1 John 2:12
New International Version
I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

New Living Translation
I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.

English Standard Version
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.

Berean Standard Bible
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven through His name.

Berean Literal Bible
I am writing to you, little children, because the sins have been forgiven you for the sake of His name.

King James Bible
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

New King James Version
I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

New American Standard Bible
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you on account of His name.

NASB 1995
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake.

NASB 1977
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

Legacy Standard Bible
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake.

Amplified Bible
I am writing to you, little children (believers, dear ones), because your sins have been forgiven for His name’s sake [you have been pardoned and released from spiritual debt through His name because you have confessed His name, believing in Him as Savior].

Christian Standard Bible
I am writing to you, little children, since your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven because of Jesus’ name.

American Standard Version
I write unto you, my little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

Contemporary English Version
Children, I am writing you, because your sins have been forgiven in the name of Christ.

English Revised Version
I write unto you, my little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I'm writing to you, dear children, because your sins are forgiven through Christ.

Good News Translation
I write to you, my children, because your sins are forgiven for the sake of Christ.

International Standard Version
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

Majority Standard Bible
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven through His name.

NET Bible
I am writing to you, little children, that your sins have been forgiven because of his name.

New Heart English Bible
I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

Webster's Bible Translation
I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

Weymouth New Testament
I am writing to you, dear children, because for His sake your sins are forgiven you.

World English Bible
I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I write to you, little children, because sins have been forgiven you through His Name;

Berean Literal Bible
I am writing to you, little children, because the sins have been forgiven you for the sake of His name.

Young's Literal Translation
I write to you, little children, because the sins have been forgiven you through his name;

Smith's Literal Translation
I write to you, little children, for your sins are let go for his name.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I am writing to you, little sons, because your sins are forgiven for the sake of his name.

New American Bible
I am writing to you, children, because your sins have been forgiven for his name’s sake.

New Revised Standard Version
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven on account of his name.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
I write to you, children, that your sins have been forgiven you because of his Name.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
I write to you, little children, because your sins are for given for his name's sake.

Godbey New Testament
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven through his name.

Haweis New Testament
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.

Mace New Testament
I write to you, dear children, because your sins are forgiven you upon the account of Christ.

Weymouth New Testament
I am writing to you, dear children, because for His sake your sins are forgiven you.

Worrell New Testament
I write to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake.

Worsley New Testament
I write unto you, little children, because for his sake your sins are forgiven you:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A New Commandment
11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 12I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven through 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. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.…

Cross References
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Colossians 1:14
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 6:12
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Acts 13:38-39
Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. / Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Isaiah 43:25
I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.

Hebrews 8:12
For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”

Luke 24:47
and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

Romans 4:7-8
“Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered. / Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”

Jeremiah 31:34
No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”

Micah 7:18-19
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion? / He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea.

Mark 2:5
When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

2 Corinthians 5:19
that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Daniel 9:9
To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, even though we have rebelled against Him

Psalm 32:1-2
Of David. A Maskil. Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. / Blessed is the man whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him, in whose spirit there is no deceit.


Treasury of Scripture

I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

write.

1 John 2:7,13,14,21
Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning…

1 John 1:4
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

little.

1 John 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

your.

1 John 1:7,9
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin…

Psalm 32:1,2
A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered…

Luke 5:20
And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

for.

Psalm 25:11
For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

Psalm 106:8
Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.

Jeremiah 14:7
O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.

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1 John 2
1. He comforts them against the sins of infirmity.
3. Rightly to know God is to keep his commandments;
9. to love our brothers;
15. and not to love the world.
18. We must beware of antichrists;
20. from whose deceits the godly are safe, preserved by perseverance in faith, and holiness of life.














I am writing to you
This phrase indicates the personal and direct nature of the Apostle John's communication. The Greek verb "γράφω" (graphō) suggests an ongoing action, emphasizing the continuous relevance of the message. John, as a spiritual father, is addressing his audience with pastoral care and authority, ensuring that the truths he imparts are both timeless and applicable to the believers' lives.

little children
The term "τεκνία" (teknia) is an affectionate term used by John to address the believers. It reflects a deep, familial bond and conveys a sense of endearment and spiritual kinship. Historically, this term underscores the early Christian community's understanding of themselves as a family united in Christ, with John as a guiding elder. It also highlights the innocence and dependency of believers on God's grace.

because your sins have been forgiven
The phrase "ἀφέωνται ὑμῖν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι" (apheōntai hymin hai hamartiai) speaks to the completed action of forgiveness. The perfect tense in Greek indicates that this forgiveness is a past action with ongoing effects. This assurance of forgiveness is central to the Christian faith, rooted in the sacrificial work of Christ. Historically, this reflects the early church's emphasis on the transformative power of Christ's atonement, which was a radical departure from the works-based righteousness prevalent in the religious systems of the time.

through His name
The phrase "διὰ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ" (dia to onoma autou) signifies the authority and power inherent in the name of Jesus. In biblical times, a name was more than a label; it represented the essence and authority of a person. The use of "His name" underscores the belief that salvation and forgiveness are possible only through Jesus Christ. This reflects the early church's unwavering commitment to the exclusivity of Christ as the mediator between God and humanity, a cornerstone of conservative Christian doctrine.

(7) THE THINGS THEY MUST NOT LOVE IF THEY WALKED IN THE LIGHT (1John 2:12-17).--The solemnity of the thoughts of 1John 2:9; 1John 2:11 is too much for the warm heart of the Apostle. He cannot bear even to seem to suggest that his "dear little children" are shrouded in the gloomy horrors of moral darkness, haunted by the faithful memories of their sins, and enticed hither and thither by the malevolent spirits of evil. He will warn them with the most tender and pitiful affection against the wicked one, the world, the flesh, the follies and vanities of the human heart; but first he will show them frankly what he thinks of them, what he hopes of them, the trust he places in them, the grounds which he takes for granted in writing to them.

(12) I write unto you, little children.--The arrangement of these triplets should be prefaced by saying that the last "I write," in 1John 2:13, is, according to the best reading, "I wrote," or "I have written;" and that the "little children" of 1John 2:12 is the same word as that which he used in 1John 2:1 for the whole class of his readers, and is therefore quite general, but that the "little children" of 1John 2:13 is a different, word, meaning children in age. So we get:-- . . .

Verses 12-14. - Before passing on to the second thing which walking in the light excludes, viz. love of the world (verses 15-17), the apostle twice makes a threefold address, first stating why he writes γράφω, and secondly why he wrote ἔγραψα, to the three classes named. This suggests several questions.

(1) What is the difference between "I write" (or, "am writing") and "I wrote" (or, "have written;" for this is a case where the English perfect may represent the Greek aorist)? Five answers are given.

(a) The change is made for emphasis: "I write; I wrote; there is nothing more to be said." But in this case the past tense should come first: "I wrote; I write it again." Moreover, we should expect the perfect rather than the aorist, as in ο{ γέγραφα γέγραφα.

(b) "I write" refers to what follows; "I wrote," to what precedes. And some have even tried to find out the three different portions in each part of the Epistle; e.g., "I write to you, little children" (1 John 2:15-17); "to you, fathers" (1 John 2:18-27); "to you, young men" (1 John 2:28-3:22): "I wrote to you, children" (1 John 1:5-7); "to you, fathers" (chapter 1:8-2:2); "to you, young men" (1 John 2:3-11). But this is fanciful and very arbitrary; and in this case also the past tense should come first: "I have written thus far to you; again I proceed to write to you." . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
I am writing
Γράφω (Graphō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1125: A primary verb; to 'grave', especially to write; figuratively, to describe.

to you,
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

little children,
τεκνία (teknia)
Noun - Vocative Neuter Plural
Strong's 5040: A little child. Diminutive of teknon; an infant, i.e. darlings.

because
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

[your]
αἱ (hai)
Article - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

sins
ἁμαρτίαι (hamartiai)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 266: From hamartano; a sin.

have been forgiven
ἀφέωνται (apheōntai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 863: From apo and hiemi; to send forth, in various applications.

through
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

His
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

name.
ὄνομα (onoma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3686: Name, character, fame, reputation. From a presumed derivative of the base of ginosko; a 'name'.


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NT Letters: 1 John 2:12 I write to you little children because (1J iJ 1Jn i jn 1 jo)
1 John 2:11
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