John introduced himself, identified the recipients of this letter, greeted them, and mentioned the major subjects of his concern to prepare his readers for what follows.
vv. 1-2 As I explained in the introduction section of these notes, the "elder"was evidently the Apostle John, the "chosen lady"a local church, and her "children"the believers in that church. The church was "chosen"in that it consisted of elect individuals, Christians.
"We are hardly to think here of an elder in the sense which the word presbyterosusually bears in Christian contexts in the New Testament, that is, one who discharges the ministry of eldership in a local church. . . . The word appears in another specialized sense in second-century Christian literature, of church leaders in the generation after the apostles, particularly those who were disciples of apostles or of apostolic men,' and were therefore guarantors of the tradition' which they received from the apostles and delivered in turn to their own followers."4
John loved this church and so did other Christians who knew about it. The basis of this love was the truth the Christians there believed in common with one another. This "truth"refers to God's revelation in Scripture. The importance of this truth is clear from the fact that John referred to it three times in these two verses.
"The Truth makes true love possible."5
v. 3 John wanted his readers to appreciate the importance of guarding God's truth and practicing love for one another. These two things are the basis for grace, mercy, and peace. "Grace"is God's unmerited favor, "mercy"is compassion, and "peace"is harmony and inner tranquillity.
"The succession grace, mercy, peace' marks the order from the first notion of God to the final satisfaction of man."6
These qualities flourish where truth and love prevail.
"Where truth and love' coexist harmoniously, we have a well-balanced Christian character (cf. Eph. 4.15)."7
John's description of Jesus Christ as the Son of God the Father is reminiscent of his emphasis on Jesus' full deity both in his first epistle and in his Gospel.
