1 John 2:12

1 John 2:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
• New Living Translation (NLT)I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.

Context of 1 John 2:12

10Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 13I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. 14I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

1 John 2:12 word by word

Γράφω ὑμῖν, τεκνία, ὅτι ἀφέωνται ὑμῖν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι διὰ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I writeγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• little childrenτεκνίονteknion · childrenG5040
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• sinsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• sinsἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
• are forgiven youἀφίημιaphiēmi · to release: forgiveG863
• forδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• name’sὄνομαonoma · nameG3686

Cross-references for 1 John 2:12

• 1 John 2:7Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard.
• 1 John 1:4We write this to make our joy complete.
• 1 John 2:1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
• 1 John 1:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
• Psalms 32:1Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
• Luke 5:20When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
• Luke 7:47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
• Luke 24:47and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
• Acts 4:12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
• Acts 10:43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
• Acts 13:38“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
• Romans 4:6David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
• Ephesians 1:7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
• Colossians 1:14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
• Psalms 25:11For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
• Psalms 106:8Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his mighty power known.

Commentaries on 1 John 2:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12I write unto you, little children - · Beloved children, (see on 1 John 2:1; (note)), those who were probably the apostle's own converts, and members of the Church over which he presided. But it may be applied to young converts in general; those who can call God Abba, Father, by the Holy Spirit: therefore he says of them, that their sins were forgiven them for his name's sake: i.e. on account of Jesus, the Savior, who had died for them, and was now their…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12I write unto you, little children - There has been much difference of opinion among commentators in regard to this verse and the three following verses, on account of their apparent tautology. Even Doddridge supposes that considerable error has here crept into the text, and that a portion of these verses should be omitted in order to avoid the repetition. But there is no authority for omitting any portion of the text, and the passage is very much in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-14Verses 12-14 As Christians have their peculiar states, so they have peculiar duties; but there are precepts and obedience common to all, particularly mutual love, and contempt of the world. The youngest sincere disciple is pardoned: the communion of saints is attended with the forgiveness of sins. Those of the longest standing in Christ's school need further advice and instruction. Even fathers must be written unto, and preached unto; none are too old to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-14John describes three groups of Christians at different stages of spiritual growth: God's children, the young in the faith (literally young people), and the mature in the faith (literally fathers).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. little children--Greek, "little sons," or "dear sons and daughters"; not the same Greek as in 1Jo 2:13, "little children," "infants" (in age and standing). He calls ALL to whom he writes, "little sons" (1Jo 2:1, Greek; 1Jo 2:28; 3:18; 4:4; 5:21); but only in 1Jo 2:13, 18 he uses the term "little children," or "infants." Our Lord, whose Spirit John so deeply drank into, used to His disciples (Joh 13:33) the term "little sons," or dear sons and…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 2:12

• Children
• Jesus Continued
• Righteous
• Sin
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• Acknowledge
• Advocate
• Lie
• Stumble
• John, the Epistles of
• forgive, forgiven, forgiveness, pardon, pardoned

Commentaries on 1 John 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings