The elder: The apostle John calls himself “the elder” to affirm his authority in the church.
To the chosen lady and her children: The Greek word kuria could be the name of a specific woman. However, it more likely refers to a local church and its members (see 1:13).
whom I love in the truth: This could mean “truly love” (see 1:5–6). More likely, it refers to the love shared by people who confess the same truth about Christ. This truth stands in contrast to the lies taught by the false teachers (1:7; see 1 John 2:21–23). John stresses the pronoun I to emphasize the difference from the false teachers, who lack love and reject the true church.