The Basics

Setting

In this brief letter, John wrote with a personal tone to the “elect lady and her children.” The teachings recall those in his first epistle, with emphasis on walking in the truth and separation from the false teachers.

Key Verse

“Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (9).

Did You Know…?

1. Elect lady (1): If the term “elect lady” is interpreted literally, the epistle was written to an unnamed lady. It could also be possible that her name is Cyris (Greek eklekta kuria, translated “elect Cyria”), or Electa (translating the Greek as “the lady Electa”). ^2/89

2. “Do not receive him” (10): “Itinerant missionaries were the means by which Christianity spread throughout the Empire. They looked to local churches to aid in their mission by providing hospitality (Roman inns were notorious for being dirty and flea-infested). The problem was that some of the people seeking room and board were false teachers, expounding erroneous doctrines….” ^12/1716

3. Paper and ink (12): “‘Paper’ is papyrus, made from reeds and rolled up like a scroll. The pen was a reed pointed at the end, and the ink was a compound of charcoal, vegetable gum and water. Written letters were considered an inferior substitute for personal presence or for a speech, and writers sometimes concluded their letters with promise to discuss matters further face-to-face.” ^4/749