Exegetical Notes: 1 John 2:12-29
November 3rd, 2008Every Christian has a different level of maturity and as such they have different needs. To treat everyone the same would not meet the needs of every individual. Sometimes you have to give instructions and advice to specific groups. Recognizing this, John addresses three different levels of maturity in 1 John 2:12-29. First, he addresses fathers—those who are mature in their faith. Next, he addresses young men—those who have been faithful a while but have not reached full maturity. Last, he addresses children—those who just recently began their Christian lives.
The way this passage breaks down, however, can be a little difficult to see in our English translations. In 2:12, the word translated “little children” (NASU) is TEKNIA. John uses this word to refer to all Christians (he uses this term to address christians throughout his epistle). Children in verses 13 and 18, however, is PAIDIA. Here he is refering to a specific group of Christians. He returns to using TEKNIA again in 2:28.
Thus the section breaks down as follows:
-
2:12—All Christians
2:13a—Fathers (spiritual mature)
213b—Young men
2:13c—Children
2:14a—Fathers
2:14b-17—Young men
2:18-27—Children
2:28-29—All Christians
Thus, John addressed three levels of maturity among Christians in this passage. He does this in two sections or rounds. The first round seems to be for the purpose of encouraging the groups. The second round is for the purpose of exhorting them (although his message to the fathers is exactly the same in both rounds). Also notice how he gives more attention to those younger in the faith than those older and more mature–we should follow this example.
