Titus 2 Men And Women

The Elect Lady
By Teddi Neevel

Scripture: 2 John

Background: 2 John is the only book of the Bible written as a personal letter to a woman. The author is the Apostle John. Bible scholars have dated 2 John as having been written around 90 to 100 A.D.
Church historians traditionally believe that this elect lady was Martha of Bethany and that the children referred to in verse 13 were Mary’s children. While this is plausible there is no Bible proof of it so we may want to add this the list of questions we want to ask Jesus when we get to heaven.

Second John is divided into three distinct sections.
Verses 1-6 give praise to the lady for walking steadfastly in the truth.
Verses 7-11 give a warning of people who do not teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Verses 12-13 are the conclusion of the letter.

Every time the word commandment or commandments is used in this passage it means injunction, authoritative prescription. I also looked up the Greek words translated love in this text and have put their meaning in parenthesis.
2 JOHN 1:1-13
The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love (in a social or moral sense) in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
Grace be with you, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. (Affection or benevolence)
I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
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 (in a social or moral sense) one another.
And this is love, (affection or benevolence) that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed:
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Having many things to write unto you, I would not [write] with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

Verse 1. John leaves no question about the lady’s spiritual condition for he calls her the elect lady. 1Peter 2:9 “But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

He not only refers to her as being elect which means chosen but goes on to say that everyone who knows the truth recognizes that she is walking in the truth. What a testimony she had!
John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Verse 2. John reminds this lady of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of Truth. John 14:17 [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Verse 3. John offers a blessing of grace, mercy and peace. I wonder what an impact we would have on others if we blessed or brothers and sisters in Christ in this way.

Verse 4. John praised her about her children. We all know that you can get a mother's attention and really make her day just by praising her children. This praise was again based in her obedience to follow God’s commands. (Proverbs 22:6, Titus 2)

Verses 5 & 6. John is simply cheering her on. Encouraging her to continue to be faithful. John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:21 “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

Verse 7. John knew this was a generous compassionate lady and so he warned her about those who deny the deity of Jesus. The name Jesus means Saviour but it was and in some cultures still is a popular name. Christ means anointed, consecrated, and sacred and is only used for the Messiah. 2 Peter 2:1 “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

Verse 8. John reminds the elect lady that it is possible to lose spiritual rewards by failing to remain steadfast. 2Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

It has been many years since I have heard teaching of heavenly rewards for spiritual service. I know some of this failure has come out of teaching we must serve the LORD because we love Him and not for selfish reasons. It is essential that our service to the Lord is based in our love for Him, however that is not a reason to neglect teaching about the rewards God has promised us. I believe that since God told us there would be rewards He must have wanted us to desire the rewards. Consider an Olympic athlete, he trains for his sport and he knows that he is good…perhaps the best but just winning is not enough. The athlete wants to stand on the platform and receive the prize he has won. Most athletes would be able to excel in any of several sports. They have the physical attributes and athletic ability that is needed so why do they participate in the sport they have chosen? They love their particular sport. As Christians we need to strive to win…to keep God’s commandment…to run the race and seek the reward. We just need to remember that we are running because we love our Saviour.

Verses 9-11. Here John is emphasizing the need for discretion. If the elect lady were to invite someone who is unsaved into her home, treat them graciously and bless them as they leave she would be encouraging them in the sinfulness. The problem is not in being gracious but in blessing those who teach anything other than the deity and the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus as the method of attaining heaven. Any religion that denies the deity of Jesus Christ is directing people to an eternity in Hell. They may be nice people by societies standards…they may be good neighbors but the only way to heaven is through the shed blood of God’s only Son, Jesus. John 14:22-27 “Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
These things have I spoken unto you, being [yet] present with you.
But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 3:18-19 “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

Verses 12-13. John simple wrote of his desire to once again see this beloved friend. And he told her that her nieces and nephews sent their regards.

To close this study I would like for each of you to take the first 6 verses of 2 John and substitute Jesus or Holy Spirit in place of the word truth.

2 John 1-6

The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love (in a social or moral sense) in ___________; and not I only, but also all they that have known _____________;
For the ________ ___________'s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
Grace be with you, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. (affection or benevolence)
I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in ____________, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
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 (in a social or moral sense) one another.
And this is love, (affection or benevolence) that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

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