{My little children} (	eknia mou). Tender tone with this
diminutive of 	eknon (child), again in  2:12  3:18 , but
paidia in  2:14 . John is now an old man and regards his
readers as his little children. That attitude is illustrated in
the story of his visit to the robber to win him to Christ. {That
ye may not sin} (hina m(8820)hamart(8874)e). Purpose (negative) clause
with hina m(885c) and the second aorist (ingressive, commit sin)
active subjunctive of hamartan(935c), to sin. John has no patience
with professional perfectionists ( 1:8-10 ), but he has still
less with loose-livers like some of the Gnostics who went to all
sorts of excesses without shame. {If any man sin} (ean tis
hamart(8869)). Third-class condition with ean and second aorist
(ingressive) active subjunctive again, "if one commit sin." {We
have} (echomen). Present active indicative of ech(935c) in the
apodosis, a present reality like echomen in  2Co 5:1 . {An
advocate} (parakl(8874)on). See on 浥oh 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7| for
this word, nowhere else in the N.T. The Holy Spirit is God's
Advocate on earth with men, while Christ is man's Advocate with
the Father (the idea, but not the word, in  Ro 8:31-39  Heb
7:25 ). As dikaios (righteous) Jesus is qualified to plead our
case and to enter the Father's presence ( Heb 2:18 ).