1 John 2:12–14

Read the passage.

The Reformation Study Bible notes say that the poem in vv. 12&endash;14 are not addressed to three distinct groups (“children”, “fathers”, and “young men”), but is referring to the same audience in three different ways. This wasn’t something I’d ever considered before, but after looking at the words more closely, I tend to agree. All of the reasons John gives for writing to them in each stanza don’t make sense as separate, distinct reasons because they overlap so much. The children know the Father, but the fathers know the Eternal One. Of course, both lines are referring to the same God. The young men have overcome evil, but they wouldn’t have done that if their sins weren’t forgiven like the children’s. And, of course, we do not have our sins forgiven unless we know the Father, too. However, each reason given for writing also correlates to the description of the audience. Children have to be forgiven by their parents, and they know the Father like they know their fathers. Fathers share in fatherhood with God the Father and with being older than the younger generations, who view them as having lived “basically forever”. Young men are the strongest and are the ones who overcome enemies in battle.

Forgive us our sins, let Your word abide in us, and help us to overcome evil.