1 John 2:12-14

Introduction:

1. This section raises some technical questions, but the primary purpose is simply to assure the faithful they knew God and were accepted by Him.

2. Having offered various tests that identify those who know or do not know and are in or out of God, John reassured the faithful they had passed the tests.

Discussion:

I. Two Important Questions

A. Why did John write essentially the same thing twice consecutively?

B. Are “fathers, children, and young men” literal or figurative?

II. Suggested Answers

A. Repetition is a common feature of Hebrew parallelism used to emphasize the arguments made.

B. Mark Copeland highlights the exclusion of many groups in the church if these terms are taken literally, so a figurative application seems best.

C. On this view, the terms represent stages of spiritual maturity with assurance given to those in each stage rather than literal groups.

III. Assurance At Different Spiritual Stages

A. Is “my little children” here John’s affectionate address to all the saved as in 2:1, 18, 28; 3:7, 18; 4:4; 5:21, or does it indicate spiritual infancy?

B. Duane Warren takes “children” as all Christians, so fathers and young men represent two levels of spiritual maturity (TFT pg. 94).

C. Mark Copeland takes it figuratively as three levels of spiritual maturity from spiritual infancy, to youth, to fatherhood.

D. The perfect tense verbs John used are instructive.

1. The Greek perfect indicates an action completed in the past with the condition it produced still active in the writer/speaker’s present.

2. Literally, your sins have been and continue to be forgiven, you have known and continue to know the eternal One, and you have overcome/conquered and continue to conquer the evil one.

E. Special attention should be given to the means by which the evil one was conquered; the word of God dwelt in them (vs. 14; Ephesians 6:10-18).

Conclusion:

1. Despite the claims of the false prophets, John assured these brethren who had followed the gospel plan that they stood in the salvation that plan brings.

2. We can know the same thing, and in this our joy is made full!