I write unto you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven you for
His name's sake. I write unto you, fathers,
because ye have known Him that is from
the beginning. I write unto you, young men,
because ye have overcome the wicked one.
I write unto you, little children, because ye
have known the Father. 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.
1John 2: 12-14
Semantics, what is it? Why is it important to know the meaning? Semantics has to do with or pertaining to meaning or arising from the different meanings of the words(s) or other symbols. I offer the Greek words and their meanings, not from what I want them to mean, rather to give the meaning from mostly Strong's Concordance and Dictionary along with the Greek Lexicon. Why? Because there are those who "spin" meanings of words that fit their theology, rather than allowing Scripture to define their theology. Also, to give to you a clearer understanding of what the writers of the Bible wrote. When the words used in translation do not give a full and clear meaning of the word then it is up to us to find out what is the full and clear meaning for if not then all sorts of theories are fronted as truth. For instance: The King James Bible, the New Word Translation, uses the Greek word: "νεανίσκοι" is translated as "little children," The NIV does not as it uses: "young men," when this word does not have that meaning at all and this translation gives way to doctrines about children that this Scripture does not imply or state. Verse 12 uses the Greek word "τεκνία" and does not have the word for "little" as this is added to attempt to give meaning to this word. Now, we must understand this word for it means, a child, daughter, son, and it is also used as a spiritual relationship (2Titus 2:1; Philemon 10). There are words for child, as to their age, and here in context this word gives prominence to physical and outward aspects of parentage. A doctrine that has been forwarded in some denominations is that as a child you do not have sins as do other more mature persons. This is not true. Yes, a child may not have committed certain sins but they are still sinful in the eyes of God for they have the results of the original sin in them and if not then why did Jesus have to die on the cross for the "sin" of the world?
John in verse 12 must have the understanding of a persons spiritual relationship and that some are as little children in their spiritual growth and their growth in sanctification for in the next verses he addresses "young men" conjoining those two Greek words to apply to the same group. Remember, there are those who are babes in Jesus Christ and there are men who have grown in maturity so that there are peculiar states and they also have peculiar duties, but that does not eliminate the precepts and obedience common to all Authentic Christians, mutual love, and a contempt of the world.
John writes to admonish all Christians to "sin" not and gives one of the meanings for this letter. But if you do sin, you have an advocate with the Father. What is an advocate? We heare and even use this word but do you know what it means? An advocate is one who will support you or urge you by argument even to give an argument for the right for you to have your sins forgiven to the Father. We often only think of a the word "argument as a mean word, a fight, and can under the right circumstances, but there is more. So an argument can be a disagreement, can even be called a debate, or a process of reasoning, a series of reasons. Jesus gives and has the only reason for your sins to be forgiven and that is by means of His death that paid for sin, and is applied to all who put their faith, trust, and conversion in Him. God the Father sees you and forgives you through His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. God is gracious and merciful and by His coming to earth by sending His Wisdom to be fully man and fully God, the hypostatic union, He will forgive all who come to Him. Jesus Christ is the Righteous and the propitiation, that is by His death and your faith you are made favorable and have been given the right for God to be appeased. The power of regeneration is not by the works of man, but by those who are adopted as sons and daughters.
How can you be assured of forgiveness and regeneration and adoption? First: you must keep the word of God in all you do and say. Paul reminds us as fathers that we have the responsibility to teach our children about Jesus Christ and to impart and even embue the word of God in them by your reading the word of God with them and discussing about God, the Father and the the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, that they are the Godhead and by means of the Trinity God will lead, regenerate and adopt them. Teach the children to be strong in their faith and to stay away from the sins of this world. Teach your children what it means to have Authentic Christian Faith. Teach your children what it means to "love" and how to "love" all brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.
It is "young men" not "little children" that John is writing about and he is not teaching that children are sinless, but is teaching that all people, little children, young men and women need to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Mature Christians, you know the truth and you know that God does not lie, therefore all His promises have been and will be fulfilled, and the best promise of all is eternal life. Teach this!
Train up a child in te way
he should go: and when
he is old he will not depart
from it.
Proverbs 22:6
The word of God your weapon of protection
Richard L. Crumb
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