1 John 2:14

Contextual Overview

¹²I am writing to you, little children,since your sins have been forgivenon account of his name. ¹² I write vnto you, little children, because your sinnes are forgiuen you for his Names sake. ¹² I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. ¹² I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. ¹² I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you on account of His name. ¹² I write to you, dear children, because your sins are forgiven through Christ. ¹²I remind you, my dear children: Your sins are forgiven in Jesus' name. You veterans were in on the ground floor, and know the One who started all this; you newcomers have won a big victory over the Evil One. And a second reminder, dear children: You know the Father from personal experience. You veterans know the One who started it all; and you newcomers—such vitality and strength! God's word is so steady in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One. Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. Children, time is just about up. You heard that Antichrist is coming. Well, they're all over the place, antichrists everywhere you look. That's how we know that we're close to the end. They left us, but they were never really with us. If they had been, they would have stuck it out with us, loyal to the end. In leaving, they showed their true colors, showed they never did belong. But you belong. The Holy One anointed you, and you all know it. I haven't been writing this to tell you something you don't know, but to confirm the truth you do know, and to remind you that the truth doesn't breed lies. So who is lying here? It's the person who denies that Jesus is the Divine Christ, that's who. This is what makes an antichrist: denying the Father, denying the Son. No one who denies the Son has any part with the Father, but affirming the Son is an embrace of the Father as well. Stay with what you heard from the beginning, the original message. Let it sink into your life. If what you heard from the beginning lives deeply in you, you will live deeply in both Son and Father. This is exactly what Christ promised: eternal life, real life! I've written to warn you about those who are trying to deceive you. But they're no match for what is embedded deeply within you—Christ's anointing, no less! You don't need any of their so-called teaching. Christ's anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie. Live deeply in what you were taught. And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we'll be ready for him when he appears, ready to receive him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when he arrives. Once you're convinced that he is right and righteous, you'll recognize that all who practice righteousness are God's true children. ¹² I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake. ¹²I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven through His name. ¹² Children, I am writing you, because your sins have been forgiven in the name of Christ.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

fathers: 1 John 2:13

because ye are: Ephesians 6:10, Philippians 4:13, Colossians 1:11, 2 Timothy 2:1

the word: Psalms 119:11, John 5:38, John 8:31, John 15:7, Colossians 3:16, Hebrews 8:10, 2 John 1:2, 3 John 1:3

ye have overcome: Revelation 2:7 - Revelation 3:22

Reciprocal: Psalms 37:40 - from Proverbs 20:29 - glory Matthew 13:19 - the wicked Acts 21:16 - an old Romans 15:1 - strong 1 Corinthians 13:13 - abideth 1 John 2:12 - write 1 John 3:12 - of 1 John 5:13 - have I 1 John 5:18 - wicked Revelation 3:12 - overcometh Revelation 12:11 - they overcame

Cross-References

Genesis 10:11
Out of that land he went forth into Ashshur, and built Nineveh, Rechovot-Ir, Kelach,

Genesis 10:11
Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,

Genesis 10:11
From that land he went out to Assyria, and he built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah,

Genesis 10:11
From there he went to Assyria, where he built the cities of Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, and Calah.

Genesis 10:11
From that land he went to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah,

Genesis 10:11
From that land Nimrod went to Assyria, and built Nineveh, and Rehoboth-Ir, and Calah,

Genesis 10:11
From that land he went to Assyria, and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah,

Genesis 10:11
Out of that land came Asshur, and builded Niniueh, and the citie Rehoboth, and Calah:

Genesis 10:11
From that land he went out to Assyria and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and Calah,

Genesis 10:11
Ashur went out from that land and built Ninveh, the city Rechovot, Kelach,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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 version, and Complutensian edition.

I have written unto you, young men; this repetition to them, with some additions, is also made, to stir them up the more to love the saints, who are too apt to be carried away with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, warned against in 1 John 2:16;

because ye are strong; not naturally, for sin has sadly weakened human nature, so that a man, by the strength of nature, can do nothing that is spiritually good: nor in themselves, though regenerated, but in Christ, in whom are righteousness and strength; without whom they can do nothing, though they can do all things through him strengthening them; and so are strong in the exercise of grace on him, and in the performance of every duty, being strengthened by him with strength in their souls:

and the word of God abideth in you; either Christ the Logos, the essential Word of God, who might be said to be in them, and abide in them, because his grace was implanted in their hearts, called Christ, formed there, and because he dwelt in their hearts by faith, and lived in them; and hence they had their strength, or came to be so strong as they were, and also overcame Satan, because he that was in them was greater than he that is in the world: or else the Gospel is meant, which cometh not in word only, but in power, has a place in the heart, and works effectually, and dwells richly there; and this is a means of spiritual strength against sin and temptation, and to perform duty, and to stand fast in the truth against the errors and heresies of men and is that piece of spiritual armour, the sword of the Spirit, by which Satan is often foiled, and overcome: hence it follows,

and ye have overcome the wicked one; 1 John 2:16- :.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I have written unto you, fathers, because ... - The reason assigned here for writing to fathers is the same which is given in the previous verse. It would seem that, in respect to them, the apostle regarded this as a sufficient reason for writing to them, and only meant to enforce it by repeating it. The fact that they had through many years been acquainted with the doctrines and duties of the true religion, seemed to him a sufficient reason for writing to them, and for exhorting them to a steadfast adherence to those principles and duties.

I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong ... - The two additional circumstances which he here mentions as reasons for writing to young men are, that they are strong, and that the word of God abides in them. The first of these reasons is, that they were strong; that is, that they were qualified for active and useful service in the cause of the Redeemer. Children were yet too young and feeble to appeal to them by this motive, and the powers of the aged were exhausted; but those who were in the vigor of life might be called upon for active service in the cause of the Lord Jesus. The same appeal may be made now to the same class; and the fact that they are thus vigorous is a proper ground of exhortation, for the church needs their active services, and they are bound to devote their powers to the cause of truth. The other additional ground of appeal is, that the word of God abode in them; that is, that those of this class to whom he wrote had showed, perhaps in time of temptation, that they adhered firmly to the principles of religion. They had not flinched from an open defense of the truths of religion when assailed; they had not been seduced by the plausible arts of the advocates of error, but they had had strength to overcome the wicked one. The reason here for appealing to this class is, that in fact they had showed that they could be relied on, and it was proper to depend on them to advocate the great principles of Christianity.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 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.