Who did John have in mind when he addressed his readers as little children, fathers, and young men? Perhaps he meant those who physically fell into these categories. If he did, what about his female readers and others who were not in these categories? Perhaps he was thinking of those in his audience who were in their spiritual development children, men, and youths. [1] If this is what he meant, why did he address them in this unnatural order? We could ask the same question about the first possibility also. Perhaps John addressed all his readers as little children (cf. John 21:5) and then spoke more specifically to the more mature or older (fathers) and then to the less mature or younger (young men). [2] Yet what he said to the three groups is so parallel that it seems more likely that he was addressing three distinct groups. It seems best to conclude that John used these three stages of life to describe qualities typical of each age group that ought to characterize all believers. [3] In other words, all the titles refer to the entire readership from three points of view. [source][source][source]
Another problem is whether John meant that he was writing because the stated condition was true of each group or so that the condition might become true of them. The Greek particle hoti can have either sense: causal or declarative, and John could have intended both meanings. However the causal meaning seems a bit stronger. [4][source]
As children, John"s readers had known forgiveness by their heavenly Father (cf. 1 John 1:5 to 1 John 2:2). As fathers, they had experienced fellowship with God through Jesus Christ (cf. 1 John 2:3-11). "Fathers" connotes seasoned experience with God. As young men, they had known some victory over their spiritual adversary, Satan (cf. 1 John 2:15-23). John mentioned these three experiences in their proper experiential sequence in the Christian life. "Him who has been from the beginning" ( 1 John 2:13 a) is Jesus Christ ( John 1:1). [source][source][source]