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.
• New International Version (NIV)I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
• 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.

Context of 1 John 2:12

10Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. 11But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness. I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus. 13I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one. 14I 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.

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 a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before.
• 1 John 1:4We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.
• 1 John 2:1My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.
• 1 John 1:7But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
• Psalms 32:1Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!
• Luke 5:20Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”
• Luke 7:47“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”
• Luke 24:47It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’
• Acts 4:12There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
• Acts 10:43He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”
• Acts 13:38“Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins.
• Romans 4:6David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:
• Ephesians 1:7He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
• Colossians 1:14who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
• Psalms 25:11For the honor of your name, O Lord, forgive my many, many sins.
• Psalms 106:8Even so, he saved them— to defend the honor of his name and to demonstrate his mighty power.

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