And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

People's New Testament

1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady. Kyria in Greek. If lady at all, it would mean your ladyship. See PNT 2Jo 1:1.

Not as though I wrote a new commandment. Love embraces all. Compare and see PNT 1Jo 2:7.

Wesley's Notes

1:5 That which we had from the beginning - Of our Lord's ministry. Indeed it was, in some sense, from the beginning of the world. That we may love one another - More abundantly.

Scofield Reference Notes

[1] that we love one another

Law (of Christ), Summary: The new "law of Christ" is the divine love, as wrought into the renewed heart by the Holy Spirit Rom 5:5 Heb 10:16 and outflowing in the energy of the Spirit, unforced and spontaneous, toward the objects of the divine love 2Cor 5:14-20 1Th 2:7,8. It is, therefore, " the law of liberty" Jas 1:25 2:12 in contrast with the external law of Moses. Moses' law demands love, Lev 19:18 Dt 6:5 Lk 10:27 Christ's law is love Rom 5:5 1Jn 4:7,19,20 and Song takes the place of the external law by fulfilling it Rom 13:10 Gal 5:14. It is the "law written in the heart" under the New Covenant.

See Scofield Note: "Heb 8:8".

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

5. I beseech-rather (compare Note, see on [2654]1Jo 5:16), "I request thee," implying some degree of authority.

not . new commandment-It was old in that Christians heard it from the first in the Gospel preaching; new, in that the Gospel rested love on the new principle of filial imitation of God who first loved us, and gave Jesus to die for us; and also, in that love is now set forth with greater clearness than in the Old Testament dispensation. Love performs both tables of the law, and is the end of the law and the Gospel alike (compare Notes, see on [2655]1Jo 2:7, 8).

that we-implying that he already had love, and urging her to join him in the same Christian grace. This verse seems to me to decide that a Church, not an individual lady, is meant. For a man to urge a woman ("THEE"; not thee and thy children) that he and she should love one another, is hardly like an apostolic precept, however pure may be the love enjoined; but all is clear if "the lady" represent a Church.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

1:4-6 It is good to be trained to early religion; and children may be beloved for their parents' sake. It gave great joy to the apostle to see children treading in their parents' steps, and likely in their turn to support the gospel. May God bless such families more and more, and raise up many to copy their example. How pleasing the contrast to numbers who spread irreligion, infidelity, and vice, among their children! Our walk is true, our converse right, when according to the word of God. This commandment of mutual Christian love, may be said to be a new one, in respect of its being declared by the Lord Christ; yet, as to the matter, it is old. And this is love to our own souls, that we obey the Divine commands. The foresight of the decay of this love, as well as of other apostacies, or fallings away, might engage the apostle to urge this duty, and this command, frequently and earnestly.