Verse 5.— And now I beseech thee, lady. The exhortation is earnest. "I beseech thee." The reason for this was, the fear and anxiety entertained by the apostle that, as false teachers were abroad, danger menaced the lady and her family, and to guard them against all possible evil influences that might arise, he here shows his great solicitude. Not as though I wrote a new commandment. Do not misunderstand me. I do not wish you to think that I have a new injunction to impose, or a new revelation to impart. It is the same we had from the very first procla­mation of the word of life, "That we love one another." This includes everything. It is very broad and full. It embraces all Christian duties, the observance of which insures the continued favor of the Father.