1 John – Written Exposition

1 John 2:15-17

Posted on 22nd Oct 202118th Dec 2025 by writtenexposition

We have previously noticed that in the section 2:12-27 the author tells his first readers precisely why he has written this letter to them. The first reason, given in 2:12-14, is their spiritual state. Now, in 2:15-17, we have John’s second reason for writing: because of the enticements of the world.

THE ENTICEMENTS OF THE WORLD

No matter how good their spiritual state might be John was aware that the danger of worldliness was ever present. He therefore warns them to beware of it.

[15] A COMMAND

Rather than just offer one or two helpful suggestions John issues a firm command: ‘love not the world neither the things that are in the world’. This is the first of ten imperatives in 1 John. See the ten listed at:

THE TEN IMPERATIVES IN 1 JOHN

Although the ‘world’ (kósmos) can refer to people (e.g. John 3:16) here it seems to refer to the world system. Kósmos carries the idea of order or arrangement.

Lambert Dolphin makes the following useful comments on ‘the world:

‘The “world-system” involves a concern for external appearances more than inner content and quality. As used in the New Testament, the world does not refer to nature, but to the world-system, to society and human culture. The world system is outwardly religious, scientific, cultured and elegant. Inwardly it seethes with national and commercial rivalries.’

Much is said about the world in 1 John. See 2:2, 16-17; 3:1, 13; 4:3-5, 9, 14, 17; 5:4, 19.

[15] A CONCLUSION

‘If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.’

If a professing Christian is wholly taken up with love for the world John would conclude that such a person is not a genuine believer at all, for this behaviour is incompatible with love for God.

[16] A CHARACTERIZATION

Everything that is in the world system does not come from the Father. This system of values, goals and ethics excludes God and is opposed to God (5:19).

John identifies three elements othat characterize worldliness:

a) ‘The lust of the flesh’. Lusts (desires or cravings) of the flesh refers to human bodily appetites.

b) ‘The lust of the eyes’. This would refer to the human tendency to want what we see. We are naturally covetous and acquisitive.

c) ‘The pride of life’. This is a reminder of human showiness and the wish to impress others with one’s own importance.

The world encourages and caters to these perspectives. N.B. Some see the sin of Eve (Gen 3:6) as illustrating these three elements of worldiness: ‘the tree was good for food’, ‘it was pleasant to the eyes’, ‘a tree to be desired to make one wise’.

[17] A CONFIRMATION

John observes that worldiness is a craving for things that will soon pass away and confirms that whoever does the will of God will ‘live’ (ménō, abide, remain) forever. The idea of ‘abiding’ is that of living in fellowship with God. Such a life is viewed as never really coming to an end.

THE TEN IMPERATIVES IN 1 JOHN

Exposition

THE TEN IMPERATIVES IN 1 JOHN

Posted on 17th Oct 202118th Dec 2025 by writtenexposition

1. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. 2:15

2. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. 2:24

3. Abide in him. 2:27

4. Abide in him. 2:28

5. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, 3:1

6. Let no man deceive you. 3:7

7. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 3:13

8. Believe not every spirit. 4:1

9. Try the spirits. 4:1

10. Keep yourselves from idols. 5:21

Exposition

1 JOHN 2:12-14

Posted on 17th Oct 202118th Dec 2025 by writtenexposition

Reading through 1 John you will notice that the author often sets out his ideas in groups of three.

In chapter 1 he gives three tests of life and already in chapter 2 he has presented three tests for love.

Three tests in chapter 1: all begin with ‘if we say.’

1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

1: 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Three tests in chapter two: all begin with ‘he that saith.’

2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him…

2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

In the section 2:12-27 the author tells his first readers precisely why he has written this letter to them. The first reason is given in 2:12-14.

2:12-14 John writes because of their spiritual state.

Because of previous warnings in the letter one might think that the state of his addressees was suspect but these verses clarify that their spiritual condition was good. John was hoping that this would continue.

In 2:12-14 we have more triplets, two series of three, all beginning with the assertion ‘I am writing to you….. because.’

Series 1

2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.

2:13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning.

2:13 I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one.

Series 2

2:13 I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning.

2:14 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.

CHILDREN

FATHERS

YOUNG MEN

Opinion is divided as to what is meant by ‘children’, ‘fathers’, and ‘young men’. Is the author addressing:

three physical age groups , i.e. ‘children’, ‘fathers’, and ‘young men’?
three levels of spiritual maturity, i.e. new Christians, mature Christians, and those with some Christian experience?
all the Christians as children, and then directing his comments to ‘fathers’ and ‘young men’, whether according to physical age groups (older people and younger people) or spiritual maturity (more mature, maturing)?

Whatever the case may be it seems odd that the group labelled ‘fathers’ is placed in the middle of each sequence.

The word for children (teknía) is a figurative term of affection. It occurs in Jn 13:33, Gal 4:19 and seven times in 1 John (2:1, 12, 28; 3:7, 18; 4:4; 5:21). It is said of them that their sins have been forgiven ‘ on for his name’s sake’ i.e. on account of Jesus Christ. John is thus reminding them of the wonderful fact that they had experienced the forgiveness of sins. This is something that has happened in the past but is still true in the present.

It is said of the ‘fathers’ that they have ‘known him that is from the beginning. This refers to the person of Jesus Christ and would seem to refer back to 1:1-2. The ‘beginning’ is the incarnation of the ‘Word of life’.

The ‘young men’ (neanískos occurs only here and in the following verse in the Johannine writings) have overcome (nikáō – see also 4:4; 5:4 twice, 5) evil / the evil one (ponērós – 2:13, 14; 3:12; 5:18, 19).

Having addressed his first readers as ‘children’, ‘fathers’ and ‘young men’ in 2:12-13a John does so for the second time in 2:13-14. What he says to these parties is similar to what he has said in the first series.

The ‘children’ have ‘known the Father’.

Again the ‘fathers’ have known the one who is ‘from the beginning’. Here the ‘I am writing’ changes from the present tense to the Aorist, John now presenting his writing of the epistles as a complete rather than as an ongoing action.

Again it is said that the young men have overcome ‘the wicked one’ but John now adds two further reasons for writing to them:

because they are strong
because the word of God abides (remains, lives) in them.

SUMMATION

Viewed as ‘children’ the believers had experienced forgiveness of sins and had come to know the Father.

Viewed as ‘fathers’ the believers had fellowship with the eternal One who had become incarnate.

Viewed as ‘young men’ the believers had fought and overcome the evil one. This had made them strong in their faith.

THE TEN IMPERATIVES IN 1 JOHN