I’m currently preaching through the little epistle of 2 John and I take the Word literally…I believe the reference to “…. the elect lady and her children…” in 2 John 1 should be understood in a normal, plain sense referring to a particular woman and her children rather than interpreted in a non-literal sense.. In the same way, verse 13 “…the children of your elect sister..” should be understood as being a reference to nieces and nephews of this same individual in verse 1.
Some have written or preached that this is a letter written to a church – the “elect lady” being the church, and her children being either her members…or perhaps other churches she organized.
I understand that churches should should have members and need to organize other churches, but this seems to be grasping at straws, pulling something out that is not there at all.
I love the church, but I see no reason to read the church into every single New Testament passage we come to.
In this space, I would like to share what I found the prominent Baptist commentators wrote on the subject, out of pure interest to illustrate what was being taught the last few hundred years:
John Gill (1700s) –
“….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…”
Gill, John. An Exposition of the New Testament. Mathews and Leigh, 1809, p. 660.
B. H. Carroll (1800s) –
“To whom is this letter addressed? This answer consists of four parts:
1. The author confesses himself unable to appreciate the mystical sense imported by some into the very plain language of a letter not apocalyptic on its face, so as to render the Greek word “kuria” in verse one, as “lady,” and then claim that “lady” means a church. And then construe the Greek word “tekna” “children,” as members of the church. And yet again at the end of the letter to so construe the Greek word, “adelphes,” “sister,” to make it mean “church,” is to him too far fetched for serious consideration. And yet all through the ages, and particularly among our hardshell brethren, is this theory held. They say, “The Elder to the elect lady,” meaning some elect church called lady, but it all sounds silly to me.“
Carroll, B. H. The Pastoral Epistles of Paul and I and II Peter, Jude, and I, II and III John. Edited by J. B. Cranfill, Fleming H. Revell Company, 1915, pp. 365–66.
Henry Sawtelle (1800s)-
“There are indications that the third letter of John and our letter were written about the same time. If the third was written to an individual by name (Gaius), is not the second likely to be? It is more common for the New Testament writers to mention the person addressed by simple name, than by any descriptive title. To make the translation ‘lady,’ and then to interpret ‘lady’ as the church, is a mysticism foreign to sacred epistolary writings. It comes, therefore, to this: that if we have New Testament epistles addressed to brethren, as Timothy, Titus, Philemon, and Gaius, we have likewise one directed to a sister, also by name; and the reasonable prominence of woman in the early church is exemplified. That the term ‘elect’ is an adjective, and not a proper name (Electa), is suggested by its position without the article in the Greek, as well as by its application also to a sister (ver. 13) of the person addressed.”
Sawtelle, Henry A. Commentary on the Epistles of John. Edited by Alvah Hovey, American Baptist Publication Society, 1888, p. 67.
J. M. Pendleton (1800s)
“Elect: chosen of God- a Christian. Lady: Kuria, a proper name. Her children: She was a mother, and most probably a widow; as her husband is not referred to.”
Pendleton, J. M., Brief Notes on The New Testament. American Baptist Publication Society, 1884
Lastly, Milburn Cockrell –
“The meaning of this address is debated by scholars. Some make it figurative; others literal. Those of the figurative meaning are in two groups. First, some make it a catholic epistle addressed to the church as a whole under the figure of a lady. This is doubtful as the author has knowledge of the circumstances and problems of his readers. The also makes verse 13 meaningless.
Second, many others make the elect lady to be a local church. They say Corinth, Philadelphia, Jerusalem, Ephesus, or Babylon is the church. Their agruments are as follows: (1) The term “elect” was used in greeting from church to church (I Pet. 5:13; (2) It has no personal names like III John; (3) The church is the bride of Christ (Il Cor. 11:2); (4) A false church is called a whore (Rev. 17), and why not a true church called an elect lady? Against this idea it must be said that nothing in the epistle suggests this allegorical meaning. If the lady is the church who are her children? The lady cannot mean the church and the children the members. This would make lady and children identical. There is no other instance in the New Testament where the church is addressed in such a figurative manner. Note verses 5,10, and 12.
It is best to understand this letter as addressed to a Christian woman (v. 1) who had children (v.4) and a sister (v.13). There is mention of her house (v. 10) which was the probably place where the church in her community met.
The Greek is capable of four different meanings: (1) to an elect lady; (2) to the elect lady; (3) to the elect Cyria or Kuria, or (4) to the lady Electra.
The fourth idea would make two sisters have the name of Electra.
The third has some merit, for the name Kuria does occur in the ancient documents. It is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Martha. The other two are most likely correct, but they leave the woman unnamed. She was likely a widow known for her exemplary character and hospitality. She probably did not live far from Ephesus.
Cockrell, Milburn, New Testament Survey. Berea Baptist Church
Let this be a reminder that God says what He means and means what He says. This is the best way to read the Bible. This is the Baptist way.
2 Peter 1:19-21