John’s two statements to the spiritually mature of his congregations, the fathers, are identical; what is more, they are also quite similar to the second of his statements to children. There is one difference, however, and in this difference lies the distinct nature of John’s reference. John said to the children that he has written to them because they “have known the Father.” Now he says to the fathers that he is writing to them because they “have known him [the Father] that is from the beginning.” Obviously the new element is the reference to time (“from the beginning”), and this suggests the idea of God’s unchanging faithfulness together with the spiritual trust and wisdom which such knowledge brings. It is the fathers who, as the result of a lifetime of spiritual experience, have known the eternal one and have come fully to trust Him. John writes to these because, having known God in this way, they will be able to rejoice in the truths that the aged apostle enunciates and support him in what he says.
John’s lengthiest comments are reserved for the young men, and it is easy to see why this is so. These are the ones who are most energetically engaged in the business of Christian living and who are expected to be the church’s first line of defense in case of attack. Indeed, in view of the threat which occasioned the letter, one can say that the young men are to be the major opponents of the then incipient Gnosticism.
The author says three things of these men. First, he says they are strong. This is the natural virtue of young manhood, but we might have expected John to encourage them to be strong rather than simply stating that they are. This is not John’s approach, however. Rather, he wishes to assure them of that which they have already attained and of the fact that under God they are able to meet Satan’s attacks. It is interesting to note at this point that the verbs in these six statements (“are” and “abides” excepted) are in the perfect tense, indicating a continuing result of past action. In other words, John is emphasizing the standing into which every Christian has come, whatever his stage of spiritual development.
Second, John explains why the young men are strong. It is not that they are strong in themselves, for he is speaking spiritually now and not physically, and no one is spiritually strong by himself. It is rather that God has Himself made them strong through His Word which is abiding in them. These men have understood the Gospel. They have assimilated its demands, including obedience to God and the need to love the brethren, and they are using their knowledge. It is possible that John is thinking of Psalm 119:9 as he writes: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.” He may also be thinking of that future day of full victory and of those victors of whom he writes in Revelation 12:11: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.” Clearly these victors have taken “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17).
Third, John tells of the results that come from the fact that the young men have been strong; namely, they “have overcome the wicked one.” This is his point of emphasis, for the words are repeated twice, in each case in the last and emphatic position. Victory! This is what is called for. Consequently, believers must learn that the forgiveness of sins and the knowledge of God which they have enjoyed from the initial moments of their conversion are not the sum total of Christianity. Rather they must seek to grow strong so that they may take their proper and needed place in the Christian warfare.
