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 for the truth's sake which abideth in us, and it shall be with us for ever: 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.

It seems certain that this charming little letter comes to us from the hand of John, "the disciple whom Jesus loved." In his First Epistle he has embodied substantially eight of these thirteen verses, while the style and the subject matter are evidently his own. He calls himself simply "the elder," which indicates marked humility in one who was the most eminent member of the Christian Church, one who might have styled himself, at least, "the apostle." This modest title, however, may carry with it the suggestion of age, for the writer has outlived all his fellow apostles, and his words are weighty with the experiences of years; and, further, the word "elder" designated a high ofhce in the Christian communion and was claimed by Peter as a mark of distinction. It may thus be concluded that John writes with the authority of age, of official position, and of a personal knowledge of Christ.

"The elect lady," to whom the letter is addressed may have been, as most modern scholars suppose, not an individual but a church, not a person but a Christian society. This conjecture, however, cannot be definitely established. Moreover, the obvious meaning of Scripture is usually the correct meaning and there is nothing in the simple content of the letter actually to discredit the popular view that the phrase denotes some Christian woman of distinguishing gifts and graces. "Her children" are united with her in the salutation, so that, in either case, it is evident that in this epistle more persons than one are addressed. Nor is the question of supreme importance for it becomes evident that a message is herein contained which is applicable to all Christians and to all churches.

For this household or Christian society John expresses his true affection, which he declares is felt also by all who hold the truth, as it springs from a common faith. It is indeed this united acceptance of Christian verities which ever forms the firm basis of abiding friendships. Such friendships will endure; for this fellowship with the truth is imperishable: "it shall be with us for ever."

The three terms which form the substance of the greeting, "grace, mercy, peace," appear in the opening formula of other epistles, and because of their familiarity are in danger of losing their deep significance. They include all the blessings known to believers, from their source in the "unmerited favor" of God, to their ultimate issue in the peace "which passeth all understanding." Here the enjoyment of these blessings is not, as usual, the substance of a prayer, but of a prediction: "shall be with us"; it is ascribed to the Father but also to Jesus Christ, who is here designated as "the Son of the Father"; it is conditioned upon a right state of mind and heart, "in truth and love"; for the experience is only for those who accept Christ as the divine Son of God, and walk in love toward him and toward their fellow men. Thus "truth and love," which do not commonly occur in opening salutations, are the distinguishing words in this greeting; and significantly so, for they are the essential words of the epistle which follows.