A Curious Word from John the Apostle

The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth... (2 John 1:1 NASB)

This word translated as "lady" from John's second epistle piqued my curiosity one day when I was reading the New Testament.

When I looked up the original Greek word I became even more curious. John used the word kyria, a word which has puzzled translators and bible scholars for centuries. The translators of King James' authorized version used the word lady, which had a very British connotation at that time.

"Lady" in that culture meant a woman of high position, commonly understood to be the wife of a "Lord". In Greek the word "kyria" is the feminine form of the word Kyrios, which is the title of our Lord Jesus in the New Testament. Thinking about the German word for church - Kirche - I came across this etymology of the word which explained a lot to me.

Greek kyriakon (adj.) "of the Lord" was used of houses of Christian worship since c. 300, especially in the East, though it was less common in this sense than ekklesia or basilike. An example of the direct Greek-to-Germanic transmission of many Christian words, via the Goths; probably it was used by West Germanic people in their pre-Christian period. (Etymonline on "church")

Maybe this epistle was written to a woman - maybe her name was Kyria. But I think John's second epistle was addressed to the chosen bride of Christ, which is the church. John referred to the spiritual body of Christ as the bride or wife of the Lamb many times in the book of Revelation. This analogy is actually a reference to prophecies in the book of Isaiah about Zion, the New Jerusalem, which is the spiritual kingdom of God.

It will no longer be said to you, “Forsaken," 
Nor to your land will it any longer be said, “Desolate”;
But you will be called, “My delight is in her,”
And your land, “Married”;
For the LORD delights in you,
And to Him your land will be married.
You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,
And a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
For as a young man marries a virgin,
So your sons will marry you;
And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
So your God will rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:3-5 NASB)

And so, John says to the chosen bride of Christ - walk in the truth...abide in the word...don't let deception and the spirit of antichrist into your house of worship! God delights in you as his bride, the body of His beloved Son!