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[3:19-24] • [4:1-6] • [4:7-12] • [4:13-15] • [4:16-21] • [5:1-3]
[5:4-5] • [5:6-12] • [5:13-15] • [5:16-17] • [5:18-20] • [5:21]
Text and Translation
Greek Text
12. Γράφω ὑμῖν, τεκνία, ὅτι ἀφέωνται ὑμῖν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι διὰ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ.
13. γράφω ὑμῖν, πατέρες, ὅτι ἐγνώκατε τὸν ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς. γράφω ὑμῖν, νεανίσκοι, ὅτι νενικήκατε τὸν πονηρόν. γράφω ὑμῖν, παιδία, ὅτι ἐγνώκατε τὸν πατέρα.
14. ἔγραψα ὑμῖν, πατέρες, ὅτι ἐγνώκατε τὸν ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς. ἔγραψα ὑμῖν, νεανίσκοι, ὅτι ἰσχυροί ἐστε, καὶ ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν ὑμῖν μένει, καὶ νενικήκατε τὸν πονηρόν.
English Translation
12. I am writing to you, children, because your sins have been forgiven for the sake of his name.
13. I am writing to you, fathers, because you have known him from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have conquered the evil one. I am writing to you, young children, because you know the Father.
14. I wrote to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I wrote to you, young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and you have conquered the evil one.
Graphical Grammar
Weighty Words
- ἀφέωνται – 1st sing. perf. pass. ind. ▶ ἀφίημι: forgive.
- ἐγνώκατε- 2nd pl. perf. act. ind. ▶ γινώσκω: know, understand.
- νενικήκατε – 2nd pl. perf. act. ind. ▶ νικάω: overcome.
- γράφω – 1st sing. pres. act. ind. ▶ γράφω: I write.
- ἔγραψα – 1st sing. aor. act. ind. ▶ γράφω: I wrote.
Syntax Sense
Pause a moment to notice some things in this passage.
Notice the repeated perfects:
- ἀφέωνται;
- ἐγνώκατε; and
- νενικήκατε.
That usage is actually spiritually and rhetorically central. John repeatedly uses perfect-tense forms (“have known,” “have overcome,” “have been forgiven”) to anchor readers in settled spiritual realities rather than uncertain striving.
Notice what the perfects communicate:
- established status;
- enduring realities; and
- covenant assurance.
This is identity language, and it occurs repeatedly in John’s writing.
Notice also, the repeated γράφω / ἔγραψα.
Notice the repeated vocatives.
Notice the repeated explanatory ὅτι clauses.
Finally, notice the almost lyrical, rhythmic parallelism.
The syntax here is not technical, rather it’s rhetorical. The discourse architecture is where the meaning lies in this passage.
Demystifying the Discourse
John filled this passage with rhetorical riches:
- little children;
- fathers;
- young men;
- repetition with variation;
- assurance;
- cadence; and
- reinforcement.
He is using discourse architecture to convey theological truth.
John structures these verses with repetition and parallelism. The repeated γράφω / ἔγραψα clauses create a rhythmic cadence, while the repeated addresses (“children,” “fathers,” “young men”) divide the passage into pastoral affirmations. Notice especially that the statement to the fathers is repeated unchanged. The young men are described by strength and overcoming; the children by forgiveness and knowledge of the Father. But the fathers are simply characterized by knowing “Him who is from the beginning,” as though nothing further needs to be said.
Your turn!
After translating these verses, re-write them as poetic verse. What do you notice?
What significance do you see in the repeated I’m writing/have written to you lines to the Fathers? Do you find it significant that the I’m writing/I’ve written lines differ for the other audiences? Why? Is your answer a result of grammatical analysis, an examination of the discourse or a combination?
John shifts from τεκνία in verse 12 to παιδία in verse 13. Do you think the shift is merely stylistic variation, or does it subtly change the tone or emphasis? Compare how John uses both terms elsewhere in the letter.
Before reading on in 1 John, what do you think is the function of these verses in terms of John’s overall message?
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Return to TBWM – I John
See complete translation of I John here.