If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Parallel translations
- WEB If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
- BSB If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
- NKJV If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
- NASB If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
- NLT The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The world loves its own, but it hates the disciples because Jesus chose them out of the world. Belonging to Christ sets believers apart from the world's affections.
Overview
Jesus explains the root of the world's hostility: the disciples no longer belong to it, for He has chosen them out of it. This separation, the result of divine election, provokes the world's hatred. Believers should therefore expect estrangement from a world system opposed to God, finding their identity and security in being chosen by Christ rather than in the world's approval.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- 1 Jn 4:4–5Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
- John 17:14–16I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
- Eph 1:4–11According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
- Titus 3:3–7For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
- Eph 2:2–5Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
- 1 Jn 5:19–20And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
- John 15:16Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
- 1 Pet 2:9–12But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
- Luke 6:32For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
- 1 Jn 3:12Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
- 1 Pet 4:3For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
- Rev 20:7–9And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
- Rev 12:17And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
- Rev 12:9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 15:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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