2 John 1:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

On the basis of these words, some think they can maintain that this Epistle was written not to a woman, but to the Church. I do not argue at all with one who thinks so.

In the peace of Christ, John unites the heads of the churches, who are sisters in faith and daughters of God in baptism.

On the basis of these words, some think that the Epistle is addressed not to a woman, but to the Church.

The greeting from the sister's children shows that they were John's closest disciples and were with him, as Paul's disciples were with the Apostle Paul.

The sister's children: either she was no longer alive at that time, or she then lived in some distant place, so that there was no communication with her at the time. Otherwise the Apostle would, of course, have sent greetings to her as well. "Chosen": see the note on 2 Jn 1:1. Amen.

The Apostle John speaks of the inexpressibility of the fullness of Christian teaching even in the Gospel. This is all the more natural here, in so brief a letter. In it the Apostle wished to express the whole depth of his feelings and thoughts, but, because this was impossible, he deferred it until oral conversation.

The holy Apostle Paul had the same attitude toward writing and the oral transmission of the whole fullness of the Christian spirit and teaching (see Rom 1:11, 12). From this it is clear that writings were only auxiliary means in the work of spreading and confirming Christianity.