Then, as now, most women give birth to children at some time in their lives. As shown by the contexts of Ephesians 5:32 and Revelation 12, the church is sometimes referred to … Do you think he knows the "chosen lady?" But if John was so concerned about protecting the identity of the recipients), then why is Gaius clearly identified as the addressee of 3 John? 1:1 The elder to the elect (chosen) lady and her children… (I believe the elect lady is those leaders of the Jewish or Gentile church, and in verse 13 ‘the elect (chosen) sister’ being how the two churches may have referred to one another, the children being the members of the churches that are being led into the truth. The letter, presumably written by the same John (the elder) who wrote 1 John and 3 John, … (II John 2:1 NASB) Second John is the only New Testament book addressed to a woman (II John 1:1). They are rightly called anti-christs and John is warning churches about welcoming them to preach at meetings (which were held in homes) less they drive any from the truth. While talking about Greek some thinks electa is the proper name of the lady. However I have not ignored her. It’s Biblical. Perhaps your 90-year-old aunt could tell you about some of them, but you never would be able to identify some of the people mentioned in those old letters. Aida Besancon Spencer, in her book Beyond the Curse, cites Clement of Alexandria in the second century AD who clearly used the word to denote persons ordained to places of public ministry.1. Early church writings inform us that Philip’s daughters were held in high esteem by the early church. I see at least seven reasons supporting the position that the “chosen lady” should be understood as a designation for an actual woman who was a leader in the church, rather than as a metaphor for the church. Smalley does not suggest that we take “the beloved Gaius” as a metaphor for a church! If you like Daniel, then pick up the Maccabees. John called those whom he led his children. 1:1 - The elder, to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all those who know the truth; [14] John uses the word “church” (ekklēsia) three times in his third letter: in 3 John 1:6, 9, 10. [See endnote 14 for a discussion on this.] The mention of this other elect lady and her children further supports the … I’ve even emboldened the singular and underlined the plural pronouns and verbs to highlight the switches from singular to plural. Christian Gnosticism spread quickly and became even more influential in the 2nd and 3rd centuries, when they had even more access to even more churches. No, I do not. I really appreciate your analytical approach to the questionable religious traditions about women’s roles in the Body of Christ. [14] It is true that God’s people in the Old Testament and the Church in the New Testament are often referred to in feminine terms. She was a gracious and loving person. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. Even if it wasn’t to her, but someone else. Let us say, apples are apples and oranges are oranges, although both have spherical shapes! One more question remains. I couldn't help but wonder whether that was really true. I mention this in my intro to John’s Gospel here. Another possibility is that John was writing to a congregation. We may presume that she had been devoted to her husband and children. The brevity of the letter argues against it being primarily a letter to a church. The chosen lady was well-known in the Christian community, and anyone who loved the Lord could not help but love her. Why would John write this letter to a church? John wrote to "the chosen lady." 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