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.
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.
- KJV 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.
- 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.
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 4:4–5You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.
- John 17:14–16I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
- Eph 1:4–11even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love;
- Titus 3:3–7For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
- Eph 2:2–5in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience;
- 1 Jn 5:19–20We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
- John 15:16You didn’t choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
- 1 Pet 2:9–12But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
- Luke 6:32If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
- 1 Jn 3:12unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
- 1 Pet 4:3For we have spent enough of our past time doing the desire of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries.
- Rev 20:7–9And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison,
- Rev 12:17The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep God’s commandments and hold Jesus’ testimony.
- Rev 12:9The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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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