1 John 2:12-14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 John 2:12-17

This new command of holy love, with the incentives thereto, may possibly be directed to the several ranks of disciples that are here accosted. The several graduates in the Christian university, the catholic church, must be sure to preserve the bond of sacred love. Or, there being an important dehortation and dissuasion to follow, without the observance of which vital religion in the love of God and love of the brethren cannot subsist, the apostle may justly seem to preface it with a solemn... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 2:12-14

2:12-14 I am writing to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you through his name. I am writing to you, fathers, Because you have come to know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, Because you have overcome the Evil One. I have written to you, little ones, Because you have come to know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, Because you have come to know him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, And... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 2:12-14

The second problem which confronts us is more difficult, and also more important. John uses three titles of the people to whom he is writing. He calls them little children; in 1 John 2:12 the Greek is teknia ( Greek #5040 ) and in 1 John 2:13 paidia ( Greek #3816 ); teknia ( Greek #5040 ) indicates a child young in age and paidia ( Greek #3816 ) a child young in experience, and, therefore, in need of training and discipline. He calls them fathers. He calls them young men.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 2:12-14

This passage finely sets out God's gifts to all men in Jesus Christ. (i) There is the gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. This was the essential message of the gospel and of the early preachers. They were sent out to preach repentance and remission of sins ( Luke 24:47 ). It was Paul's message at Antioch in Pisidia that to men there was proclaimed through Jesus Christ forgiveness of sins ( Acts 13:38 ). To be forgiven is to be at peace with God and that is precisely the gift that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 2:12

I write unto you, little children ,.... By whom the apostle means in common all the saints he writes to, whom he afterwards distributes into fathers, young men, and little children; for the same word is used here as in 1 John 2:1 ; and a different one from that which is rendered little children in 1 John 2:13 ; and besides, the following blessing of pardon of sin is common to all the children of God of different ages: now what the apostle says he writes unto them, intends not the epistle... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 2:13

I write unto you, fathers ,.... Not merely in age, though they might be men in years who are here intended, or only with respect to their long standing in the church, which might be the case; though persons may be in years, and of a long standing in the church, and yet be children in knowledge and experience: but here it designs such, who, in comparison of others, were perfect, and were spiritual, and judged all things; had a well informed and established judgment in divine things, and were,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 2:14

I have written unto you, fathers ,.... This, with the reason annexed to it, is repeated, to raise the attention of the aged servants of Christ, and to quicken them to a discharge of their duty, who are apt to abate in their zeal, to grow lukewarm and indifferent, to cleave to the world, and to the things of it, which they are cautioned against in 1 John 2:15 . The whole of this, with the reason, because ye have known him that is from the beginning , is left out in the Vulgate Latin... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:12

I write unto you, little children - Τεκνια· Beloved children, (see on 1 John 2:1 ; (note)), those who were probably the apostle's own converts, and members of the Church over which he presided. But it may be applied to young converts in general; those who can call God Abba, Father, by the Holy Spirit: therefore he says of them, that their sins were forgiven them for his name's sake: i.e. on account of Jesus, the Savior, who had died for them, and was now their Mediator at the right hand... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:13

I write unto you, fathers - By fathers it is very likely that the apostle means persons who had embraced Christianity on its first promulgation in Judea and in the Lesser Asia, some of them had probably seen Christ in the flesh; for this appears to be what is meant by, Ye have known him from the beginning. These were the elders and eye witnesses, who were of the longest standing in the Church, and well established in the truths of the Gospel, and in Christian experience. But τον απ ' ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:14

The word of God abideth in you - Ye have not only thoroughly known and digested the Divine doctrine, but your hearts are moulded into it; ye know it to be the truth of God from the power and happiness with which it inspires you, and from the constant abiding testimony of the Spirit of that truth which lives and witnesses wherever that truth lives and predominates. read more

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