1 John 2:12-14 NKJV – 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.
1 John was written to encourage our assurance of salvation. John presents a number of tests. If we pass, we are Christians, yet, if we fail, we are not. Assuming that all readers pass, then all have a different level of spiritual maturity.
There are 3 groups mentioned here: 1) little children, 2) fathers, and 3) young men. There are various interpretations. Most likely, they refer to the amount of spiritual growth in a believer’s life. Some may be Christians for a long time but are spiritually ignorant. Some are Christians for a short time but are spiritually growing in strength and stature. It is a reflection of spiritual maturity.
The main points the “children” must know: 1) your sin are forgiven (V12) and 2) you have known the Father (V13).
The main points the “young men” must know: 1) you have overcome the wicked one (V13), 2) you are strong (V14), 3) the word of God abides (V14) in you, and 3) you have overcome the wicked one (14).
The main points the “fathers” must know: 1) have known him from the beginning (V14).
V12 “I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.” The first principle we must learn is that our sins are permanently forgiven. They are permanently forgiven because the Greek verb is in the perfect tense. If we have believed, then our sins are forgiven (Romans 8:1). We can have assurance and peace of our salvation.
(Wuest Word Studies): “The verb is in the perfect tense, which tense speaks of a past completed action having present and in some instances, permanent results. Our sins were put away at the Cross, with the result that they are never more remembered against us. Our Lord cried on the Cross, “It is finished” (A.V.). The perfect tense is used here. The atonement, to which He had reference, was effected at the Cross and became forever the all-sufficient payment for sin. The translation should read, “It stands finished.”
“The Greek word for “forgiven” is (G0863) ἀφίημι aphiēmi, which means to send away. Instead of carrying a load of sin, the burden has been removed and destroyed. Compare Colossians 2:14. Jesus is the Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), and Judge to forgive or not forgive.”
V13 “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 fathers are those who have known Him (who is) from the beginning. “Him” is the Lord Jesus. They have a proven record of experience, knowledge, and have been tested by the Lord and proven.
The young men have less knowledge and experience, but have overcome temptation and trouble faithfully with the assistance of the Holy Spirit.
The children have begun on their journey and are encouraged to continue.
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary) “overcome—The fathers, appropriately to their age, are characterized by knowledge. The young men, appropriately to theirs, by activity in conflict. The fathers, too, have conquered; but now their active service is past, and they and the children alike are characterized by knowing (the fathers know Christ, “Him that was from the beginning”; the children know the Father). The first thing that the little children realize is that God is their Father; answering in the parallel clause to “little sons … your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake,” the universal first privilege of all those really-dear sons of God. Thus this latter clause includes all, whereas the former clause refers to those more especially who are in the first stage of spiritual life, “little children.” Of course, these can only know the Father as theirs through the Son (Mt 11:27). It is beautiful to see how the fathers are characterized as reverting back to the first great truths of spiritual childhood, and the sum and ripest fruit of advanced experience, the knowledge of Him that was from the beginning (twice repeated, 1Jo 2:13, 14). Many of them had probably known Jesus in person, as well as by faith.”
V14 “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.”
Two things are added to the young men: 1) strong (from learning the Bible and experience in the Christian life; these are proven), and 2) the word of God abides in you (they have read, studied, meditated (deep, alert thinking), and memorized Scripture. See Psalm 11:9-11, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, and James 1:21-25.
We learn:
- Principles of growing in maturity
- Assurances of salvation