John writes a letter to the elect, the chosen lady, along with her kids. Some people assume John uses an intimate metaphor to reference the church (the chosen lady) and its members (her children).
But this interpretation falls apart because the New Testament considers the people as the church, not as two separate parts.
Rather, a literal understanding is that the chosen lady is an actual person. John’s note is one of encouragement and instruction to someone he cares for deeply. Because the Bible preserves his letter for us, we can vicariously receive this same reassurance and teaching.
The chosen lady is a faithful follower of Jesus, and she, no doubt, desires to pass this on to her kids. She’s likely a good mom, one who does her best to raise her children well. As a result, some of her kids are living good lives. But not all. Some pick up her legacy. Others do not.
She has done what she can to raise her kids right, but the decision of how they live their lives is up to them. John affirms her actions, but he doesn’t hold her accountable for results outside of her control.
Whether we are parents of biological children or spiritual children, we need to do our best to raise our offspring well.
Though we can’t determine which path our kids take, we can point them in the right direction.
Are we doing all we can to guide those under our influence to follow Jesus?
[Discover more about the chosen lady in 2 John 1:1, 5.]
Learn about other biblical women in Women of the Bible, available in audiobook, e-book, paperback, and hardcover.
A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.
