By way of review today, our pastor reminded us what had been happening in 1 John to this point. John was writing to encourage those who were weak in their faith, those seeking assurance of their salvation. John has given his readers a series of tests that must be passed so that they may determine whether they truly know God, and these tests have made a clear distinction between a true and false confession. In this passage in chapter 2, it is as if John takes a break from the testing to address those who have passed all the tests.
He addresses several different groups in the church--little children, young men, and fathers--and commentators are at odds here about whether he is addressing specific groups or whether he is just indicating a spiritual progression. But he is writing to the church, and what he has to say here is for all of us, whether we are little children, young men, or fathers.
He addresses little children in vv. 12 and 13, but he uses two different Greek words for little children in each verse. The expression in v. 12 refers to one who is being nurtured and fed, from the womb through young adulthood. There is no specific age reference in view in v. 13. The comparison in English would be when you might ask someone who is eighty how many children he or she has. Their response, "I have four children," is not an indication of their age--no one would think this person is speaking of toddlers here--but rather the idea of progeny, one who is following another. These little children in 1 John are being discipled; they have been trained in the truth. They know the basic truth that they are forgiven, and they also know that they are loved by the Father. The knowing that is spoken of here is a deep knowing--to know with certainty, without a doubt. In verse 12 we are told that we have been forgiven for His name's sake, and this "His" refers to Jesus Christ. We are forgiven not because of anything we have done but for His name's sake.
The next group addressed is fathers. The fathers have known Him with a certain knowledge from the beginning. This "beginning" is not a time reference, eg., "I have known him since the beginning of this year." "From the beginning" is a description of Christ, the One who is from the beginning. Jesus Christ's nature is emphasized here, who He is. John has already spoken in these terms in John 1:1. There is a repeat of the phrase "you have known Him from the beginning" in v. 14, yet this is a different declaration from the statement in v. 13. This time, the antecedent of the pronoun "Him" is God the Father (cf. Isaiah 41:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13).
The third group John addresses are young men. He reminds them that they are overcomers, a theme he will revisit in 1 John 5. The child of God does not have to fear Satan overcoming him. We are, by definition, those who have overcome the evil one, and we need not live in fear or dread, as some of those claiming to be Christians fear demon possession or being defeated by Satan. We are strong: the gates of hell shall not prevail against us. The Word of God abides in us, and this means the child of God has an eternal, unbreakable relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ.
This passage is a description of the test passers, those who have professed their faith and who know Christ as their Savior.
3 comments:
I don't use it often, but the NIV study Bible says that John often used this term of endearment (dear children). It also says that this term in 2:18 translates a different Greek word. Interestingly enough, this is the only study Bible that I have here (Including the New Geneva study Bible) that says anything about this phrase. I even looked at Calvin's commentary on this passage, and he even says nothing.
Update: looking through a bit more on Calvin's commentary on this chapter, I came to verse 12. here is what he says:
12. Little children. This is still a general declaration, for he does not address those only of a tender age, but by little children he means men of all ages, as in the first verse, and also hereafter. I say this, because interpreters have incorrectly applied the term to children. But John, when he speaks of children, calls them paidi>a, a word expressive of age; but here, as a spiritual father, he calls the old as well as the young, tekni>a. He will, indeed, presently address special words to different ages; yet they are mistaken who think that he begins to do so here. But, on the contrary, lest the preceding exhortation should obscure the free remission of sins, he again inculcates the doctrine which peculiarly belongs to faith, in order that the foundation may with certainty be always retained, that salvation is laid up for us in Christ alone.
Holiness of life ought indeed to be urged, the fear of God ought to be carefully enjoined, men ought to be sharply goaded to repentance, newness of life, together with its fruits, ought to be commended; but still we ought ever to take heed, lest the doctrine of faith be smothered, -- that doctrine which teaches that Christ is the only author of salvation and of all blessings; on the contrary, such moderation ought to be presented, that faith may ever retain its own primacy. This is the rule prescribed to us by John: having faithfully spoken of good works, lest he should seem to give them more importance than he ought to have done, he carefully calls us back to contemplate the grace of Christ.
And now the NGSB, regarding vv 12-14, says the three groups addresses are in actuality one group, the recipients of the letter, characterized in different ways. "Children", because with the forgicveness of sins they have been welcomed into the family of God their Father. "Fathers," because their knowledge in Christ qualifies them to hand this knowledge down to future generations. "Young men," because their decisive rejection of the evil one is a victory like that of Jesus, who fought with Satan in the desert and won (Matt 4:1-11).
Just food for thought...
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