1 John 2:13 - Exposition

Because ye know (literally, have come to know, as in 1 John 2:3 , 1 John 2:4 ) him that is from the beginning τὸν ἀπ ἀρχῆς . The context respecting Christ's Name and ὁ͂ ἦν ἀπ ἀρχῆς ( 1 John 1:1 ) show that the Word and not the Father is meant. A more perfect knowledge of Jesus as the Eternal Word, and no mere aeon or emanation from the Deity, is the special prerogative of the aged Christian; and such are fit recipients of the ἀγγελία of the apostle. No less fit, but for a different reason, are the younger among his readers. To fight is the lot of the young soldier; and a victorious warfare against Satan is the distinction of youthful Christians. They have got the better of that evil one in whose power the whole world lies ( 1 John 3:12 ; 1 John 5:18 , 1 John 5:19 ; John 12:31 ; John 14:30 ; John 16:11 ). Not that the warfare is over, but that it is henceforth warfare with a defeated enemy. Hence they also have a right to share in the apostolic message. I wrote (or, have written ) to you, children, because ye know (or, have come to know ) the Father. The reading ἔγραψα must be preferred to γράφω , on overwhelming evidence, both external and internal. The second triplet begins here, and this sentence should have been given to 1 John 2:14 . It is difficult to determine what is meant by the change from τεκνία to παισία . τεκνία occurs once with μου ( 1 John 2:1 ), and six times without μου in the Epistle, and once in the Gospel ( John 13:33 ), the probable source of this form of address. παιδία occurs in 1 John 2:18 (see note) and John 21:5 , and nowhere else in the New Testament as a form of address. Probably both words are applied to the whole of St. John's readers. Some would limit παιδία to actual children; but in that case we should expect a different order—children, young men, fathers; or fathers, young men, children. These "children" know the Father to whom they have been reconciled by forgiveness of sins; they have become his adopted sons through the Name of his own Son (verse 12).