12 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. 13 I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
Commentary
Vs. 12 “I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.”
Having then exposed the perils of walking in darkness, the Apostle John now embraces the Body of Christ collectively, that is all the children of God (John 1:12) wanting us all to know that all of our sins are forgiven us, forgiven for Jesus Christ Names Sake. For it is by the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ alone that we have God’s Promise of remission of all our sins and everlasting life (Acts 4:12). This is then his encouraging us and strengthening us and reaffirming us in our faith after having had to deal with some tough issues.
Vs. 13 “I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.”
The Apostle John now addresses three groups, the fathers, the young men, and the little children. First is the fathers, which is a reference to the elders in the church, that is those who are mature in their faith, who have known Christ from the beginning, and thus are now strong in their faith, having no need to be convinced by anyone, who readily received and believed the Gospel and continue on in it through thick and thin. Theirs then is a faith to be emulated.
Next is the young men, these then are the young believers who are often charged by the Lord with carrying the weight of load (bearing the yoke in one’s youth as it were), who are the principal target of Satan, the wicked one. And yet as the Apostle John makes clear here, these are the ones who overcome the wicked one, and all of his temptations and trials that he puts us through in our spiritual youthfulness. And so here the Apostle John commends them as victors over him, and thus true saints of the Lord.
Finally, there are the little children, the new believers, the ones who are often the most excited and dynamic in their faith, who bring energies and passions for the Lord and His work in this world. And so, the Apostle John in wanting to commend them now tells them that they have known the Father, that is God the Father in heaven because they have their faith in God the Son Jesus Christ. All three then are needed, for all three are interdependent upon each other.
Vs. 14 “I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.”
Having confirmed all three groups, the Apostle John once again reaffirms the faith of the fathers by saying that they have known Him who is from the beginning, that is God who is in heaven, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And again, the young men, telling them that they are strong, that they need not doubt themselves, (and thus what the Lord can do through them), because as the Apostle John says, the word of God abides in you, which is the authority and power by which they themselves have overcome the wicked one.
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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