June 8 - 1 John 2:12-14. Known

June 8 - 1 John 2:12-14. Known

I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. 


I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Who is John referring to with these distinctions … children, fathers, young men?  There’s actually quite a little bit of debate about this.  It doesn’t really matter.  John’s intention is that everyone who receives this letter understands why.  It is generally assumed that ‘dear children’ refers to the entire congregation, while ‘fathers’ might refer to elders (leaders of the congregation) or maybe to those who are no longer young.  ‘Young men’ might be referring to the deacons (secondary leaders of the congregation) or even to those who are of the younger generations.

Everyone needs to be reminded that our sins have been forgiven because of Jesus Christ and everyone needs to be reminded that we know the Father … and he knows us.

When John speaks of knowing him who is from the beginning, he refers back to the first verses of this letter (John 1:1-3).  He declares to us what was from the beginning, what he himself saw and touched.

The translation regarding the strength of the young men does not necessarily apply to their physical strength, but to the fact that the word of God is within them and gives them strength.  It is because of this, that they are able to overcome the evil one.

We all need reminders of those things that we know, the truths that we believe.  We know that we are forgiven because of Jesus Christ’s work on the cross.  We know the Father.  He knows us.  We know that our strength comes from the word of God and we know that it is only in God’s strength we are able to overcome the evil one.

Do you need to be reminded of this today?