Bible Strands
1 John 2:12
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven through His name.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The author writes to a group labeled "little children," placing this message between a warning about spiritual blindness and parallel addresses to fathers and young men. The words — The text employs ἀφέωνται (apheōntai), meaning "have been forgiven," to declare a completed divine action, and τεκνία (teknia), meaning "little children," to identify the recipients. The thread — The same forgiveness through Christ's name appears in Acts 10:43, Acts 13:38, and Ephesians 1:7, where pardon is consistently tied to his blood, grace, and proclaimed message. Why it lands — The verse states that forgiveness is already secured for the recipients, so a reader must acknowledge that assurance as a settled fact rather than a future hope or earned reward.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
Cross-references
- Acts 10:43 All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
- Acts 13:38 Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
- Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
- Psalms 106:8 Yet He saved them for the sake of His name, to make His power known.
- Acts 4:12 Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
- Psalms 25:11 For the sake of Your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, for it is great.
- Luke 7:47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
- Luke 24:47 and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
- Colossians 1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
- Luke 5:20 When Jesus saw their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”