22. 1 Jn2_12-14 Practical Assurance Pt 4

1Jn 2:7-14  Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.  (8)  At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.  (9)  Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.  (10)  Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.  (11)  But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.  (12)  I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.  (13)  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, children, because you know the Father.  (14)  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 abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

To what or whom do the terms little children, fathers, and young men refer? While some see this as a designation of physical or chronological age, most observers interpret John as referring to stages of spiritual development, realizing that there is some overlap. In other words, generally speaking the longer one has been a believer, the more mature he should be (in theory, but sadly not always true in practice). There are many "fathers" (physically older believers) who are still babes in the faith, because of failure to take in the Word and obey the Word taken in! There is also the sub-question (so to speak) of whether John intends 3 groups or 2. The first designation to "little children" (teknion) seems to refer to all believers because John uses the identical Greek noun teknion in 1Jn 2:1 (also in 1Jn 2:28; 3:7,18; 4:4, 5:21) to refer to all believers. The second mention of children (1Jn 2:13) is a different Greek word (paidion), which refers to little children under authority and in need of discipline to train them in righteousness. In summary, it seems that John is referring to three groups arranged somewhat on the basis of age, but more significantly arranged on the basis of spiritual maturity, the paidion in 1Jn 2:13 describing new believers, the young men more mature, vigorous believers and the fathers the more mature believers. Clearly this is somewhat arbitrary, because we all know chronologically young men (and women - Amy Carmichael was 34 when she founded the founded the Dohnavur Fellowship in India! As an aside, if you wanted to be convicted of lackluster, lackadaisical Christianity [as I was] read her convicting biography by Elisabeth Elliot - A Chance to Die- The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael) who are not only vigorously holding fast the Word of Truth (Titus 1:9) and fighting victoriously over the adversary (1Jn 2:13-14) (and we praise God for these spiritually energetic, single minded men and women.)

(4) Why is grapho (to write) translated with present tense ("I am writing") the first three times and with the aorist tense ("I have written" the last three times? Sam Storms gives a good summary of the options: (a) The present tense refers to this epistle (1 John) and the aorist refers to a previous letter (perhaps the gospel of John). (b) The present tense refers to the whole of 1 John and the aorist refers to the first part of the letter (i.e., that part preceding 1John 2:12 = 1Jn 1:1-2:11). (c) Some say John was interrupted at the end of 1John 2:13 and that when he resumed he repeated what he had just written, changing from the present tense to the aorist. (d) "Most writers," says Marshall, "explain the use of the verb in these two tenses as a matter of stylistic variation, perhaps to relieve the monotony of 'I write" occurring six times over. In Greek it was possible to use the past (aorist) tense in a letter with the effect of a present tense (Ed: epistolary aorist - see more discussion below under verb grapho): the writer projected himself forward in time to the situation of his recipient for whom the writing of the letter would be a past event. Hence, looking at things from the recipient's point in time, the correct tense would be 'wrote' rather than 'am writing.' In this way, John made use of a stylistic device to enable him to repeat certain things for emphasis" (135-36). (First John 2:3-17)

(5) Why does he use the sequence: children, fathers, young men, rather than children, young men, fathers which would be chronological? The answer is uncertain.

Hiebert - Three tests (1Jn 2:3-11) have been presented whereby the readers may be assured of having true fellowship with God. 1Jn 2:12-14 now seem to be a disruption of that theme as John directly addresses his readers in two triads. In two sets of carefully structured statements he expresses his confidence in his readers that they are genuine believers who possess a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. But in thus emphatically assuring his readers, he shows “that what is true of the orthodox Christian was not true of the false claimants around John’s church.” John’s expression of personal assurance concerning his readers in 1Jn 2:12–14 provides the basis for his appeal for separation from the world as a further ground for assurance (1Jn 2:15-17). John expressed his assurance concerning his readers in two sets of triads, each marked by three designations of those addressed. Each expression of affirmation consists of three elements: (1) the assertion “I write” (or “wrote”) “to you,” (2) a noun of direct address, and (3) an affirmation introduced by “because” (hoti). Careful structure is obvious. The first triad (vv. 1Jn 2:12–13b ). The three designations for those being addressed have evoked much discussion. That mere physical age distinctions are not intended seems clear, as is evident from the fact that John used “little children” (teknion) elsewhere to include all his readers (1Jn 2:1, 28; 3:18; 5:21). The words little children convey the author’s expression of endearment but also suggest “their need of instruction and their state of dependence upon God and upon teachers such as himself.” (1 John 2:7-17 Exposition)