A Question About "Love Not The World"
 

1Jo 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jo 2:16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jo 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.


I have been meditating on this text the last few days, and thought it might be a good discussion topic.

What in your view is the "world" that we are not supposed to love? Can you give some examples of what you feel this text is speaking about concerning the "world"?

I think it's anything that's opposed to God's kingdom. If we are really seeking His kingdom and its righteousness, we won't have to worry about loving th world.

The key seems to be found in verse 16 when it speaks of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. These are referring to inordintate desires which are not compatibale to one who would "Seek firts the kingdom fo God and His righteousness."

It speaks to the process of "bringing every thought into captivity unto the knowledge of Christ." When one has adequately done that then they "are in the world, but not of the world."

Also, the word love is of significance. Perhaps to better understand what the writer is saying we would remember that Jesus said "He that hateth nor mother, father, sister, etc..." We know He was not speaking of detesting or disliking, but rather "to love less." It would seem reasonable here that the writer is saying that one cannot love these things more than God.

For the cause of love and hate both folks have been drawn away form a roght relationship with God.

Bro. Matthew

You probably already know this but there are at THREE Greek words that translates WORLD

Just something to consider.

1 John 2:15

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him
KJV



NT:2889

kosmos (kos'-mos); probably from the base of NT:2865; orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration; by implication, the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively [morally]):


KJV - adorning, world.
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)


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Matt 24:14

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
KJV


NT:3625

oikoumene (oy-kou-men'-ay); feminine participle present passive of NT:3611 (as noun, by implication of NT:1093); land, i.e. the (terrene part of the) globe; specifically, the Roman empire:


KJV - earth, world.
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)


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2 Tim 4:10

10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
KJV



NT:165

aion (ahee-ohn'); from the same as NT:104; properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity (also past); by implication, the world; specially (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future):


KJV - age, course, eternal, (for) ever (-more), [n-] ever, (beginning of the while the) world (began, without end). Compare NT:5550.
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

rrford,
I'm not sure it means to love less. I think when you really love your own flesh and blood you can't fathom that. I think He is just saying that whatever your interaction and relationship is with them, don't put their motivation in your life as more important than the will of God.

Every NT reference, including the one I was using, defines the word this way:

miseo

NT:3404 miseo (mis-eh'-o); from a primary misos (hatred); to detest (especially to persecute); by extension, to love less:

You are right. I just can't reconcile that in my mind when you are looking at flesh and blood. I guess I can when I'm in His presence.

As I have been pondering this text, I believe it to tie in nicely with the verses...


Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

and

Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Excellent! How can we truly love someone if love for another is still in our hearts? "No man can serve two masters; Either he will love the one and hate the other, or he will hate the one and love the other." At some point true love demands a dying out to other affections of the heart. Then, and only then, can we experience an in depth love relationship with Jesus Christ.

It really should not be too hard. I have told my wife and daughter both that I truly love them with all love that is humanly possible. But I do not love them in the same way, or as much, as I do the Lord.