the letter was addressed to a certain Babylonian named Electa.
(2.) To a person named Kyria.
(3.) To Electa Kyria, a compound proper name. Those who regard the phrase as describing a society, divide on the question whether a particular Christian society or the whole Church is intended. It is impossible to settle the question satisfactorily.
Children (teknoiv). May be taken either in a literal or in a spiritual sense. For the later, see 1 Timothy 1, 2; Gal. iv. 25; 3 John 4. Compare also vv. 4, 13. The explanation turns on the meaning of ejklekth kuria. If it mean the Church, children will have the spiritual sense. If it be a proper name, the literal.
Whom (ouv). Comprehensive, embracing the mother and the children of both sexes.
I love (agapw). See on John v. 20.
In the truth (ejn ajlhqeia. Omit the. The expression in truth marks the atmosphere or element of truth in which something is said, or felt, or done. See John xvii. 17. In truth is equivalent to truly, really. Compare Colossians i. 6; John xvii. 19.
That have known (oi egnwkotev). Either have come to know, or as Rev., know. The perfect tense of ginwskw, to learn to know, is rendered as a present: I have learned to know, therefore I know. See on 1 John ii. 3.
