OET interlinear 1YHN (1JHN) 2:14

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

ἔγραψα ὑμῖν, παιδία, ὅτι ἐγνώκατε τὸν Πατέρα

˱I˲_wrote ˱to˲_you_all little_children because ˱you_all˲_/have/_known the Father

This sentence is similar to the sentence in 2:12. The next two sentences in this verse mean basically the same thing as the two sentences in 2:13. John is using these repetitions for emphasis and for poetic effect. For those reasons, it would be appropriate to translate all of these sentences separately and not combine them with the ones in the previous two verses, even if you combine parallel statements with similar meanings elsewhere in the book.

Note 2 topic: translate-textvariants

ἔγραψα ὑμῖν, παιδία, ὅτι ἐγνώκατε τὸν Πατέρα

˱I˲_wrote ˱to˲_you_all little_children because ˱you_all˲_/have/_known the Father

In some Bibles, this sentence comes at the end of 2:13 instead of at the beginning of this verse. The verse divisions were introduced to the Bible many centuries after its books were written, and their purpose is only to help readers find things easily. So the placement of this sentence, either at the start of this verse or at the end of the previous one, does not create any significant difference in meaning. If a translation of the Bible already exists in your region, consider using the placement in that version. If not, we recommend that you follow the placement in the ULT text.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / verbs

ἔγραψα ὑμῖν

˱I˲_wrote ˱to˲_you_all

By saying I have written, John is expressing himself slightly differently than in 2:12–13, where he says, “I am writing.” The difference is likely only for emphasis, as John looks back at what he has just said and indicates that he is saying it again. However, if your language distinguishes between the present and present perfect tenses, it would be appropriate to show the difference in your translation.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

παιδία

little_children

While young children is a different term from “little children” in 2:12, it means the same thing. See how you translated the similar term there. Alternate translation: [who are like my own children] or [new believers]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐγνώκατε

˱you_all˲_/have/_known

As in 2:4, John is using the word know in a specific sense. See how you translated it there and in 2:13. Alternate translation: [you are very close with]

Note 6 topic: guidelines-sonofgodprinciples

τὸν Πατέρα

the Father

Father is an important title for God. Alternate translation: [God the Father]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

πατέρες

fathers

The term fathers likely has the same figurative meaning as in 2:13. See how you translated it there. Alternate translation: (1) “mature believers” or (2) “church leaders”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

(Occurrence 2) ἐγνώκατε

˱you_all˲_/have/_known

As in 2:4, 2:13, and earlier in this verse, John is using the word know in a specific sense. See how you translated it there. Alternate translation: [you are very close with]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

τὸν ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς

the the_‹one› from /the/_beginning

John uses the phrase from the beginning in various ways in this letter. Here it describes Jesus or possibly God the Father. John refers to Jesus with these same words at the beginning of this letter, in 2:13, and in a similar way in John 1:1–2. Alternate translation: [him who has always existed] or [Jesus, who has always existed]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

νεανίσκοι

young_men

The term young men likely has the same figurative meaning here as in 2:13. Alternate translation: [strong believers]

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

νεανίσκοι

young_men

Although the term men is masculine, John is likely using the word in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: [strong believers]

Note 12 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἰσχυροί ἐστε

strong_‹ones› ˱you_all˲_are

John is using the word strong not literally to describe believers’ physical strength, but to describe their faithfulness to Jesus. Alternate translation: [you are faithful to Jesus]

Note 13 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν ὑμῖν μένει

the word ¬the ˱of˲_God in you_all /is/_remaining

See the discussion of the term “remain” in Part 3 of the Introduction to 1 John. Here the word seems to describe behavior that is recognized to be genuine because it is consistent. Alternate translation: [you genuinely obey what God has commanded]

Note 14 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ

the word ¬the ˱of˲_God

John is using the term word to refer to what God has commanded using words. Alternate translation: [what God has commanded]

Note 15 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

νενικήκατε τὸν πονηρόν

˱you_all˲_/have/_overcome the evil_‹one›

John speaks of these strong believers refusing to do what the devil wants them to do as if they had defeated him in a struggle. Alternate translation: [you have refused to do what the devil wants you to do]

Note 16 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

τὸν πονηρόν

the the_‹one› the evil_‹one›

John is using the adjective evil as a noun in order to indicate a specific being. ULT adds one to show this. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this with an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: [the one who is evil]

Note 17 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τὸν πονηρόν

the the_‹one› the evil_‹one›

John is speaking of the devil by association with his characteristic of being evil. Alternate translation: [the devil] or [Satan]