2 John 1:1 (DBY)

Passage

The elder to [the] elect lady and her children, whom *I* love in truth, and not *I* only but also all who have known the truth,

Nearby Context

2 John 1:1 The elder to [the] elect lady and her children, whom *I* love in truth, and not *I* only but also all who have known the truth,

2 John 1:2 for the truth's sake which abides in us and shall be with us to eternity.

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

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "elder", "elect", "lady", "children", "love", "truth", "only", and "known". 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 abides in...", 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.