UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: my child, my dear friend, my dear man, my dear one, my dear lad

Semantic entry: 9.46

Semantic domains: People

Subdomains: Persons For Whom There Is Affectionate Concern

Definition: (extension of meaning of τέκνον[a] ‘child, offspring,’ 10.36: παῖς / 10.36: τέκνον) a person of any age for whom there is a special relationship of endearment and association

Notes: It may be impossible to translate τεκνία literally as ‘my children’ in RV JN1 3:7 · LV JN1 3:7 · Read together JN1 3:7 since this might suggest a kinship relationship between the author of 1 John and the people to whom he is addressing his letter. A more satisfactory equivalent in some languages is often ‘my dear friends’ or ‘my dear ones.’