I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
Parallel translations
- WEB I have written to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God remains in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
- KJV I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
- BSB I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
- NASB I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God remains in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
- NLT I have written to you who are God’s children because you know the Father. I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God’s word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
John repeats his affirmations: believers know Christ, are strong in God's word, and have overcome the evil one. Strength comes from God's word abiding in us.
Overview
This second round of address reinforces the first. He highlights that young men are strong because the word of God abides in them, the source of their victory over the devil. Spiritual strength is tied to Scripture dwelling within. The repetition deepens the readers' assurance of their standing in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Ps 119:11I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
- 1 Jn 2:13I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, little children, because you know the Father.
- Col 3:16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
- John 15:7If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.
- Eph 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
- John 8:31Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.
- John 5:38You don’t have his word living in you; because you don’t believe him whom he sent.
- Rev 2:7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.
- 3 Jn 1:3For I rejoiced greatly, when brothers came and testified about your truth, even as you walk in truth.
- Heb 8:10“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days,” says the Lord; “I will put my laws into their mind, I will also write them on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
- 2 Jn 1:2for the truth’s sake, which remains in us, and it will be with us forever:
- Col 1:11strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy;
- Phil 4:13I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
- 2 Tim 2:1You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
- Rev 2:3You have perseverance and have endured for my name’s sake, and have not grown weary.
- 1 Jn 1:10If we say that we haven’t sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Jesus is the Word of life made manifest, the propitiation for our sins, the Son in whom is eternal life — 'that you may know that you have eternal life.'
How 1 John 2:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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