Who wrote 2 John?
The authorship of 2 John is debated. Tradition points to John the Apostle, but some scholars suggest it was another John called the elder. In either case, the author was likely a leader in the Christian community at Ephesus.
The above mosaic is found on the Isle of Patmos (in the Cave of the Apocalypse), and shows John dictating to a scribe.
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Who was the 'chosen lady'?
John addresses his letter to "the chosen lady and her children" (v. 1). Clement of Alexandria believed this referred to a woman in Babylon. However, scholars commonly suggest that the chosen lady refers to a church, perhaps in Asia Minor (Turkey).
The above picture shows remnants of the Church of Philip (Hierapolis, Asia Minor), and a 2nd century AD statue of a woman.
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Terrace house in Ephesus
John warns his readers not to invite false teachers into their homes (v. 10) and thereby support their teachings (v. 11).
The photo above is of a luxury terrace house from ancient Ephesus, showing the courtyard and fancy flooring. At least some of this residence likely existed in the time of John, even if it was renovated over the years.
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