1 John 2:12-14, Little Children, Young Men and Fathers

As we come to 1 John 2:12-14 we need to be sure to keep the context.  John has pointed out that walking in sin ruins our fellowship.  We need to face up to sin in our lives (1:5-10), and accepting the forgiveness provided by our Advocate (2:1-2).  The goal is not to sin but to be walking in obedience Jesus’ commandments (2:3-11).  In 2:15-17 John is going to tell us to quit loving the world.  In other words, he will still be dealing with sin that can ruin our fellowship.  2:12-14 is right in the middle of this subject.

John is describing the family of God.  Like any family, there are people of different ages.  Thus, we have little children, young men and fathers.  This has very little to do with the physical age of people.  It has everything to do with spiritual ages or levels of maturity.  All are in the family and thus “brothers.”

The idea that the Body of Christ is a “family” made up of people of different spiritual ages is not uncommon.  The one “weak in the faith” (Rom. 14:1) is a little child.  The Corinthians needed to stop thinking like children (1 Cor. 14:20).  The passage most helpful for me is Heb. 5:12-14 because it tells us what makes for different levels of maturity.  Those who are adults (“of full age”) are those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.  Babes are those who are just beginning to grow.  They are getting the “milk” of the word.  Th writer of Hebrews is concerned that some are still thinking like children when they ought to be more mature, even being teachers of others.

I John fits with Hebrews.  The “little children” have their sins forgiven they have known the Father.  The “young men” in in the thick of the spiritual battle.  They are taking Christ out into the world, and have the word of God more and more at home in their lives, and have overcome.  They are on solid ground.  The “fathers” have one thing John says: you have known Him (who is) from the beginning.  “Who is” may or may not be in the text.  But either way the thing about the “fathers” is that thy have remained in the faith.  They have been through many circumstances of life and have not turned away.  They have obeyed what is said in 2:24: Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning.  If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.  In other words, their enjoyment of fellowship will become the habit of their lives.

How does this growth take place?  It begins with a diet of God’s word (1 Pt. 2:2; Hb. 5:12-14).  Then it requires “exercise.”  This means we live in the world, we experience trials and temptations, and in these trials and temptations we learn how the word applies, and we make good use of God’s word, ordering our lives accordingly.  A critical key in this is coming in the next passage: Love not the world neither the things in the world.  I can hardly wait.