2 John 1:13 kjv

The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

2 John 1:13 nkjv

The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.

2 John 1:13 niv

The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.

2 John 1:13 esv

The children of your elect sister greet you.

2 John 1:13 nlt

Greetings from the children of your sister, chosen by God.

2 John 1 verses

2 John 1 13 Meaning

2 John 1:13 conveys a personal and communal greeting from the spiritual children of the sender's own congregation (referred to as an "elect sister") to the recipient ("the elect lady"). It signifies Christian fellowship, unity, and shared identity in faith among believers, specifically between two communities or their leaders. The greeting emphasizes a deep bond established through divine election and mutual spiritual kinship.

2 John 1 13 Context

The Second Epistle of John is the shortest book in the Bible, primarily addressed to "the elect lady and her children" (likely a house church and its members) by "the Elder." Its central theme is the importance of "walking in truth and love" (v. 4, 6) while strongly cautioning against receiving or welcoming false teachers (v. 7-11) who deny the incarnate Christ. These deceivers, referred to as antichrists, threaten to undermine the true faith. The entire letter underscores the necessity of discernment to preserve sound doctrine and Christian fellowship. Verse 13, the concluding greeting, reinforces the concept of a larger, unified Christian community that shares these foundational truths, contrasting their true fellowship with the destructive influence of the false teachers John warns against. It personalizes the bond between communities standing in the truth.

2 John 1 13 Word analysis

• The children (Greek: Ta tekna, "the children/offspring")
  • Literally denotes offspring but, in a spiritual context, refers to those who are born of God through faith in Christ (Jn 1:12; 1 Jn 3:10) or, here, specifically the members of the sender's own congregation.
  • Signifies spiritual kinship and belonging within the Christian family.
  • Often used by John to describe believers who are under his spiritual care or instruction.
• of your (Greek: Sou, genitive case of sy, "you/yours")
  • Directly links the children to the recipient ("the elect lady"), indicating they belong to the context of her faith and spiritual sphere, though they are sending from a different location or community.
• elect (Greek: eklektēs, feminine genitive singular of eklektos, "chosen, picked out, elect")
  • A significant theological term referring to those whom God has chosen or appointed for His purposes and salvation.
  • In the New Testament, it consistently emphasizes divine sovereignty in calling believers into a relationship with Himself.
  • Here, it describes the "sister," underscoring her divine selection and implying a common bond in Christ with the "elect lady."
• sister (Greek: adelphēs, feminine genitive singular of adelphē, "sister")
  • Literally "sister" by birth, but commonly used in Christian contexts to denote a fellow believer or a spiritual sister (e.g., Rom 16:1).
  • Most commentators interpret "elect sister" as another congregation or church (perhaps the one where John himself resided) that shares the same spiritual election and kinship with "the elect lady" and her church.
  • This metaphor highlights unity and shared spiritual lineage.
• greet (Greek: aspazetai, present middle/passive indicative 3rd person singular of aspazomai, "to salute, embrace, greet")
  • A standard epistolary closing that conveys good wishes, respect, affection, and solidarity.
  • The singular verb "greet" with the plural subject "children" suggests the greeting is collective, from the children representing the church, or that the "sister" herself (as the church personified) is performing the action, even if the "children" are the instruments of the greeting. It implies corporate sending.
• you (Greek: Se, accusative singular of sy, "you")
  • The direct object of the greeting, referring to "the elect lady" (and by extension, her community).

Words-group analysis

• "The children of your elect sister": This phrase functions as the collective subject of the greeting. It conveys a spiritual lineage, indicating that the greetings are coming from members of another divinely chosen Christian community. The inclusion of "children" alongside "elect sister" emphasizes that the greeting is not merely from a single individual but from the entire assembly, embodying a vibrant, inter-congregational fellowship rooted in shared election. This underscores the unity and connection between John’s community and the recipients.

2 John 1 13 Bonus section

The consistent use of feminine singular nouns—"elect lady" and "elect sister"—followed by collective references ("children") strengthens the widespread scholarly view that these terms are personifications of local churches. This interpretation allows the letter's practical advice about hospitality and rejection of false teachers (v. 10) to apply broadly to congregational practices, rather than solely to an individual's household. If the "elect lady" were just an individual, her "children" would be her biological family; but given the collective church context of John's letters, spiritual "children" are more fitting, thus implying "elect lady" as a church. This understanding elevates the closing greeting from a mere personal note to an endorsement of inter-church unity and mutual spiritual support against prevalent deceptions of the time. The singular "greet" for the plural "children" further points to the collective identity of the "sister" as a unified body, performing a corporate greeting.

2 John 1 13 Commentary

2 John 1:13 serves as the concluding salutation of this brief epistle. It functions as a concise expression of Christian solidarity and fellowship. By conveying greetings from "the children of your elect sister," the verse reinforces the understanding that "the elect lady" likely represents a local church, and the "elect sister" is another church (likely the one from which John writes) which is equally chosen by God. The "children" are the members of that sending congregation. This familial language—"sister" and "children"—underscores the deep spiritual kinship shared among true believers across different locations.

The greetings are more than mere pleasantries; they symbolize unity in Christ, especially vital in a time of growing apostasy. In the face of false teachers attempting to sow discord and doctrinal error, such greetings affirmed who was "in the truth" and where genuine fellowship could be found. It subtly validates the recipient's faithfulness and extends an embrace from those who stand firmly with them in biblical truth and love, reinforcing the bonds of communion in the body of Christ. It suggests that John's concern for guarding the truth extends beyond the immediate recipient to all who are part of this spiritual family.

Examples:

• This verse illustrates that greetings within the church are not just social niceties but affirmations of shared faith and mutual encouragement.
• It highlights the importance of inter-church fellowship and spiritual connectedness.
• It demonstrates how a church (represented as a "lady" or "sister") nurtures and produces spiritual "children" who perpetuate the faith.