The typology of 2 John

John, the elder, addresses a “chosen Lady,” warning her and her children about “deceivers” who might try to win them over. John especially wants to draw the line at table fellowship: Don’t eat with the deceiver, John tells the Lady.

Sound familiar?

It’s Eden, but not quite Eden. After all, John presents himself more as “father” than “husband,” there are children, and this Eve has a sister (2 John 13). The most notorious sisters in the Bible are Jerusalem and Samaria in Ezekiel 23, the story of the older sister setting a bad example for the younger. The chosen sisters of 2 John are instead encouraging one another in faithfulness.