I think Jim West's position is in the majority, but I believe the best explanation is that the designations represent the same readers seen from different points of view. They are little children with respect to their heavely Father hOTI AFEWNTAI hUMIN hAI hAMARTIAI and hOTI EGNWKATE TON PATERA. They are fathers in the sense that have had a mature experience with God, hOTI EGNWKATE TON AP ARCHS (Dr. Conrad's idea of the perfect "I've gotten to know him"). They are young men as warriors against the Enemy hOTI NENIKHKATE TON PONHRON and hOTI ISCUROI ESTE As to the question of the ommission of women one must be careful ;-) Seriously, it seems to me to reflect the same thing we see with the address of "brethern". Everybody understood that it included the women. In the sense described above women were children and fathers and young men. The same could be said for Jim West's position. Rob Matlack 620 E. 5th St., Minneapolis, KS 67467 RMatlack@juno.com Hm: 785-392-2865 Church: 785-392-2089 "...that we may present every man mature in Christ Jesus." On Thu, 12 Oct 2000 15:01:51 GMT "Mark Wilson" writes: > > >I have been looking at each group with their corresponding > >characteristic(s). Any suggestions as to why John uses these > various > >groups? > > > To which Jim West wrote: > ----- > because John wishes to address each member of the congregation. the > > youngest (spiritually speaking); those with some skills, those who > are > adults (again, spiritually speaking). In short, from the youngest > to the > oldest believers, all are included.... > > again, because John wishes to inform all, leave none out, and give > none any > reason for saying, "but he didnt say that I should...." Its a very > pastoral > and practical approach. > ----- > > Based on my research, this is the most held position to my question. > And it > very well may be the best explanation. But let me follow-up. > > Not only does John not follow any logical sequence, (he does not go: > > children -> young men -> fathers), he leaves out women, except > possibly > within the "immature" group. Surely this would have been most > offensive "if" > John were trying to "include everyone." > > This is what prompted my question to begin with. Also, very little > is > addressed to the "young men" and "fathers." Why the disproportionate > > allotment? > > What does lend some support to this view, however, is that fact that > John > writes this epistle to: hUMIN hINA EIDHTE hOTI ZWHN ECETE AIWNION. > The > fathers and young men would have settled this issue long ago, and > perhaps > that is why there appears to be a disproportionate amount of the > letter > addressed to the children. > > Does anyone see any other possible explanation for the various > groups, and > the omission of women? > > Regards, > > Mark Wilson > > _________________________________________________________________________ > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at > http://www.hotmail.com. > > Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at > http://profiles.msn.com. > > > --- > B-Greek home page: http://metalab.unc.edu/bgreek > You are currently subscribed to b-greek as: [rmatlack@juno.com] > To unsubscribe, forward this message to > leave-b-greek-327Q@franklin.oit.unc.edu > To subscribe, send a message to > subscribe-b-greek@franklin.oit.unc.edu > > ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagh. --- B-Greek home page: http://metalab.unc.edu/bgreek You are currently subscribed to b-greek as: [jwrobie@mindspring.com] To unsubscribe, forward this message to leave-b-greek-327Q@franklin.oit.unc.edu To subscribe, send a message to subscribe-b-greek@franklin.oit.unc.edu