2:13 you have overcome the evil one. The theme of overcoming is picked up again in 5:4, 5; there the victory is over “the world” that opposes God. The victory John describes is resisting temptation and keeping faithful to God’s word. It contrasts with the defeat of the human race at the Fall (Gen. 3). For John, victory in the battle against temptation has in effect already been won, since our union with God cannot be broken (John 10:27–30).