Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 John 2:13

"I write unto you, fathers, because ye know him who is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the evil one. I have written unto you, little children, because ye know the Father." — 1 John 2:13 (ASV)

(13a) “Fathers” is an unusual form of address for senior members of a congregation. According to Jewish custom, it would refer to those who had responsibility for authority. Many times it is used to refer to the leaders of the past, such as the patriarchs, etc. If it refers to members of the congregation who were mature both in years and in faith, it was indeed a solemn designation, one implying they had responsibility in the community of believers. The secondary address to the “fathers” in v.14a is particularly appropriate to older members of the community. It stresses the historic origins of the faith and the growth of the personal knowledge of Christ that comes only with experience.

The pronoun “him” is ambiguous, and while it could refer to God, it is more likely here to refer to Christ. In any case, it looks back to 1:1–3, where both God and Christ are equally represented, and it reminds the readers that they have come to know Jesus as the One who is and who was from the beginning. The idea of knowing God reflects a special interest of the prophets (52:6; Jeremiah 31:34).

(13b) The description of the community as “young men” who “are strong” (v.14b) and “have overcome” adds a new dimension. Believers are to see themselves as not only in conflict with the enemy but as having perceived the victory in Christ’s name and by his power. The victory obviously was gained through Christ’s death, and now his followers have the task under his leadership of establishing his reign over the world and “the evil one” (v.14b—a reference to the devil; 5:18; cf. Jn 17:15; Ephesians 6:16; 2 Thessalonians 3:3). This victory does not promise that believers will be removed from the heat and peril of the battlefield. But it does assure them that if they are faithful they will overcome the devil. As Christ has been victorious over Satan, so they too may commit themselves to the conflict without fear of defeat (cf. Jn 16:33; Romans 8:31–39; Colossians 2:15).

(13c) This time the “children” are addressed by a different word (GK 4086). While the word in v.12 emphasizes the relationship of the dependence, the word used here stresses the immaturity of the child and the need to be under instruction or direction. As children who are under teachers in the faith, John’s readers have come to know God as the Father. Second only to forgiveness in importance for the new community of faith is the relationship to God as Father that comes through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.