Although a number of modern writers believe John was writing to a particular woman leader of one of the churches, it seems more likely that he was personifying the church under the figure of a gracious lady (compare 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:25-27, 32). No other canonical epistle is addressed to an individual unless that individual is addressed by name (3 John 1). Some have suggested that "lady" is actually a proper name (Greek kuria), but the adjective "elect" is never used elsewhere as an individual appellation ("the well-beloved Gaius," 3 John 1). Another obvious problem is that this lady was assumed to have considerable authority in the church whereas the Apostle Paul had made it plain that, in the church, no woman was to "usurp authority over the man" (1 Timothy 2:12).

Source:

KJV Defenders Study Bible, by Dr. Henry Morris, Ph.D.
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Language: English
DEF 10 ISBN 0-529-10444-x
DEF 10-1 ISBN 0-529-10445-8