OET interlinear 2 YHN (2 JHN) 1:1

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

ὁ πρεσβύτερος

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ καί τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῆς οὕς ἐγώ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καί οὐκ ἐγώ μόνος ἀλλά καί πάντες οἱ ἐγνωκότες τήν ἀλήθειαν)

In this culture, letter writers would identify themselves first, referring to themselves in the third person. If that is confusing in your language, you could use the first person here. Or if your language has a particular way of introducing the author of a letter, and if it would be helpful to your readers, you could use it here. Alternate translation: [I, the elder, am writing this letter to you]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὁ πρεσβύτερος

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ καί τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῆς οὕς ἐγώ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καί οὐκ ἐγώ μόνος ἀλλά καί πάντες οἱ ἐγνωκότες τήν ἀλήθειαν)

The elder refers to John, the apostle and disciple of Jesus. He refers to himself as elder either because of his old age or because he is a leader in the church or both. If you have a term for an older, respected leader, you can use it here. Alternate translation: [I, John, am writing this letter to you] or [I, John the elder, am writing this letter to you]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῆς

˱to˲_˓the˒_chosen mistress (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ καί τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῆς οὕς ἐγώ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καί οὐκ ἐγώ μόνος ἀλλά καί πάντες οἱ ἐγνωκότες τήν ἀλήθειαν)

In this culture, letter writers would name the addressees next, referring to them in the third person. If that is confusing in your language, you could use the second person here. Or if your language has a particular way of introducing the person who receives a letter, and if it would be helpful to your readers, you could use it here. Alternate translation: [to you, chosen lady, and to your children]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῆς

˱to˲_˓the˒_chosen mistress (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ καί τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῆς οὕς ἐγώ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καί οὐκ ἐγώ μόνος ἀλλά καί πάντες οἱ ἐγνωκότες τήν ἀλήθειαν)

John is speaking here of a church and its people as if they were a lady and her children. See the discussion in Part 3 of the Introduction to this book. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly in the text or in a footnote. Alternate translation: [to the people of the chosen church]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῆς

˱to˲_˓the˒_chosen mistress (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ καί τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῆς οὕς ἐγώ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καί οὐκ ἐγώ μόνος ἀλλά καί πάντες οἱ ἐγνωκότες τήν ἀλήθειαν)

In this context, the term chosen indicates a person or group of people whom God has chosen to receive salvation. Alternate translation: [to the congregation that God has saved]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ

˓am˒_loving in truth

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun truth with an equivalent expression. The phrase the truth could: (1) refer to how John loves. Alternate translation: [truly love] (2) provide the reason for John’s love. Alternate translation: [love because we both follow the one who is true]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

πάντες οἱ ἐγνωκότες τὴν ἀλήθειαν

all the_‹ones› ˓having˒_known (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ καί τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῆς οὕς ἐγώ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καί οὐκ ἐγώ μόνος ἀλλά καί πάντες οἱ ἐγνωκότες τήν ἀλήθειαν)

John uses the phrase all the ones having known the truth to refer to believers who know and accept the true message about Jesus Christ. John is most likely using the term all as a generalization to mean all the believers who are with him and who know the people of this church. Alternate translation: [all who are with me and who know and accept the truth]