{Fathers} (pateres). Those mature believers with long and
rich experience (egn(936b)ate, ye have come to know and still
know). {Him which is from the beginning} (	on ap' arch(8873)). See
 1:1  as explaining this crisp description of the Word of life
(cf.  Joh 1:1-18 ). {Young men} (
eaniskoi). The younger
element in contrast to the fathers, full of vigor and conflict
and victory. {Ye have overcome the evil one} (
enik(886b)ate ton
pon(8872)on). Perfect active indicative of 
ika(935c), a permanent
victory after conflict. The masculine article 	on shows that
the prince of darkness is the one defeated in this struggle, the
devil plain in  3:8,10  ( Joh 8:44  13:2 ).