Read with Me
1 John 2:12-14 (HCSB)
I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins have been forgiven
because of Jesus’ name.
I am writing to you, fathers,
because you have come to know
the One who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have had victory over the evil one.
I have written to you, children,
because you have come to know the Father.
I have written to you, fathers,
because you have come to know
the One who is from the beginning.
I have written to you, young men,
because you are strong,
God’s word remains in you,
and you have had victory over the evil one.
Listen with Me
This short section of parallel lines seems a bit strange to modern sensibilities, especially in the fact that much is repeated, and only a few words are changed or added in the two sections.
First, John writes to encourage the children. These are those who are young in the faith and who are still idealistic in their approach. Far from crushing that idealism, John feeds into it, noting in the first part that their sins have indeed been forgiven on account of the name of Jesus. And in the second section he confirms that those children in Christ, as young in the faith as they are, still have experiential knowledge of God the Father, who He is and what He has called them to be and to do. That experiential knowledge gives them a powerful ability to obey and to continue to grow.
The second group John addresses is the Fathers, those who are leaders in the Church, showing others the way forward through discipleship and mentoring, and keeping the whole faith community moving forward and on track. To these John confirms twice that they have known God who is from the beginning. These older leaders have seen much in their walk with God. They have experienced His day-to-day guidance, they have participated in God’s mighty miracles, and they have earned a knowledge of God’s ways through long study of His Scriptures and through devotion to prayer. They not only know about God, but they have also gained the status of friends and coworkers of His.
The final group that John addresses is the young men. These are the movers and shakers in the Church. They have more experience in God’s ways than the children in the faith, and they are less idealistic, with their sharp edges having been worn down by experience in the real world. They have a lot of positive energy that they enthusiastically use in the cause of the kingdom. To these warriors for the faith, John acknowledges what they have been able to accomplish in God’s power and strength. He acknowledges twice that they have taken on the evil one and have been victorious, pushing back the darkness and setting captives free. But he also reminds them that their strength comes not from themselves, but from the fact that God’s divine word lives in them.
In all of this, there is no shaming of those who are children in the faith, and no urging of the young men to grow into fathers. There is simply acknowledgement that there are people in all three stages of spiritual growth and that all need encouragement where they are to be successful, to stay humble, and to continue to grow and develop, so that each can finish their race well.
Pray with Me
Father, thank You for this insight. I must admit that this section has always been a bit opaque to me. But even now, I can look back at my own life and recognize all these stages, and I can see all of them represented in the Christian brothers and sisters around me. Help me, Lord, to be an encourager to all of them, a cheerleader and mentor that can help them be strong where they are right now, so that they can keep growing in the future. Amen.