1 john 2:12-17

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition Chapter 2

12 Γράφω ὑμῖν, τεκνία, ὅτι ἀφέωνται ὑμῖν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι διὰ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ· 13 γράφω ὑμῖν, πατέρες, ὅτι ἐγνώκατε τὸν ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς· γράφω ὑμῖν, νεανίσκοι, ὅτι νενικήκατε τὸν πονηρόν. 14 ἔγραψα ὑμῖν, παιδία, ὅτι ἐγνώκατε τὸν πατέρα· ἔγραψα ὑμῖν, πατέρες, ὅτι ἐγνώκατε τὸν ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς· ἔγραψα ὑμῖν, νεανίσκοι, ὅτι ἰσχυροί ἐστε καὶ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν ὑμῖν μένει καὶ νενικήκατε τὸν πονηρόν.

15 Μὴ ἀγαπᾶτε τὸν κόσμον μηδὲ τὰ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ. ἐάν τις ἀγαπᾷ τὸν κόσμον, οὐκ ἔστιν ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ πατρὸς ἐν αὐτῷ· 16 ὅτι πᾶν τὸ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῆς σαρκὸς καὶ ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν καὶ ἡ ἀλαζονεία τοῦ βίου, οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκ τοῦ πατρός, ἀλλὰ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου ἐστίν· 17 καὶ ὁ κόσμος παράγεται καὶ ἡ ἐπιθυμία αὐτοῦ, ὁ δὲ ποιῶν τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.

12. I am writing to you children because having your sins forgiven on account of his name.

12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake.

I. The Address to Christians with different levels of spiritual maturity. (2:12-14)

(12-13) Admonition to three classes of believers

- New Believers are addressed.

When I first looked at the translation “little children” , I thought this was along the same lines as what appeared in 2:1. In that case, the word τεκνία would convey the meaning of adoration as a family and is addressing all the believers

However, after looking at the next two verses I am convinced that this is addressing the new converts because of the use of the other titles Father and young men in our passage.

The reminder that they have been forgiven of their sins is an encouragement that they are part of God’s family. This implies that they are fully capable of understanding what he writes and being able to follow it.

This implies that they are fully capable of understanding what he writes and being able to follow it.

- The admonition to Fathers

(13) Three classes

13. I am writing to you, fathers, because having come to know from the beginning, I am writing to you youth because you have overcome the evil one.

13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.

- The admonition to Fathers

As we will do in this verse, we are trying to see what the distinctions mean between these titles that are given to the believers in the church that John addresses.

We could look at “Fathers” as either speaking to literal fathers or spiritual fathers in the church or a figurative term for a group that is highlighted with the term “Fathers”.

Some take this to mean the age of believers in the church because this term is used to reference believers in where Timothy is encouraged on how to deal with older men in the church. I would argue against this meaning because it doesn’t seem to fit the context because a spiritual condition is being addressed that goes beyond chronological age.

I think this is speaking to a group (men and women) in the church whom are the most spiritually mature.

- The spiritually mature

The reference to “the one from the beginning” is speaking about Jesus Christ. In the previous chapter at the beginning, it was referring to knowing Jesus Christ from the beginning of His ministry on earth.

Here, this is referring to the beginning of knowing Jesus as the savior of their life. Ironically, these believers were most likely also familiar with Jesus from the beginning of His ministry in Galilee. In light of this truth, it has the effect of propelling these Christians forward.

-The young men are addressed.

These who are called “young men” are mentioned in the figurative sense in that the are not the seasoned members of the faith but they aren’t new converts either.

Since young men are known for their strength, then these believers have the strength to be able to overcome the evil one. Of course, the strength comes not from physical ability but from learning to rely upon the Lord Jesus.

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 51: 1, 2, 3 John Comment

The “young” in Christ have known what it is to be victorious over evil, and they can still share this experience in their daily lives. But this is a conquest which should be true of all believers at any stage of their spiritual development. The Christian life is consistently a matter of resisting evil, as well as of “enjoying the forgiveness and the fellowship of God”

- The spiritual children are addressed as well

This is not the same word for children τεκνία as we found earlier. The Greek word here is παιδία which has a similar meaning as well.

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 51: 1, 2, 3 John Comment

παιδία

Here, the perfect tense is used to talk about knowledge that emphasizes something that occured and is now true to this day. In this case, they have come to know God the Father.

Since, they experienced forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ it has led to a relationship with God as their Father.

John Stott highlights this reality by saying: “These are the earliest conscious experiences of newborn Christians. They rejoice in the forgiveness of their sins through Christ and in their consequent fellowship with God. The Holy Spirit within them makes them aware of their filial relationship to God and causes them to cry ‘Abba! Father!’ (; ).”

(14) A Further Note about Fighting

14. I am writing to you children because you have known the Father, I am writing to you fathers because you have known 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.

14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

- The address is similar to Fathers and young men.

The only difference is that the reason for young men overcoming the evil one is addressed.

As we alluded to earlier, it is the strength that causes them to overcome the evil one. Specifically, that strength is abiding in the word of God.

Even though they are still learning and growing (as are the Fathers), they have come to understand that their power comes from the word of God abiding in them and not something from their own physical ability.

- How do we understand the word of God?

On the one hand, we could say that the word of God is akin to what was mentioned in “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life.” This would be talking about the Lord Jesus Christ.

On the other hand, we could say that the word of God is closer to what was mentioned in “The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected.”

I think both are in view but with an understanding that Jesus Christ is represented through His Word and He indwells us through the Holy Spirit. In that same vein, the Holy Spirit uses the word of God in the life of a believer.

As they continually place an emphasis on the word of God as they focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, they rely upon the Holy Spirit to continue working in their lives. As this happens, their real strength is helping them overcome the evil one.

- Why does the evil one need to be overcome?

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. ” Satan tries to ruin us through trials by causing us to doubt God’s goodness.

“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.” Satan tries to use false doctrine to lead us astray from following the truth and being devoted to Christ Jesus.

II. The Fight is found in the world (2:15-17)

15. Do not love the world nor the things of the world, whomever loves the world, the love of the father is not in him.

(15) Don’t love the world

- The admonition for each group is addressed with this next command

It is a command to not allow the ongoing action of love for the world to characterize them. (present tense)

In addition, the call extends to things that are related to the world. (things in the world)

The question about love isn’t just addressing the occasional struggle of loving something of the world but it speaks to a pattern of being caught up in loving the world.

- Just what do we mean by talking about the world?

On the one hand, we hear in that God so loved the world. In this verse, we are admonished to not be loving the world. What gives?

In the passage, the world is referring to the people that live in it. Here, the world is speaking of the value system that is under the control of Satan.

The Message of John’s Letters Chapter 6: What’s Wrong with the World? 1 John (2:15–17)

But there is another meaning of the world in the New Testament. Sometimes the world is seen as an organized system of human civilization and activity which is opposed to God and alienated from him. It represents everything that prevents man from loving, and therefore obeying, his creator. This meaning of kosmos has much the same content as John’s term ‘darkness’ in chapter 1.

- Are we saying that this person that doesn’t have the love of the Father in him is lost?

What is important is to understand that the construction in the Greek language of a noun followed by a genitive case can be translated in a few different ways. (love - noun, Father - genitive) We can read it Love by the Father or Love for the Father.

However we take love of the world (word is genitive) will govern how we understand love of the Father. As is obvious from the context, we are talking about one’s love for the world. Therefore, we must be talking about love for the Father.

This is not talking about the Father’s love being present in a person (believer), thus it doesn’t need to be a definition of whether one have received salvation.

(16) How do we recognize the things of the world

- The further explanation about the things that are in the world.

16. because everything thing in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the arrogance of material things is not from the father but it is from the world.

- The further explanation about the things that are in the world.

This is explaining in detail more about “the things of the world”.

The lust of the flesh is mentioned first but most likely because it is the general overall category. The “flesh” is the residual sin nature that is still around in us even though it doesn’t have the same influence. I like how Dr. Tom Constable defines this phrase “The "lust of the flesh" is the desire to do something apart from the will of God. It includes all corrupt bodily desires and every sinful activity that appeals to the sinful hearts of people.”

The Message of John’s Letters 1. The World—A Deceptive Attraction

What we need to realize is that the world (and behind it the devil) cannot produce what it offers. Its attractions are fundamentally deceptive. That is why we all need to be warned of the heartbreak and misery that lie on the other side of every act of rebellion against God. It is like drinking salt water. Far from bringing satisfaction, the unquenchable thirst is in fact increased, and that is no way for a child of God to live. So the Christian has to learn to say ‘No’ to the world’s temptations.

- The lust of the flesh occurs through the lust of the eyes

The lust of the eyes is speaking of what can be seen. The eyes are a unique way to open the door to looking at things through a covetous and greedy nature. Instead of seeing things for the way God designs them, they are viewed in a sinful manner.

Consider these things: Eve’s view of the wrong fruit “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”

Achan’s spoil; “Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I implore you, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and give praise to Him; and tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me.” So Achan answered Joshua and said, “Truly, I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel, and this is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight, then I coveted them and took them; and behold, they are concealed in the earth inside my tent with the silver underneath it.”“

Achan’s spoil; “Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I implore you, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and give praise to Him; and tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me.” So Achan answered Joshua and said, “Truly, I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel, and this is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight, then I coveted them and took them; and behold, they are concealed in the earth inside my tent with the silver underneath it.”“ David looking at Bathsheba.

David looking at Bathsheba. “Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” David sent messengers and took her,”

- The lust of the flesh occurs through materialism

The phrase “pride of life” can be a bit confusing. In the case of “life” βίος carries some possible meanings such as “mode of living” or “means of living” or the world we live in. In particular, it is one’s existence of life circumstances.

In this case, what is the source of one’s arrogance when it comes to life circumstances? It is none other than a person’s material possessions or what material possessions afford us in the sense of status and privilege.

The Message of John’s Letters 1. The World—A Deceptive Attraction

This phrase has at its heart the idea of the illusory glamour of the world, with its concentration on material possessions that decay and empty human glory. Again, we need to be radical in our self-criticism. It is true that God gives us all things richly to enjoy; but they are his gifts, and we are to use them as stewards responsible to him for the way we use our master’s resources. We dare not boast about them. Yet we Christians are often curiously blind to this form of worldliness. Concern about possessions, status, our image, or perhaps that equally deadly form of pride that apes humility—all these are forms of the pretentiousness of human life apart from God. In such a situation, people are eager to impress, always wanting to be ‘one-up’. They never let pass a chance in a conversation to make a point that exalts themselves and puts the hearers a little bit lower down the ladder. But that is no way for a Christian to live. It is characteristic of the

- All of these things that are produced aren’t fruit from the Father but the world.

The reminder that these things are rooted in the world and thus don’t come from the Father.

A reminder like this isn’t just to repeatedly emphasize these things but also to highlight the reality that what is driving this isn’t godly desires.

(17) Only one thing has lasting value

- A reminder what really lasts

17. and the world passes and its lust, but the one doing the will of God remains in eternity.

- A reminder what really lasts

The worldly system with its desires is passing away. There will be judgment on the one who controls the world system as well as those whom are sinners one day. That day is getting closer and closer as time passes.

In addition the obedience to God’s will is what is eternal. This is not saying that salvation is based on doing the will of God but it is emphasizing the actions of obeying. All believers obey the will of God to some extent, some believers do better in a consistent walk by His power than others. (yielding more fruit)

What the emphasis is on for the believer is why obeying God’s will is tied into our eternal life. Our obeying of the will of God will continue on in eternity. Thus, as we are being obedient to His will as adopted sons and daughters in the present so we will continue doing this action in eternity.

- The Application

However, when we obey the lusts of the flesh found in this world it is futility. When a Christian succumbs to temptation and follows the lust of his/her flesh, it is contributing nothing worthwhile because the actions are of a dying world.

Quoting the Bible Knowledge Commentary “the additional thought that the life lived in God’s fellowship, rejecting the sinful things of this passing world, is a life that has no real ending. A person whose character and personality are shaped by obedience to God will not be affected by the passing away of the world and its vain desires. It is a Johannine way of saying, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”

What we can say rather bluntly is this: God made us in His image to represent God to all of His creation. That image is distorted but not eliminated but when we are saved and reconciled to God through Jesus Christ then we can begin to really fulfill our design of being made in the image of God. We do this by our attitude, motivations and behaviors. As we do things we are either wasting our time and God’s time that He has given us by loving the world when we succumb to the lusts of the flesh (eyes & pride) or we are finding fulfillment in our life by being that image as we obey God’s will in our attitude, motivations and behaviors.