Bible Dictionary
John, The Second And Third Epistles Of
The Second Epistle of John is addressed to an elect woman and her children, warning against receiving teachers of false doctrine. The Third Epistle is addressed to Gaius, commending Christian workers to his hospitality.
Definition
The Second and Third Epistles of John are brief letters addressing distinct pastoral situations. The Second warns an individual woman against supporting false teaching, while the Third commends Christian workers to Gaius and urges hospitality toward faithful strangers.
Biblical Usage
The Second Epistle warns against assisting teachers identified with false doctrine. The Third encourages Gaius to receive Christians who had gone out to preach the gospel and commends his faithful hospitality.
Historical Background
The recipient of the Second Epistle is variously understood as an elect lady, Kyria, or Lady Electa. Gaius was probably a convert of John and a person of means in a city near Ephesus.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
The second epistle is addressed to an individual woman. One who had children, and a sister and nieces, is clearly indicated. According to one interpretation she is “the Lady Electa,” to another, “the elect Kyria,” to a third, “the elect Lady.” The third epistle is addressed to Caius or Gaius. He was probably a convert of St. John, Epist. (3 John 1:4) and a layman of wealth and distinction, Epits. (3 John 1:5) in some city near Ephesus. The object of St. John in writing the second epistle was to warn the lady to whom he wrote against abetting the teaching known as that of Basilides and his followers, by perhaps an undue kindness displayed by her toward the preachers of the false doctrine. The third epistle was written for the purpose of commending to the kindness and hospitality of Caius some Christians who were strangers in the place where he lived. It is probably that these Christians carried this letter with them to Caius as their introduction.