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"I write to you, fathers..."

Text: 1 John 2:13

AN EXTENSIVE MINISTRY

John had a very long and extensive ministry. Tradition suggests that the Apostle himself lived up to a very old age. He was probably a centenarian.

“I write to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
Because you have overcome the wicked one.”
1 John 2:13

1. Ministry to older people

a) “I write to you”

Once again, we note the consciousness with which John wrote.

b) “Fathers”

i) Narrowly, this may be interpreted to refer to those who are actual biological fathers.

ii) Perhaps, it was used more broadly, to refer to older people.

iii) This was a term of great respect.

iv) This was the way the Apostle Paul addressed an audience in Jerusalem (Acts 22:1).

c) “Because you have known Him who is from the beginning”

i) Only those who are much older would have cultivated extensive knowledge.

ii) What John had written thus far would have been familiar to the “fathers”.

iii) They had knowledge of the Lord from the beginning and had continued faithfully.

2. Ministry to younger people

a) “I write to you”

The same consistent consciousness is to be noted in this phrase.

b) “Young men”

i) These are not “little children”.

ii) They are also not “fathers”.

iii) They form the group in between.

c) “Because you have overcome the wicked one”

i) Perhaps the “young men” are the special targets of the wicked one.

ii) They may be more easily tempted by sin and the World.

iii) But John reminds them that they had overcome the wicked one (Perfect Active Tense).

iv) They had tasted victory over the wicked one and they must continue to stand firm and strong in their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.