1 John 2:14 kjv

I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

1 John 2:14 nkjv

I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is 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 wicked one.

1 John 2:14 niv

I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. 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 lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

1 John 2:14 esv

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.

1 John 2:14 nlt

I have written to you who are God's children
because you know the Father.
I have written to you who are mature in the faith
because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I have written to you who are young in the faith
because you are strong.
God's word lives in your hearts,
and you have won your battle with the evil one.

1 John 2 verses

1 John 2 14 Meaning

1 John 2:14 reiterates and deepens the reasons for John's address to different spiritual maturity groups within the Christian community. It emphasizes that mature believers ("fathers") possess a foundational, experiential knowledge of Christ's eternal nature; active believers ("young men") have achieved a decisive victory over the spiritual forces of evil; and nascent believers or those in their early stages ("little children") possess an intimate, personal knowledge of God as their Father. This repetition serves to reinforce their identity, affirm their spiritual standing, and strengthen them against the world's influences.

1 John 2 14 Context

1 John chapter 2 emphasizes themes central to Christian living: walking in the light, obeying God's commandments (especially love for fellow believers), and rejecting the world's influence. Verses 12-14 serve as a unique, three-fold address, distinguishing believers based on their spiritual maturity levels. John first provides concise reasons for writing to "little children" (παιδία - paidia), "fathers," and "young men" in verse 13. Verse 14 then deliberately repeats these addresses, sometimes with slight amplification, reaffirming the same points but with added weight and solemnity. This repetition acts as a literary device to underscore the importance of these truths for each stage of spiritual development within the community. Historically, John was addressing believers amidst early Gnostic tendencies which might challenge the truth of Christ's physical reality or diminish the importance of genuine conduct and love. His clear definitions of spiritual growth and battle stood against such deviations, grounding them in tangible knowledge and victory.

1 John 2 14 Word analysis

• I write (γράφω - graphō): John, as an apostle, communicates with authority and intention. The repetition of "I write" across these verses signifies a deliberate pastoral act, emphasizing the importance and validity of his message to each distinct group. It is not just casual remark but an authoritative instruction and affirmation.

• to you (ὑμῖν - humin): A direct and personal address, highlighting John's concern for the specific spiritual condition of different members of the church. This distinguishes the varied audience within the single letter.

• fathers (πατέρες - pateres): This term signifies spiritual maturity, likely referring to seasoned believers who have walked with Christ for a long time and possess deep spiritual wisdom and experience. They serve as pillars within the community.

  • Significance: Represents spiritual depth and a well-established faith that comes with prolonged communion with God.

• because you know (οἴδατε - oidate): This form of "know" (from oida) implies a settled, complete, and experiential knowledge, distinct from merely learning information (ginōskō). It points to an intuitive, deep understanding that comes from prolonged personal acquaintance and experience with the truth. This is a foundational, not just intellectual, knowing.

• Him who is from the beginning (τὸν ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς - ton ap’ archēs): This phrase almost certainly refers to Jesus Christ. It echoes the prologue of John's Gospel (Jn 1:1) and the opening of 1 John (1 Jn 1:1), emphasizing Christ's pre-existence, eternality, and His foundational role in creation and redemption.

  • Significance: For "fathers," their knowledge is rooted in the unchanging, eternal reality of Christ, providing stability and discernment in times of doctrinal uncertainty, such as facing proto-Gnostic denials of Christ's true person.

• young men (νεανίσκοι - neaniskoi): Spiritually active and strong, likely those who are vigorously engaged in living out their faith and spiritual warfare. They possess spiritual energy and courage, enabling them to confront challenges head-on.

  • Significance: Implies vigor, spiritual strength, and readiness for battle, characteristic of those who are mature enough to stand firm.

• because you have overcome (νενικήκατε - nenikēkate): This verb is in the perfect tense in Greek, signifying a completed action with ongoing results. It means they have gained a decisive victory in the past, and that victory continues to define their spiritual status. It's not a struggle they might win, but a victory they have already secured.

  • Significance: Highlights a definite spiritual achievement, a successful engagement in spiritual warfare, making them victors.

• the evil one (τὸν πονηρόν - ton ponēron): Refers specifically to Satan, the personal adversary of God and humanity (e.g., Matt 13:19, 38). It's not general evil, but the evil one who actively works against believers.

  • Significance: Points to the reality of spiritual combat and the enemy against whom young men are successfully arrayed. This victory implies spiritual strength and effective resistance against deception and temptation.

• little children (παιδία - paidia): This term generally denotes the youngest group in a family, emphasizing dependency and fresh beginnings in the faith. John also uses teknia (1 Jn 2:12) as a general affectionate term for all believers, but paidia here specifies those who are still developing in their spiritual understanding or are recent converts.

  • Significance: Represents those at the initial or formative stages of their Christian walk.

• because you know (οἴδατε - oidate): Again, the settled, experiential knowledge, even for new believers. This indicates that a core, relational knowledge of God as Father is immediately accessible and fundamental to even the newest believers.

• the Father (τὸν Πατέρα - ton Patera): A reference to God the Father. This emphasizes an intimate, relational, and parental understanding of God that is accessible to new believers through the Holy Spirit.

  • Significance: Highlights the fundamental truth of God as a loving Father, accessible and intimately known, forming the bedrock of the faith journey.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "I write to you, fathers... I write to you, young men... I write to you, little children...": The three-fold repetition in these verses serves a critical rhetorical purpose. It creates an emphatic parallel structure that reinforces John's foundational message for each distinct group. This solemn reiteration ensures the points about their spiritual identity and standing are clearly apprehended and taken to heart, stressing the truth of what he has stated.

• "because you know Him who is from the beginning." (Fathers) / "because you know the Father." (Little Children): This parallelism showcases different dimensions of the same experiential knowledge. For the fathers, their knowledge extends to the profound, eternal Person of Christ ("Him who is from the beginning"), signifying deep theological grounding. For the little children, their knowledge is centered on the accessible, relational aspect of God as "the Father," emphasizing a basic but intimate family relationship through adoption. Both are genuine forms of knowing, appropriate for their respective stages.

• "because you have overcome the evil one." (Young Men): Placed uniquely between the "knowing" aspects of the other two groups, this highlights the "young men" as the active combatants. Their defining characteristic is successful engagement in spiritual warfare. This distinct reason acknowledges their robust faith, characterized by victory over temptation and spiritual opposition, reinforcing the truth that Christian life involves spiritual conflict and conquest.

1 John 2 14 Bonus section

• Rhetorical Repetition and Emphasis: The intentional repetition of "I write to you" and the subsequent reasons (from v.13 into v.14) is a literary device called anaphora, designed for emphasis and reinforcement. It underscores the importance of these foundational truths and assures each group of their spiritual standing in Christ. This makes the truths resonate more deeply with the reader.
• Targeted Encouragement: John tailors his encouragement specifically to the distinct spiritual needs and experiences of each group, indicating a deep understanding of the diverse maturity levels within the community. This provides a universal application of truth while acknowledging individual spiritual journeys.
• Practical Implications of Knowing: The "knowing" (οἴδατε) emphasized for both fathers and little children implies not just intellectual assent but a transformative, lived-out reality. For fathers, it's knowing Christ "from the beginning" which gives them rootedness; for children, it's knowing "the Father," which grants security and identity. Both are vital for growth.
• The Nature of Spiritual Victory: The perfect tense of "have overcome" (νενικήκατε) suggests a decisive, past victory with abiding results. This is not about winning individual battles, but possessing a status as "overcomers" through Christ. It suggests that their position in Christ grants them ongoing triumph over the evil one's influence and schemes.
• Christocentricity: While the little children know "the Father," and young men overcome "the evil one," the fathers know "Him who is from the beginning"—a clear reference to Jesus Christ. This anchors all spiritual growth, victory, and knowledge ultimately in the Person of Christ, the eternal Word.

1 John 2 14 Commentary

1 John 2:14 is a profound reiteration, giving further emphasis to John’s confidence in the spiritual condition of his readers. Rather than providing new information, it re-affirms the truths established in verse 13 with added weight, akin to a prophetic doubling. For the fathers, their long walk with God has afforded them an settled, deep understanding of Christ’s eternal nature. This foundational knowledge is their anchor in a world full of shifting doctrines. For the young men, their vigor has been tested in spiritual battles, and they stand as victors over the direct opposition of Satan. This speaks to their robust faith, not merely as passive recipients but as active participants who have genuinely conquered. For the little children, the very newness of their faith is nevertheless grounded in a vital, experiential knowledge of God as their loving Father, a fundamental truth that undergirds their entire spiritual journey. The overall message encourages and grounds believers across all stages, affirming their current standing and spiritual resources in Christ, which is crucial for perseverance and protection against false teachings and the allure of the world.

Examples:

• Fathers: An older believer, having weathered many life storms, remains steadfast, drawing upon decades of personal experience of Christ's faithfulness, validating His eternal reliability.
• Young Men: A convert who courageously resists strong temptations or false doctrines, demonstrating a powerful and active faith that decisively defeats the schemes of the adversary.
• Little Children: A new believer immediately embraces the profound sense of being loved and cared for by God as their Father, experiencing a comforting presence in prayer that confirms their new relationship.