THE VISUALIZED TEXT (NASB)  (conjunctions & prepositions underlined, words not in original text in italics)  (alternate text in purple)[1]

(2:12)
I am writing to you,
little children, (Gk. tekna)
because your sins are forgiven you
for His name's sake.

(2:13)
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, (Gk. paidia)
because you know the Father.

(2:14)
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.

(2:15)
Do not love the world,
nor the things in the world.
If anyone loves the world,
the love of the Father is not in him.

(2:16)
For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh and
the lust of the eyes and
the boastful pride of life,
is not from the Father,
but is from the world.

(2:17)
And the world is passing away,
and also its lusts;
but the one who does the will of God abides forever.

(2:18)
Children,
it is the last hour; and
just as you heard that antichrist is coming,
even now many antichrists have arisen;
from this we know that it is the last hour.

(2:19)
They went out from us,
but they were not really of us;
for if they had been of us,
they would have remained with us;
but they went out,
in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us.

(2:20)
But
you have an anointing
from the Holy One,
and you all know.

COMMENTARY: (1 John 1:1-4)
(2:12)
I am writing to you,
little children, (Gk. tekna)
because your sins are forgiven you
for His name's sake.

Tekna VS Paidia for "little children:" Most scholars see little difference in the translation of these two terms. They see the use of two differing terms just a continuation of the use of the technique of restatement that John uses in his homily (i.e., "I am writing to you little children ... fathers ... young men ...," etc.)

Children, Fathers, Young men seem to be terms that describe spiritual maturity and not references to various age groups.

Because John writes at a time when the prominance is upon men does not mean that these verses did not, or do not, apply to women as well. They apply to those "who have overcome the evil one" by believing, in faith, upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

(2:13)
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, (Gk. paidia)
because you know the Father.

Notice that the tense of the verb "writing" has changed from the present tense to the past. Again, this probably is a technique of John's style of language putting word pictures in juxtaposition with each other to call attention to the underlying truth presented.

(2:14)
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 Word here is "Logos," the Greek word that expresses thought or Idea. Over the course of the last two chapters that Greek Logos has become flesh and has become known to us as Jesus, the Christ. Again, John plays on his words ... I have written ... the Word of God abides.

Look back through these verses and see that, even though the descriptions say different things, the meaning remains the same. "I am writing BECAUSE ..."

1. Your sins are forgiven

2. You know Him

3. You have overcome the evil one

4. You know the Father

5. You know Him

6. You are strong

7. The Word of God abides in you

8. You have overcome the evil one

In every case the reference is to the FACT that they are believers. Thus each sentence really reads, "I have written to you because You have believed."

1 John 2:15-17

(2:15)
Do not love the world,
nor the things in the world.
If anyone loves the world,
the love of the Father is not in him.

"You, Stop Loving The World!" A very definite command. John commands that those who "have belived," should not be continuing to love the world. For the mark of those who are not saved is that they continually love the world. He makes this much stronger by stating that those who are a part of the system of the world, do not have the Father in them, they are without Christ, and without the Holy Spirit. A word of caution here, John is not saying that believers who love the world do not have the Father in them. He is again drawing a parallel in language. He is refering to two catagories of people. Those who belong to the world, i.e., unbelievers, and those who belong to God, i.e., believers. His statement is that those who are believers should not continually live as those who do not believe.

(2:16)
For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh and
the lust of the eyes and
the boastful pride of life,
is not from the Father,
but is from the world.

What human being is not posessed with the desires listed here. But again, the list is presented as a description of those who know not God. The Scriptures are full of the ways to handle these lusts and desires. John wrote Chapter one (how to handle sin and unrighteousness through submission and confession) with the clear knowledge of what he was goint to write here in chapter two. The human condition is one of sin and willfulness. The key element is that NOW that we are IN Christ, we should no longer CONTINUALLY walk as if we wern't. We will walk in such a way that we "look" like unbelievers, but we will much more desire the fellowship of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, and therefore seek confession and reunion with Him.

(2:17)
And the world is passing away,
and also its lusts;
but the one who does the will of God abides forever.

Since the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross, the evil one and his world, and his ways, are passing away. There can be no stopping it. God has spoken it in His word and proclaimed it as truth. Christian, do not ABIDE in that which is passing away - it is not God's will for you.

1 John 2:18-20

(2:18)
Children,
it is the last hour; and
just as you heard that antichrist is coming,
even now many antichrists have arisen;
from this we know that it is the last hour.

Antichrists, here, are the subverters of the Apostolic teachings. Individuals who made aliances with the body of Christ during these early church times and then, because of their unbelief, left the body and began movements to destroy the Church and the testimony of the Apostles. The Last Hour (Times, Days) is the known term that described the prophecies that called for extreme apostasy just before judgment. It would logicaly follow that those who lived to see extreme apostasy, and the work of powerful antichrist teachers, would expect judgment to follow. But, mercifully, God has withheld that judgment so that the many could be saved. Many men and women have died waiting for the soon return of Jesus Christ, and if He continues to tarry, many more will too. But praise His name that His tarrying has the result of making more opportunity for the many to believe. Only when His timetable is complete, will he close out this season and usher in His judgment, according to His word.

(2:20)
They went out from us,
but they were not really of us;
for if they had been of us,
they would have remained with us;
but they went out,
in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us.

The continuing restatement that those who left the body to become antichristlike were never really members of His body.

(2:20)
But
you have an anointing
from the Holy One,
and you all know.

A final reference to the Anointing from the Holy One. (see 2:12) That through the wonder Grace of Jesus, through faith in Him, your sins are forgiven, for His Name's sake. "And you know all refers to the Holy Spirit's teaching ministry in each of His believers. He brings knowledge that becomes self evident concerning the things of God. We who believe have less difficulty in diferentiating His truth from a lie.

(1:5)

REFERENCES:

(1:5)

1. ¹ All Bible Text is based upon the NASB version and edited using words from other translations and versions to further expand the meaning of those verses. See Endnote Number 1 for NASB copyright information.

2. "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE,

© Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968
1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1988.
Used by permission."

2012-11-23