ELECT LADY (ἐκλέκτη κυρία). This title was used in the salutation of 2 John 1:1. It has been understood to identify a Christian woman, the acquaintance of the Elder who wrote the letter. Her sister may have been his hostess at the time he wrote. “Lady” in Gr. was sometimes a proper noun, and some have thought it should have been transliterated (Kuria or Cyria) as was Gaius’ name in 3 John. It is more likely that the reference was a figure of speech referring to the church to which the letter was addressed, as also the closing reference to “sister” would be understood as a designation for a Christian community. The symbolism of the church as a mother and its members as children may be hinted in 1 Pet 5:13 also. The election of God’s people was a prominent idea in the OT and the figure of the Messianic community as a woman bearing children may likewise be understood in Galatians 4:25 and Revelation 12.