THE CHOSEN LADY

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THE CHOSEN LADY

• 2 JOHN

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2 John 1 - 2

• 2 John 11-2 ESV 2 John 11 The elder to the
  elect lady and her children, whom I love in
  truth, and not only I, but also all who know the
  truth, 2 because of the truth that abides in us
  and will be with us forever

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WHO WRITES THE LETTER ?

• THE ELDER
• According to church tradition it is the apostle
  John
• Who we know was one of the twelve
• Peter similarly was identified as an elder
• ESV 1 Peter 51 So I exhort the elders among you,
  as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings
  of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory
  that is going to be revealed

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WHO IS THE LETTER ADDRESSED TO ?

• The name of a lady (Electa or Kyria)
• A lady presumably the leader of a church
• A local church pictured as a lady
• The church universal pictured as a lady

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Name of a lady

• Electa is a Greek name meaning chosen
• Kyria is a Greek name (it is the feminine form of
  lord or master).
• There is however no definite article with either
  indicating that neither is a name (this would be
  the correct grammatical way to indicate a proper
  noun)

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A lady who leads a local church ?

• If this is the case then the chosen sister would
  be a lady in a similar position. (her sister
  either in the Lord or her real blood relative).
• NIV 2 John 113 The children of your chosen
  sister send their greetings.
• In 2 john 8, 10 12 the 2nd person plural is
  used. Language addressed to a group of people.(
  some languages have it clearly defined Gk does)
• ESV 2 John 18 Watch yourselves, so that you may
  not lose what we have worked for, but may win a
  full reward.
• Collective pronoun

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The universal church ?

• This one is fairly simple
• The universal church has no sister
• NIV 2 John 113 The children of your chosen
  sister send their greetings.

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A local church ?

• After eliminating the other options this option
  stands
• No definite art therefore not Electa nor Kyria
• A group is addressed therefore it is not an
  individual
• she has a sister therefore not the one
  universal church of Jesus

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CHOSEN

• ESV 1 Peter 24 As you come to him, a living
  stone rejected by men but in the sight of God
  chosen and precious,
• Set apart and precious
• Called into being by God

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Chosen therefore loved by John

• The loving spoken of here is not flighty
• But rather deeply and in truth
• A real love
• A whole love
• A meaningful love
• An agape love (as opposed to eros or philia)

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Chosen therefore loved by us too

• ESV 2 John 11 The elder to the elect lady and
  her children, whom I love in truth, and not only
  I, but also all who know the truth,
• Agape love lays itself down for the local church
• If you have a revelation of the truth you have a
  revelation of the chosen lady

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If you love the chosen lady

• You wont run her down in speech
• 1 Corinthians 316-17 16 Do you not know that
  you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells
  in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God
  will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and
  you are that temple.
• You will give your time, talents and treasures to
  build her up

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Chosen as in select chosen with a purpose too

• 1 Timothy 315 15 if I delay, you may know how
  one ought to behave in the household of God,
  which is the church of the living God, a pillar
  and buttress of truth.
• the vehicle / agent of the truth (note esv
  leaves out the article)

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What have we learnt

• Bible study (including some Greek) is important
• The chosen lady is not the elder
• The chosen lady is not the universal church
• The chosen lady is a local church
• Chosen as select and precious
• Chosen and therefore loved in truth
• Chosen and loved by the truth
• Chosen and loved by those who know the truth
• Chosen in the sense of purpose too
• His choice for intimacy bride
• Worthy of our attentions
• His choice therefore to be treated with respect
  and care.