We do not know who this "lady" is, but from John's very personal letter to her, we know that she is a Believer, has children, that some of her children are believers, and that she may have been encountering false teachers who are trying to lead her astray. It might even be inferred that these false teachers have come to her door and requested access to her home to share their false teachings.
She may be a widow, or else the woman's husband should have protected her from someone coming to the door. She may also be in a leadership position within the nascent Church, because, if she were not, why would false teachers even bother with her and attempt to mislead her with Theological arguments?
In any case, we can tell from this letter that John really cares about her and her family. He commends her for her excellent raising of her children, and warns her about the false teachers roaming around. He reiterates the Truth and reinforces it. Also, he can't wait to see this family again.>>>We do not know who this "lady" is<<<
Sure we do. You, dear Lady, pray for her peace every day!
1 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;
1588 eklektos {ek-lek-tos'}
from 1586; TDNT - 4:181,505; adj
AV - elect 16, chosen 7; 23
1 Kings 11:36 And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.
2 Kings 21:7 And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
2 Kings 23:27 And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.
2 Chronicles 6:6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.
2 Chronicles 12:13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.
2 Chronicles 33:7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
Zechariah 3:2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire.
Psalm 122
A Song of Maalot of David
1. I was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of the Lord:
2. Our feet shall stand inside your gates, O Jerusalem:
3. Jerusalem is built as a city which is bound firmly together:
4. There the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord:
5. For thrones of judgment were set there, the thrones of the house of David:
6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; those who love you shall prosper:
7. Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces:
8. For my brothers and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within you:
9. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good:
5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love
She may be a widow, or else the woman's husband should have protected her from someone coming to the door.
Matthew 21:10-13
10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Luke 13:34-35
34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! 35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Jeremiah 30
15. Why do you cry over your hurt? Your pain is incurable for the multitude of your iniquity; because your sins were increased, I have done these things to you:
16. Therefore all those who devour you shall be devoured; and all your adversaries, every one of them, shall go to captivity; and those who plunder you shall be plundered, and all those who prey upon you will I give for a prey:
17. For I will restore health to you, and I will heal your wounds, says the Lord; because they called you an outcast, saying, This is Zion, for whom no man cares:
Psalm 132
11 The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
12 If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.
13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
14 This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.
15 I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
17 There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.
18 His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; those who love you shall prosper
For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
>>>For I will restore health to you, and I will heal your wounds, says the Lord; because your enemies called you an outcast, saying, This is Zion, for whom no man cares:<<<
Nobody cares? The Lord himself chose her. And David... he was a man after God's own heart. Makes sense that he took her, loved her, and lived in the fortress therein.
So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David.
Like father; like son.
Divine rectification.
The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
(Can't leave out her elect sister, either. Talk about being left for dead.)
