Forgiveness (Greek - Aphiemi)

1 John 2:12 - I write unto you, my little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (ASV) 

Forgiveness (Greek), Original Word,, transliterated word - aphiēmi, Phonetic spelling - af-ee'-ay-mee.


It comes from two Greek words, they are “apo” which means “from” and the other word is “hiemi” which means, “to send”. And the word “Aphiemi” means “to send away” or “to dismiss” or “to emit”. It means to remit, forgive debts, sins or offences (Matt 6:12; 14, 15). The expression “to forgive sin” means to remove the sins from oneself. Only God is said to be able to do this work (Mk 2:10).

John addresses his readers as children’s, just as he does else where in the epistle, to express their need of instruction and their state of dependence upon God and upon teachers such as himself. The reason for the apostle’s writing to all Christians in general, and for writing to children, 1Jo 2:12 “Because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake”.


They are people whose sins have been forgiven, they have fulfilled the condition laid down in 1:9, and as a result of their confession of their sin, they know the joy of forgiveness. Forgiveness, however, does not depend on human confession in the sense that this secures favor and pardon from God; it is granted “on account of his name (Jesus' Name)”.

Dr. John Gill writes in John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, “…these little children had been sinners by nature and practice, and were not now without sin, but they shared in the blessing of the forgiveness of it; which arises from the abundant mercy and rich grace of God, and proceeds on the blood and sacrifice of Christ; and therefore is said to be "for his name's sake"; not for the sake of any merits in men, any services or works of theirs, but for the sake of Christ, his blood, sacrifice and satisfaction; and it reaches to all sins, original and actual, secret and open, past, present, and to come; and here intends the application of it by the Spirit of God, and the reception of it by faith: and which, as it is a reason and argument encouraging love to God, who freely and fully forgives, and to Christ, whose blood was shed for the remission of sin, so to their brethren and fellow Christians; who are equally sharers in the same blessing, and when they should love, because they are loved of God and Christ; and whom they should forgive, because God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven them…”

All those who experience the forgiveness of God are reminded by John that our sins have been forgive not because of our confession but by the merit of the power of his name. John is reminds us about the blood of Jesus and his role as advocate and offering for sin.