The Elect Lady (2 John)

Recipient of the Apostle's Letter

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The Elect Lady is the recipient of John's second letter, likely a prominent Christian woman or a church personified as a woman. She is praised for her faith and her children walking in truth, and warned against false teachers who deny Christ coming in the flesh.

Hechos clave

Greeting from the Apostle

John greets the Elect Lady and her children, whom he loves in truth, along with all who have come to know the truth.

1The elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I alone, but also all who have come to know the truth—
Ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῆς, οὓς ἐγὼ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ, καὶ οὐκ ἐγὼ μόνος ἀλλὰ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἐγνωκότες τὴν ἀλήθειαν,
2because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:
διὰ τὴν ἀλήθειαν τὴν μένουσαν ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ μεθʼ ἡμῶν ἔσται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα·
3Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
ἔσται μεθʼ ἡμῶν χάρις ἔλεος εἰρήνη παρὰ θεοῦ πατρός, καὶ ⸀παρὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ πατρός, ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ ἀγάπῃ.

Joy Over the Children's Faith

The apostle expresses great joy that he has found some of her children walking in truth, just as the Father commanded.

4It gave me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.
Ἐχάρην λίαν ὅτι εὕρηκα ἐκ τῶν τέκνων σου περιπατοῦντας ἐν ἀληθείᾳ, καθὼς ἐντολὴν ἐλάβομεν παρὰ τοῦ πατρός.

Exhortation on Love

John exhorts her to hold fast to the commandment of love they have had from the beginning—that they should love one another.

5And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.
καὶ νῦν ἐρωτῶ σε, κυρία, οὐχ ὡς ἐντολὴν ⸂καινὴν γράφων σοι⸃ ἀλλὰ ἣν εἴχομεν ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς, ἵνα ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους.
6And this is love: that we walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you walk in it.
καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἀγάπη, ἵνα περιπατῶμεν κατὰ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ· αὕτη ⸂ἡ ἐντολή ἐστιν⸃, καθὼς ἠκούσατε ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῇ περιπατῆτε.

Warning Against False Teachers

She is warned against many deceivers who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, and against receiving such people into their homes.

7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.
ὅτι πολλοὶ πλάνοι ⸀ἐξῆλθον εἰς τὸν κόσμον, οἱ μὴ ὁμολογοῦντες Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ἐρχόμενον ἐν σαρκί· οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ πλάνος καὶ ὁ ἀντίχριστος.
8Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but receive a full reward.
βλέπετε ἑαυτούς, ἵνα μὴ ⸀ἀπολέσητε ἃ ⸀εἰργασάμεθα, ἀλλὰ μισθὸν πλήρη ⸀ἀπολάβητε.
9Everyone who runs ahead and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
πᾶς ὁ ⸀προάγων καὶ μὴ μένων ἐν τῇ διδαχῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ θεὸν οὐκ ἔχει· ὁ μένων ἐν τῇ ⸀διδαχῇ, οὗτος καὶ τὸν πατέρα καὶ τὸν υἱὸν ἔχει.
10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,
εἴ τις ἔρχεται πρὸς ὑμᾶς καὶ ταύτην τὴν διδαχὴν οὐ φέρει, μὴ λαμβάνετε αὐτὸν εἰς οἰκίαν καὶ χαίρειν αὐτῷ μὴ λέγετε·
11for whoever greets him shares in his evil works.
ὁ ⸂λέγων γὰρ⸃ αὐτῷ χαίρειν κοινωνεῖ τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτοῦ τοῖς πονηροῖς.

Greeting from the Sister

The letter concludes with greetings from the children of her chosen sister, possibly another church or Christian woman.

13The children of your elect sister greet you.
Ἀσπάζεταί σε τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἀδελφῆς σου τῆς ⸀ἐκλεκτῆς.