1 John 2:14

I have written unto you, fathers,— It is said, Job 12:12. That with the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days understanding. The propriety of St. John's address to the Christians aged in experience consists in this, that age brings both experience and wisdom; and as no knowledge or remembrance of former things could equal their knowledge of Christ, therefore St. John points at this, as hoping their wisdom and long experience had so established them, that the false teachers could make no impression upon them. The most celebrated of the Greek and Latin poets have very frequently taken notice of the strength and valour of young men; and what was a propriety in them, cannot be less so in an inspired apostle. There is therefore this poetical beauty in his sayingto the young men, "Ye are strong, and have got the victory:" the Christian life is in many passages compared to a warfare. These young men were therefore considered as warriors under Christ, the great Captain of their salvation; and as young soldiers count it their highest ambition to distinguish themselves in the field of battle, and obtain the victory over the enemies of their country; St. John alludes thereto, and applauds these young Christians, as in the strength of grace signalizing themselves, in fighting the spiritual warfare, and gaining the victory over the grand enemy. He adds, The word of God abideth in you. The false teachers endeavoured to take the pure word of God from them, and to impose their corrupt and immoral doctrine instead of it; but the apostle intimates the vast advantage of the true Christian principles: thereby through grace they had obtained the victory; and if they would go on conquering and to conquer, they must not hearken to the seducers, who would have taken from them the pure word of God. How much are they to be blamed, who wouldhinder the people from reading the Scriptures; who would take that spiritual weapon out of their hands, and leave them naked and defenceless, to be conquered in this important warfare. And how greatly was it to the glory of these young men, that when their passions and appetites were in their full strength and vigour, yet in the power of the Spirit of God they conquered the temptations arising from sensible objects, and were not discouraged by the contempt and opposition which the gospel met with! Such was the applause bestowed upon them by the apostle, that he might animate and encourage them to persevere to the end. St. John goes over his address to these three sorts of persons a second time, to make the deeper and more lasting impression upon their minds; and if we consider the unwearied zeal and industry of the false teachers, we shall easily perceive that there was occasion for so doing.