1. I. Introduction / Commendation of Truth (1-3)
Thematic Relation: Truth is the source, the reason, and the object of the letter. The source as coming from God; the reason as it is known to the author and his associates; the object as the recipient is true.

Some Key Words

Love (agapao [25]):
To love, indicating a direction of the will and finding one's joy in anything, love with moral import, expressing compassion; to be fond of, love dearly; to love in a social or moral sense [This is the love of v1, the love toward the lady.]
Love (agape [26]):
Benevolent love, love that does for the other what is needful rather than what is desired; good will, benevolence; charity [This is the love of v3, wherein we find blessing.]
Truth (aletheia [225]):
the reality at the base of appearance, the essence; what is true in any matter, what is true as pertaining to God and morals, free from pretence or deceit; truth
Know (ginosko [1097]):
to know experientially as opposed to intuitively; knowledge gained by perception; to be aware of , resolved, certain
Forever (aion [165]):
age, from aei [104] always and on [] being, thus the implication of eternity; forever, eternity; an age, perpetuity
Christ (christos [5547]):
anointed (in this case The Anointed); the Messiah; a title of Jesus
Son (huios [5207]):
Son, as indicating the relationship of offspring to parent, and further indicating the shared characteristics of those so related; used (as son of God) to describe Adam, those born again, angels, Jesus, those God esteems and loves as sons, those who revere God as their father, and are obedient to that father; kinship
 

Paraphrase

1 To those loved in truth by those who know that truth, from the elder, 2 because of that truth which will remain true forever 3 the blessings of God and of Jesus Christ are wished for you, as they will be found abundantly in truth and love.

Key Verse

3 - It sums the point. Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, in truth and love.

Thematic Relevance:

 Truth and love are paralleled repeatedly here. It is love in the bounds of truth that the elder and his associates have for the recipients. It is the knowing of that bounding and eternal truth that causes John to write. It is in the breadth of that truth and love that the blessings of God are found in abundance.

Doctrinal Relevance:

 Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God. The blessings of God reside on those who remain in His truth, and live by His love.

Moral Relevance:

 We ought to be careful to hold to the truth, and we know that truth to contain real love within itself. This twofold abiding will hold us in the place where God wants us to reside.

Questions Raised:

 Only the general curiosity as to who is addressed, and who are John's companions.

Some Parallel Verses

1
Ac 11:30 - The collection for the church in Judea was sent in the hands of the elders. 1Pe 5:1 - Peter exhorted as elder to elders. 3Jn 1 - John writes to Gaius as the elder. Ro 16:13 - Rufus was a choice man. 1Pe 5:13 - The church in Babylon was chosen. 1Jn 3:18 - Words of love are insufficient, but must be accompanied by deeds and truth. 3Jn 1 - John loved Gaius in truth. Jn 8:32 - Truth sets us free. 1Ti 2:4 - God desires that we all come to know the truth.
2
2Pe 1:12 - Peter reminds his readers of the truth they know, and which remains present to them. 1Jn 1:8 - if we deny our sinful nature truth does not abide with us. Jn 14:16 - The Holy Spirit will be with us forever.
3
Ro 1:7 - Grace and peace come from God and Jesus. 1Ti 1:2 - along with mercy.
 

New Thoughts

I find myself focussed in on the truth - the reality that is the basis or essence of the appearance. I note that this indicates a case where the appearance and the reality are one and the same, there's no hypocrisy or deception in this. The love - the compassionate moral finding of joy - that John had for this church was of such a nature; the appearance and the reality were one and the same. John's companions were those that knew with certainty based on experience that the message of the Gospel was of such a nature; the appearance and the reality were one and the same. This sameness of nature and appearance - especially as it applies to that which God is doing in us - will remain with us, always being. The blessings of God - grace, peace, mercy - will be with us in such a way that the appearance and reality of them are one and the same, given us out of that love which does what is needful. We need to bear in mind that this remains love, and the appearance remains true, even when it doesn't seem so to us. God works all things to our good. This does not ensure that we will see it that way at the time, but it does ensure that that is the true situation. His love may often require Him to do that for us which we won't find pleasant, because it is what we need.

God, I'm thankful that You love us so. I'm thankful that we can know and abide in the security of Your truth. I pray that You would help us to see Your love and Your goodness even in the hard places we must go through at times. I pray that You would keep us constant to the truth You have revealed to us, and given us to understand.