2:12–14 The three groups addressed in these verses are actually one group, the recipients of the letter, characterized in different ways. They are “children” because with the forgiveness of sins they have been welcomed into the family of God their Father. They are “fathers” because their knowledge of God in Jesus Christ qualifies them to hand this knowledge down to future generations. They are called “young men” because their decisive rejection of the evil one is a victory like that of Jesus, who fought with Satan in the wilderness and won (Matt. 4:1–11).