I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, little children, because you know the Father.
"Because his readers are Christians and have in part experienced the power of their faith he moves them to nobler efforts; his object is that their ’joy may be fulfilled’ (cf. 1. 4)." [Note: Westcott, p. 57.] 