2 John 1:13

The children of thy elect sister greet thee Better, for the sake of uniformity with 3 John 1:14, salute thee: the same verb is used in both passages. That the elect sister herself sends no greeting is taken as an argument in favour of the -elect lady" being a Church, and the -elect sister" a sister Church, which could send no greeting other than that of its members or -children". But the verse fits the other hypothesis equally well. Kyria's nephews may be engaged in business at Ephesus under S. John's Apostolic care: their mother may be living elsewhere, or be dead. It was perhaps from these children of her sister that the Apostle had knowledge of, the state of things in the elect lady's house. Their sending a salutation through him may intimate that they share his anxiety respecting her and hers.

Amen As in 1 John 5:21 (where see note), this is the addition of a copyist.