2 John 1:5

And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. I BESEECH, [ Erootoo (G2065)] - rather (cf. note, 1 John 5:16), 'I request thee,' implying some authority. NOT ... NEW COMMANDMENT. It was old, in that Christians heard it from the first in the Gospel: new, in that love now rests on the new principle of filial imitation of God, who first loved us, and gave Jesus to die for us; and also in that love is now set forth with greater clearness than in the Old Testament. Love fulfils both tables of the Law, and is the end of Law and Gospel alike (cf. note, 1 John 2:7)....

4-6 It is good to be trained to early religion; and children may be beloved for their parents' sake. It gave great joy to the apostle to see children treading in their parents' steps, and likely in their turn to support the gospel. May God bless such families more and more, and raise up many to copy their example. How pleasing the contrast to numbers who spread irreligion, infidelity, and vice, among their children! Our walk is true, our converse right, when according to the word of God. This commandment of mutual Christian love, may be said to be a new one, in respect of its being declared by the Lord Christ; yet, as to the matter, it is old. And this is love to our own souls, that we obey the Divine commands. The foresight of the decay of this love, as well as of other apostacies, or fallings away, might engage the apostle to urge this duty, and this command, frequently and earnestly....

Verse 2 John 1:5. _THAT WHICH WE HAD FROM THE BEGINNING_] The commandment _to love one another_ was what they had heard from the first publication of Christianity, and what he wishes this excellent woman to inculcate on all those under her care. The mode of address here shows that it was a _person_, not a _Church_, to which the apostle wrote....

AND NOW I BESEECH THEE, LADY - Dr, “And now I entreat thee, Kyria,” (κυρία kuria.) See the introduction, Section 2. If this was her proper name, there is no impropriety in supposing that he would address her in this familiar style. John was probably then a very old man; the female to whom the Epistle was addressed was doubtless much younger. NOT AS THOUGH I WROTE A NEW COMMANDMENT UNTO THEE - John presumed that the command to love one another was understood as far as the gospel was known; and he might well presume it, for true Christianity never prevails anywhere without prompting to the observance of this law. See the notes at 1 Thessalonians 4:9. BUT THAT WHICH WE HAD FROM THE BEGINNING - From the time when

AND NOW I BESEECH THEE, LADY,.... Or "Kyria", which word the Syriac and Arabic versions retain, as if it was a proper name: the apostle having finished the inscription, salutation, and congratulation in the preceding verses, passes to an exhortation and entreaty to observe the commandment of love to one another, which is not a new commandment, but what was from the beginning: NOT AS THOUGH I WROTE A NEW COMMANDMENT, c. 1 John 2:7 and 1 John 2:8....

THAT WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER Law (of Christ), Summary: The new "law of Christ" is the divine love, as wrought into the renewed heart by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5); (Hebrews 10:16) and outflowing in the energy of the Spirit, unforced and spontaneous, toward the objects of the divine love; (2 Corinthians 5:14); (1 Thessalonians 2:7); (1 Thessalonians 2:8). It is, therefore, " the law of liberty"; (James 1:25); ...

VER. 2 JOHN 1:5 kuri,a It is possible to take kuri,a as a proper name (see the comment on ver. 2 Jo 1)....

THE SECOND EPISTLE The Second Epistle is addressed by the elder unto the elect lady and her children. The word elder has the same meaning as it has in 1 Peter 5:1. Some take it that the elect lady means an assembly, and her children the members of the assembly. But this is a very strained application. The word “Kyria” (lady) excludes this meaning, besides other reasons which we do not follow here. She was a Christian woman of note generally known and beloved, having children, whom the apostle had found walking in the truth. She had also a sister with children, who seems to have been in the same place where the apostle was, probably in Ephesus. This is indicated by the last verse of the Epistle, “The children of thy elect sister greet thee.” The keynote of this message to the elect lady, unknown by name, is the word “truth.” The apostle lets them know that he loves them, as well as

EXHORTATION AND WARNING. The commandment of love given by Christ to His Church from the beginning must be faithfully observed. Loyalty to Christ meant that His followers must beware of the false teachers, the embodiment of Antichrist, who denied the reality of His Incarnation. Ground already won for the faith might be lost. Those who, under the lure of advanced thought, sought to beguile others from Christ's teaching, were not Christians, and must receive neither countenance nor hospitality. 2 JOHN 1:4. In some way, possibly through a visit from some travelling evangelists belonging to the church addressed, John had ascertained the fidelity to the truth which many of its members exhibited. 2 John 1:5 f. 1 John 2:7

THE ELECT LADY (2 John 1:1-3)...