Bible Trivia - 5/12/2008

Question: Which epistle was writtenm to an "elect lady"?

Answer: II John. (II John 1:1)

Comments: II John is the only book of the Bible addressed to a woman. Merril C. Tenney (b. 1904) claims, "This letter is more personal, for it is directed to 'the elect lady and her children.'" (Tenney, New Testament Survey, 1985, p. 378)

"The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth," (II John 1:1, NASB)

The Bible does not reveal the exact identity of the “elect lady.” There have been a number of suggestions concerning the identification of the vague addressee(s) of II John. There is even debate as to whether it is addressed to an individual or a group.

Here are some of the hypotheses of those who support an individual addressee:

• Some believe the title is a proper name and as such the letter is addressed to a Christian lady named Electa. This was the interpretation favored by Clement of Alexandria (150-215), who says of the epistle: scripta vero est ad quandam Babyloniam nomine Electam, significat autem electionem ecclesiae sanctae ("It is written to a certain Babylonian, Electa by name; but it signifies the further election of the holy church"). Detractors note that the repeated reference in verse 13 indicates that "elect" in verse 1 is an adjective, not a proper name.
  
• Another variation of the proper name theory suggests that the letter is addressed to a Christian lady named Kyria. This was first proposed by Athanasius (293-373), and avoids the difficulty of the previous suggestion as it allows "elect" to remain an adjective.
  
• Others claim that the letter is intentionally addressed to an unnamed Christian lady and as such "elect lady" would equate with the modern "Dear lady." This may have been done deliberately to protect the addressee in a time of persecution.
  
• Others have suggested that The Elect Lady is Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was to be the mother of John (John 19:26) and it has been suggested that a personal letter from John might well be a letter to her.
  
• Some have also speculated that Martha of Bethany is the "elect lady." William Barclay (1907-1978) explains "Kurios means Master; and Kuria as a proper name would mean Mistress. In Latin, Domina is the same name and in Aramaic, Martha: both meaning Mistress or Lady'. It has, therefore, been suggested that the letter was written to Martha of Bethany." (Barclay, The Lectures of John and Jude (Philadelphia:Westminster Press, 1976, p. 213.) In this interprettaion, the children referred to in verse 13 were Mary’s children.

The other mode of thought is that John was writing to a congregation. Revelation 12 and other scriptures symbolize the Church as a woman. Supporters claim that the internal evidence of II John strongly suggests a collective reference. In verses 6, 8, 10, amd 12 the addressee is referred to using a second person plural verb and only in verse 13 does the singular reappear. This is best understood only if some collective sense to the singular used in vv. 1 and 13 is involved.

Some have further speculated that John was referencing the Church at Ephesus, from which he may have written.