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1. They differ from the Fathers in two things —

(1) The object known.

(2) The degree of knowledge.

(a) The object is diversified, "Him that was from the beginning," and "the Father." Nothing more needful for children than to have a father, to whom they may repair in all their wants and who may take care for them; accordingly they own God as a Father.

(b) The act, "You have known the Father." This knowledge is an initial knowledge; the act of knowledge is attributed to the fathers and the little children, but yet there is a difference in the degree.

(i) Little children have but a taste of God's fatherly love (1 Peter 2:3). The fathers had a longer experience, by which they are more confirmed in the sense of their adoption (chap. 1 John 3:1).(ii) These little children know God as a father, because they have never yet been put upon occasions to question His love; but when they are tried with afflictions or temptations they are filled with doubts and fears.

2. They differ from the young men in Christ. These differ from the young men partly because they are inexperienced, and so are guilty of many oversights, are more easily deceived by Satan and his instruments (Ephesians 4:14), and partly because they are ignorant of the power of corruption (1 Peter 1:14). Weaknesses and infirmities are most rife then. And partly because they do not understand their duty in their first entrance upon their Christian course so well as they do afterwards, and therefore either cleave to things out of blind zeal or else condemn them out of rashness and indiscretion (Romans 14:1). They are easily carried away with a vain show, and either allow or condemn things without due warrant. And partly because they are not so strong as the young men, nor so full of spiritual confidence, but are full of fears, as little children are easily frightened with anything. Their faith being little, doubts arise and fears prevail (Matthew 6:30).

3. We must distinguish these from the carnal or the temporary; for though they be not so heavenly so prudent, so strong as the more grown Christians, yet there is a clear distinction between them and the unconverted.

(1) They have the common spirit of all Christians. God's favour is all in all to them, insomuch as they cannot be satisfied without it (Psalm 4:6, 7).

(2) Though their main care be about getting off the guilt of sin for the present, yet there is an unfeigned purpose that they may not in the smallest matters offend God, but to the uttermost of their knowledge they are careful to perform their duty.

(3) These weak Christians do or should remember that God will not always bear with their weaknesses. They must grow more solid and prudent, more settled into an heavenly frame and temper (1 Thessalonians 4:1).

(4) Their knowledge of God as a father differeth from that knowledge which temporaries have, because it is an active and operative knowledge. God's being a father implieth both duty and privilege, and none know Him aright but those that perform the duties of children and depend upon Him for the privileges of children.

(a) This knowledge implieth the performance of the duties of children, which are to love, please, and honour their father (Malachi 1:6).

(b) There are the privileges of children, and this knowing of the Father implieth trust and dependence (Psalm 9:10). Doctrine: That even the lowest sort of Christians do know God as a father.

I. GOD STANDETH IN THE RELATION OF A FATHER TO HIS PEOPLE.

1. By creation. He gave being to all things, but to man and angels reason. To establish the relation of a father there must be communication of life and likeness.

2. More especially there is a particular sort of men to whom God is a father in Christ, and they are His children. This title is not by nature, but by grace (John 1:12).

(1) It importeth great privilege to us. Great benefits accrue to us thereby.

(a) The gift of the Holy Ghost.

(b) We have a blessed and excellent inheritance to look for here; all the children are heirs and "joint heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17).

(c) In all His dealings for the present God retaineth fatherly affection to us, pitying our miseries and pardoning our failings (Psalm 103:13).

(2) It calleth for great duty at our hands, conformity and likeness to Him in all Divine perfections.

(a)  In holiness and purity (1 Peter 1:15).

(b)  In ready obedience to His laws. In one place we read, "dear children" (Ephesians 5:1), in another, "obedient children" (1 Peter 1:14).

(c)  Subjection and humble submission to His correction (Hebrews 12:5-10).

II. THE LOWEST SORT OF CHRISTIANS DO KNOW GOD IN THE RELATION OF A FATHER

1. Christ hath taught all His disciples to say, "Our Father" (Matthew 6:9).

2. Adoption is one of the first privileges. As soon as a man owneth Christ he is adopted into God's family (John 1:12).

3. It is God's covenant. He hath promised that all His "shall know Him, from the least to the greatest" (Hebrews 8:11).

(T. Manton, D. D.)

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KJV: 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.

WEB: I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, little children, because you know the Father.