John explains why he is writing his letter either to different age groups or to believers with differences in maturity. Try to use similar wording for these sentences, as they are written poetically.
John was an elderly man and their leader. He used this expression to show his love for them. See how you translated this in [1 John 2:1](./01.md). AT: "you, my dear children in Christ" or "you who are as dear to me as my own children" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
The word "fathers" here is possibly a metaphor referring to mature believers. AT: "I am writing to you, mature believers" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
This possibly refers to those who are no longer new believers but are growing in spiritual maturity. AT: "young believers" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
The writer refers to the believers' increased faithfulness to Christ and knowledge of him as if he were speaking of God's word existing in them. AT: "you know the word of God" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
The writer is speaking of the believers' refusal to follow Satan and of their frustrating his plans as if it were a matter of conquering him. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
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