2 John 1:1 (ASV)

Passage

The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth;

Nearby Context

2 John 1:1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth;

2 John 1:2 for the truth`s sake which abideth in us, and it shall be with us for ever:

2 John 1:3 Grace, mercy, peace shall be with us, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "elder", "elect", "lady", "children", "love", "truth", and "only". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "elder" and "elect", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The next verse adds "for the truth s sake which abideth...", so "elder" and "elect" should be read forward into that movement. In 2 John context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "elder" and "elect" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.