2 John 1:5

“And now I beseech thee, lady, etc.] Or “Kyria”, which word the Syriac and Arabic versions retain, as if it was a proper name: the apostle having finished the inscription, salutation, and congratulation in the preceding verses, passes to an exhortation and entreaty to observe the commandment of love to one another, which is not a new commandment, but what was from the beginning: not as though I wrote a new commandment, etc. (see Gill on “<610207>1 John 2:7”) and (see Gill on “<610208>1 John 2:8”).”

“I beseech--rather (compare Note, see on Jo1 5:16), "I request thee," implying some degree of authority. not . . . new commandment--It was old in that Christians heard it from the first in the Gospel preaching; new, in that the Gospel rested love on the new principle of filial imitation of God who first loved us, and gave Jesus to die for us; and also, in that love is now set forth with greater clearness than in the Old Testament dispensation. Love performs both tables of the law, and is the end of the law and the Gospel alike (compare Notes, see on Jo1 2:7-8). that we--implying that he already had love, and urging her to join him in the same Christian grace. This verse seems to me to decide…”

“And now I beseech thee, lady - Dr, “And now I entreat thee, Kyria,” (κυρία kuria.) See the introduction, Section 2. If this was her proper name, there is no impropriety in supposing that he would address her in this familiar style. John was probably then a very old man; the female to whom the Epistle was addressed was doubtless much younger. Not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee - John presumed that the command to love one another was understood as far as the gospel was known; and he might well presume it, for true Christianity never prevails anywhere without prompting to the observance of this law. See the notes at 1 Thessalonians 4:9. But that which we had from the beginning -…”

“That which we had from the beginning - Of our Lord's ministry. Indeed it was, in some sense, from the beginning of the world. That we may love one another - More abundantly. 2 John 1:6”

“1:5 I am writing to remind you, dear friends: Literally I urge you, lady. See study note on 1:1.”

“not: Jo1 2:7, Jo1 2:8, Jo1 3:11 that we: Joh 13:34, Joh 13:35, Joh 15:12; Gal 5:22; Eph 5:2; Th1 4:9; Heb 13:1; Pe1 1:22, Pe1 1:23, Pe1 4:8; Pe2 1:7; Jo1 3:14-18, Jo1 3:23, Jo1 4:7-12, Jo1 4:20 2 John 1:6”