Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
1 John 2:14 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 14. 14I 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.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
Verse 14 repeats and expands the assurances: knowledge, strength, God's abiding word, and victory over the evil one.
Before the hard warnings, the whole community is named as already gifted.
This verse is one part of that explanation in 1 John 2:12–14. The complete section carries the connected meaning and how it should shape life.
Read It With
- 1 John 2:12-14
Read 1 John 2:12–14 as one complete movement. Two parallel sequences address little children, fathers, and young people, supplying reasons for reassurance. Verse 15 begins a prohibition against loving the world.
Read 1 John 2:12–14 together
Why these verses belong together: Two parallel address cycles reassure the whole community before the warnings resume.
Verse 12. 12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
Verse 13. 13 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.
Verse 14. 14 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.
Follow the Context
- Little children are addressed as forgiven for Jesus' name and as knowing the Father.
- Fathers are addressed as knowing the one from the beginning.
- Young people are addressed as victorious, strong, and indwelt by God's word.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“the word of God abideth in you”
In plain language: The source of strength is a received, enduring word rather than age or masculinity.
Verse 14 repeats and expands the assurances: knowledge, strength, God's abiding word, and victory over the evil one.
Why it matters: Victory does not authorize spiritual bravado, violence, denial of temptation, or contempt for people who need care.
How certain? probableWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
Victory does not authorize spiritual bravado, violence, denial of temptation, or contempt for people who need care.
What Remains True
Strength is sustained by God's abiding word and faithful endurance, not human dominance.
How It Can Shape Life
- Build strength through truthful teaching, support, and accountable resistance to evil.
Teach It Back
Explain 1 John 2:14's exact contribution to 1 John 2:12–14. Include the surrounding movement, one material wording or alternative, what remains uncertain, and what the verse does not permit.
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Continue in Context
Read the complete section for the connected explanation and how it should shape life. This verse is a doorway into that passage, not a saying that stands alone.
Read 1 John 2:12–14 — The Community Is Reassured of Forgiveness, Knowledge, and VictorySources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? probable
Where care is needed
The switch between 'I write' and 'I have written' may be rhetorical; it does not prove a lost letter.
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing KJV wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: 1 John 2:12–14, pinned eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, repeated terms, and variation markers used for original-language analysis.
Exact location: Official SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/1John.txt, 2:12–14
Open the 1 John Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — 1 John with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005–2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level syntax, KJV-era wording, textual variants, and major interpretive alternatives.
Exact location: NET Bible official 1 John PDF, 2:12–14 and attached translator, study, and textual notes
Open the official NET 1 John PDF ↗