“I have written unto you, fathers, because you 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” (I John 2:14).

This is the final reference in the Bible both to fathers and to young men. The Greek word for the latter refers to grown young men under about age 40, but still under the guidance of their fathers. The aged apostle John had been a teacher of both, and was thankful for their response to his pastoral leadership.

The fathers had “known Him that is from the beginning,” recognizing the Lord Jesus Christ as the Creator who “was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him” (John 1:2,3). To them the apostle had then shown “that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us” (I John 1:2), and they had entered into eternal “fellowship with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ” (I John 1:3).

Then their own sons-soon to become fathers also-proceeded to follow their fathers’ lead. As they also received that “word of Life” (v.1), so that the “word of God” began to “abide in” them, they were enabled to triumph over youthful lusts, becoming “strong” and able to “overcome the wicked one” (v.13).

What a testimony, even today, for Christian fathers and Christian sons! The key to having such a testimony, by implication at least, is that if the fathers truly honor the Heavenly Father as their Creator and Savior, living in the light of that fellowship, then the sons also will come to know His Son, Jesus Christ. They will be able to overcome the wicked one, manifesting in their strong young lives the abiding word of God. May the fathers and sons in our own fellowship today have the same testimony! HMM