The apostle John's brief epistle to the elect lady and her children (v. 1) — thirteen verses, the shortest book in the NT after 3 John. The elect lady may be a specific Christian woman host of a house-church or, more likely, a particular local church personified as a lady (the church as Bride being a common NT image). The letter rejoices that John has found some of her children walking in truth (v. 4), commands the central Christian duties of mutual love and continuing in the apostolic doctrine, and issues a sharp warning against false teachers who deny the incarnation: For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist (v. 7). Verse 10 instructs the church to refuse hospitality to such teachers: If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed. The brief letter balances love and discernment: love within the truth, refusal of hospitality outside it. The two do not contradict.