2 John 1:1-4
The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; for the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
THOMAS COKE (1747-1814): John calls himself “elder” either on account of his age, or on account of his office, being a bishop or overseer, not only of the church at Ephesus, but of all the Asiatic churches.
ROBERT HAWKER (1753-1827): At the time John wrote this Epistle, he could not be less than an hundred years old, if it was after his return from banishment. But the principal point for the Church of God to regard is, the character to whom John wrote—namely, one of the Elect of God.
WILLIAM JAY (1769-1853): She is called the “elect lady.”
JOHN GILL (1697-1771): Some think the Greek word “Kyria”, translated “lady,” was the name of the person—the Syriac and Arabic versions read, “to the elect Kyria.” Others think that the word translated “elect” is a proper name, and this person’s name was “Electa;” and then it must read, “to the lady Electa;” but her sister also is so called in verse 13, “the children of thy elect sister greet thee,” and it can hardly be thought two sisters should both have the same name.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): Others think that a particular Church is intended, which some think to be the Church at Jerusalem, and that the elect sister means the Church at Ephesus; but these are conjectures—I am satisfied that no metaphor is here intended.
H. A. IRONSIDE (1876-1951): There is no reason to suppose this elect lady is the church, as some have thought, nor that we should read “the Lady Electa,” as others have suggested.
WILLIAM JAY: But who was this distinguished personage?
H. A. IRONSIDE: The “elect lady” was evidently a Christian woman who, with her children, had embraced the doctrine of Christ. In all probability she was one who had been blessed and helped through John’s ministry.
WILLIAM JAY: She seems to have been a person of high reputation, and of some rank, and able disposition. But whatever her worldly condition, it of itself would never have attracted the notice of John without her character. He regarded her according to her real worth. Birth, and wealth, and honour, are nothing in themselves.
JOHN GILL: 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.
MATTHEW HENRY: The elect lady—not only a choice one, but one chosen of God.
ROBERT HAWKER: Notice with what confidence John speaks to this lady, in consequence of being an elect child of God. He saith, he loveth her for the truth’s sake—meaning Christ Himself, Who is the truth, John 14:6; and which John saith, “dwelleth in us,” that is, in all the elect, “and shall abide forever.”
J. C. RYLE (1816-1900): The true doctrine of Election, I believe to be as follows: Those men and women whom God has been pleased to choose from all eternity, He calls in time, by His Spirit working in due season. He convinces them of sin. He leads them to Christ. He works in them repentance and faith. He converts, renews, and sanctifies them. He keeps them by His grace from falling away entirely, and finally brings them safe to glory. In short God’s eternal Election is the first link in that chain of a sinner’s salvation of which heavenly glory is the end. The primary and original cause of a saint’s being what he is, is eternal God’s election.
ROBERT HAWKER: Reader! Do not overlook this, for it is blessed. The elect lady, as John calls her, had in that election all the blessed fruits and effects wrought up in it, as the bud contains all the future blossoms, and foliage of the flower. Together with this electing grace, there is calling grace appointed also: “For whom he did predestinate, them he also called,” Romans 8:30. And in the season of that call, there is given the pardoning grace to all sins. So speaks Paul: “And you being dead in your sins, and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses,” Colossians 2:13. Neither doth the blessing stop here, for justification immediately follows: “Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus,” Romans 3:24. And both sanctification and glory bring up the rear, the sure events involved in the blessed act of God’s sovereign love.
J. C. RYLE: Election can only be known by its fruits. The Elect of God can only be discerned by their faith and life.
JOHN GILL: Which John might know without a special and divine revelation, by the Gospel coming with power to her, and by the grace that was wrought in her; and by the faith of God’s elect, which she appeared to have, seeing it worked by love.
H. A. IRONSIDE: John’s heart had been gladdened by the good report that had reached him of the ways of the elect lady’s household. Her children walked in the truth in accordance with the commandment received from the Father. Hers was a truly Christian home in the midst of an ungodly world.
WILLIAM JAY: Perhaps she was a deaconess; perhaps she had a church in her house; perhaps her mansion was the asylum of the persecuted, and the dwelling where ministers of the word and the brethren always found a welcome and a home. She was pre-eminently pious: the foundation of all her excellencies was her personal and evangelical godliness. She was “walking in the truth.” She exemplified the influence of the truth by her walking in the knowledge, practice, and profession of the truth, and in being “a fellow helper to the truth,” 3 John 1:8.
WILHELMUS à BRAKEL (1635-1711): These are fruits issuing forth from election; they are not the causes of election—but are a consequence of it. Nothing in man, nor any future deeds, moved God to elect a person. The reason for election is nothing but the sovereign good pleasure of God, Ephesians 1:5,9.
JOHN CALVIN (1509-1564): Besides, as election rests on the mercy of God alone, it is in vain to seek the cause of it in the worthiness of man.
MATTHEW HENRY: It is lovely and beautiful to see ladies, by holy walking, demonstrate their election of God…The great concern of those who have received Christ is to walk in Him—to make their practices conformable to their principles. As we have received Christ, or consented to be His, so we must walk with Him in our daily course and keep up our communion with Him. The more closely we walk with Christ the more we are rooted and established in the faith. A good conduct is the best establishment of a good faith. If we walk in Him, we shall be rooted in Him; and the more firmly we are rooted in Him, the more closely we shall walk in Him: rooted and built up, Colossians 2:6,7. Observe—we cannot be built up in Christ, unless we be first rooted in Him. We must be united to Him by a lively faith, and heartily consent to His covenant, and then we shall grow up in Him in all things.
