Q2. Children, Young Men, Fathers

[Marloes]

Q2. (1 John 2:12-14) John encourages "children," "young men," and "fathers." Why do you think he takes time to encourage them? In what ways does he encourage them?

Because everybody needs encouragement, in whatever phase he might be.

[anne1151]

Q2. (1 John 2:12-14) John encourages "children," "young men," and "fathers." Why do you think he takes time to encourage them? In what ways does he encourage them?

1. He loved them truly as his family and wanted them to be firm in Gods love. He was reminding them of what they had done in Christ and what they are in Christ.

2. Everyone needs praise and recognition and encouragement. In other places he rebukes them, but here he rejoices with them, that the HolySpirit dwells in them, that they know the Lord, and that they do not have to fear the devil.

[Ramon]

Q2. (1 John 2:12-14) John encourages "children," "young men," and "fathers." Why do you think he takes time to encourage them? In what ways does he encourage them?

Answer:

1. Why do you think he takes time to encourage them?

He Encourage them,because Apostle John knew that they are discouraged,simple as that.

Just like How the Lord encouraged Joshua,when He told him,that He needs to fill in the shoes of Moses,and become a leader to lead the Israelites to promised land,in crossing the Jordan River.

He knows,that Joshua will be afraid..so God gives Joshua assurance,and encourage Him,many times..

Joshua 1:5-There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life : as I was with Moses , so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Joshua 1:6-Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them

Joshua 1:7- Only be thou strong and very courageous

[Deborah Eberhard]

John teaches us through encouragement. His encouragement builds our confidence in the Lord. In what ways? By letting us know our sins are forgiven, by telling us we've known our Father from the beginning. By assuring us He is our Father and because of that we are STRONG, we have Him in us and His strength is ours. We were born with the Word on our lips and in our hearts. Whether we are children, young men, women, or parents, we all continue to learn and eventually begin to teach others and encourage others. The reason John takes the time is the same reason any of us are taking the time to encourage, because our enthusiasm from realizing God's love in our own lives inspires us to encourage others and lead them to His light.

[jacquie7]

John encourages everyone because he assures true believers of their status in God against false claims. He tells them of the promises and inducements that their belief offers, their sins have been forgiven, he speaks of their knowledge of Him who is from the beginning, tells them that they have overcome the evil one, and that they are strong in Christ, and that the word of God lives in them.

[Craig]

Q2. (1 John 2:12-14) John encourages "children," "young men," and "fathers." Why do you think he takes time to encourage them? In what ways does he encourage them?

John is their spiritual leader and he loves them. Just as a parent encourages his/her children John is doing the same. He wants them to succeed in their relationship with the Lord God Almighty and to remain steadfast in the faith not being deceived by the world and antichrist. Everyone needs encouragement and strengthening. Being a Christian is to strengthen and encourage those around us in Jesus Christ.

John is encouraging them by noting their growth, steadfastness, determination, and faithfulness in their walk with Christ.

[Guitar Jim]

Q2. (1 John 2:12-14) John encourages "children," "young men," and "fathers." Why do you think he takes time to encourage them?

 

Everyone needs encouragement. We all need to know we're doing the right thing . . . when we are doing the right thing of course.

 

 

 

In what ways does he encourage them?

 

John uses specific encouragements pertaining to each group's level of spirituality. These are wonderful verses. There is assurance for each level of spiritual maturity in each section. For the new Christians, the little children in the faith, he assures them of God's forgiveness. For the mature Christians, the spiritual leadership of the churches John is writing to, he encourages them by reminding them of their long standing knowledge and love for God. For the young men, the ones moving up in the faith who are strong in the Lord, John encourages them and reminds them they have overcome the evil one. They are strong in the Word of God and John reminds them of that as well.

 

[wifee]

2a)John knows they will have moments of doubt,face false teachers, so spends time encouraging- their relationship with Father is strong&John wants to reassure three levels of spiritual maturity,assuring them of their status in Christ, saying the truth their sins have been forgiven.John reaffirms this to equip them to fend off worldly thoughts.
b)John encourages by reminding them i/there sins have been forgiven because of Jesus sacrifice Your sins have been forgiven on account of his name" (2:12),not because of their human actions.ii/their faith is the One who all knowing from the beginning and everlasting, and is solid in Him"You have known him who is from the beginning" (Fathers, 2:13a and 2:14a).iii/in Jesus we have overcome the evil one and all his schemes."You have overcome the evil one" (Young men, 2:13b and 2:14d. iv/we have the Father’s love that is wonderful, precious, health-producing.His smile puts joy in our hearts,which makes us strong and helps teach us to share this love with others"You have known the Father" (Little children, 2:13c).v/we have the strength of Christ and do not have to fear.When we abide in him he abides in us and He equips&empowers us to face all things."You are strong" (Young men, 2:14b).vi/the word logos of God lives in us "The word of God lives in you" (Young men, 2:14c).,Christ the Word of life and the Spirit who reminds us of Jesus'words and interprets them to us, who allows us to have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).

[Old Jerry]

I think that John is encouraging them because there was probably something or someone who was trying to convince them that they weren’t the right path. They need to be encouraged so that their strength would be stronger in the Lord. He encouraged them by telling them that if they keep on the path that they are going then God will be with them.

[tgandy]

John encourages children, young men, and fathers.  I believe as in any family we need encouragement and support and feedback to know you are growing in the right direction.  John was encouraging people of all ages. John was encouraging each to his own age group and activities.  A child would not need the same type of encouragement as fathers.  Each age group needs a different type of encouragement.

[cezhead]

I think he encourages fathers because they are the leaders of their families, and young men and children so that they don't wander off the path of righteousness. He encourages them by reminding them of who they are in Christ and what the scriptures say about them. he also reminds them of God's commandments and how He wants us to live our lives.

[smithj77]

Q2. (1 John 2:12-14) John encourages "children," "young men," and "fathers." Why do you think he takes time to encourage them? In what ways does he encourage them?

John loves these Christians and wants the best for them so he encourages them.  He reminds them that God died for their sins.  he lets the youth know that they are strong and can take the burden.  He lets the fathers know that their faith is sound so they won't doubt.

[JSF]

John encourages "children," "young men," and "fathers." Why do you think he takes time to encourage them? In what ways does he encourage them?

 

I think all believers, regardless of "spiritual age" or maturity benefit from encouragement.  John talks about what has already happened, sort of like an Ebenezer:  you have been forgiven, you have overcome the evil one, you have known the Father, you are strong.  In other words, look at the spiritual milestones so far, and keep on going...

[Uncle Dave]

Why do you think he takes time to encourage them?

As to why he encourages them I would have to think it would be because of his love for them. Also, I think Christians should encourage each other because encouragement causes for strength to increase and the enemy is everywhere, lethal, and (although I know many people who would argue the difference) very real.

In what ways does he encourage them?

in the congregation “ as to what John was saying. I did, however draw a mental picture in my head dividing them by the age group theory with the fathers being the group who had been Christians for a time gathering much wisdom in the process of things. levels of spiritual maturity option “Figuratively, as three ^ndIn answering this one, I also have to go along with you on the choice of the 2

1.     Getting back to the question, he encourages the “children” group by commending them over the fact that they had made the decision to be forgiven and begin a new life.

2.     The fathers he encourages by commending them over the fact that they had shown perseverance and remained grounded in Christ, Jesus.

3.     The young men, he was telling them that they would be the future of the church and referred to them as strong that they might continue the job at hand even though there would be times that were challenging and dangerous.

[hanks]

Q2. (1 John 2:12-14) 
John encourages "children," "young men," and "fathers." 
Why do you think he takes time to encourage them? 
In what ways does he encourage them?
John takes time to encourage Christians in their different stages of spiritual maturity; mentioning 3 groups of believers – the new, the youthful, and the more mature. New believers might not know very much, but they do know the Father. Youthful believers are strong in the Lord and have overcome the evil one because the Word of God lives in them. The more mature believers know Jesus, having experienced a long and close relationship with Him. 
He encourages them by assuring them of the reality of their sins having been forgiven, the reality of their relationship with Jesus Christ, and of the fact that the Word of God lives in them. The good news is the fact that their sins have been forgiven. God has forgiven all their sins, the past, present and future sins. This was made possible because of the name of Jesus. God forgives sins on the basis of His Son's atoning death on the Cross. This means that all who believe in Jesus and repents will receive forgiveness of sin. Now they have close fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ and their Heavenly Father. 
 

[haar]

Q2. (1 John 2:12-14)

Q. John encourages "children," "young men," and "fathers." Why do you think he takes time to encourage them?

A. To help then stand firm in the faith and not to be victims of the false teachers and also to keep them from falling into sin

Q. In what ways does he encourage them?

A. By reminding them of their strengths- [they have known the father, their sin has been forgiven etc]

[Reuben]

Q2. (1 John 2:12-14) John encourages "children," "young men," and "fathers." Why do you think he takes time to encourage them? In what ways does he encourage them?

John takes the time to encourage them each, at the level they are at in their walk in the Christian faith, first as children, then young men, and finally seasoned fathers. This is fundamentally what we need to do as Christians as John set out to do as early as this already. We have to encourage fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, just as we appreciate their encouragement towards us. It is part and parcel of what happens, or should happen when we fellowship.

He encourages them by reminding them where they are in their spiritual relationship with God, and what they have gained through this relationship so far. He also encourages them by giving them promise of what can further develop as this relationship keeps growing and developing. The Holy Spirit is continuously edifying us to grow in the ways of the Lord.

[Krissi]

I struggle with your characterization of these verses  that children, young men and fathers represents three stages of life. John could have used many other words to describe stages, but chose these ones … for a reason. It seems more logical that he’s actually writing to three separate groups of men (excluding women).

Perhaps the men weren’t living up to their responsibilities, or were immature, acting like children? Speaking as an old man, John may be mentoring each male age group about what and how they should be thinking, praying and being in Christ, that is, “age-appropriate” spiritual behaviour.

He singled men out because they were having problems, more so than women, so had to be reminded that they're supposed to progress in Christian maturity, to go from stage to stage, and not settle into an earlier stage which is less useful to Him.

--

Against this interpretation is the text, which in the English seems not to be chastising but encouraging, as you note. It's in the perfect tense.

[Rob Mc.]

(1 John 2:12-14) John encourages "children," "young men," and "fathers." Why do you think he takes time to encourage them?   In what ways does he encourage them?

He separates and distinctly encourages believers who are at different places in their relationship with God.  He does this to form an inclusive relationship with all that are reading his words.  The bible speaks to each of us in a different way, and John realizes this.  
In addition, he offers at least one specific area that each is excelling at, to promote enthusiasm for their continued learning.  He demonstrates to each level that they have at least one weapon in their arsenal to combat the devil.