Don't Love the World
Notes
Transcript
The Command
The Command
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.
There are two words that we need to understand in order to understand the command John gave:
love
world
What is love?
What is love?
What is love? That is tough to answer, we all know what it is until we try to define it. But without defining it, can we really understand it? No.
The ancient Greeks had three words for love
The ancient Greeks had three words for love
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Love in Intertestamental Writings
ἐράω (eraō)
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Love in Intertestamental Writings
φιλέω (phileō)
This word represents a tender affection and was generally used to refer to relationships. It was frequently combined with other words to show that relationship.
philadelphia - the love of brothers
philanthropia - the love of mankind
philarguria - the love of money
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Love in Intertestamental Writings
ἀγαπάω (agapaō)
Though existing in ancient Greece, this word was seldom used and only vaguely defined. Lacking meaning, it was appropriated by those translating the Hebrew Bible into Greek to describe the covenantal love that God has for His people.
Two kinds of love
Two kinds of love
Phileo represents conditional love, we love as long as it works for us, but not forever.
Agapao represents unconditional love, we love not matter what
One love is meant here
One love is meant here
When John gave this command, he used the word agapao. We are not to have an enduring, unconditional love for the world.
Which brings us to the world, what is it?
What is the World?
What is the World?
The word translated here is:
kosmos (κόσμος
This particular word had three distinct uses, distinguished by context.
The physical universe
The world of human people
The earthly system that exists in rebellion to God under the influence of the Devil
The context of John’s command makes it clear that he is referring to the last of these three uses.
The “things in the world” are those things that make up this kingdom of rebellion: attitudes, actions, physical elements, etc...
Having Defined these two words, we are in a much better position to understand what John commanded: We are not to unconditionally love this rebellious world system and the elements upon which it is built.
Why Does it Matter?
Why Does it Matter?
This may seem like an unnecessary exercise, but it is important for at least three reasons:
It facilitates a fuller understanding of the command, enabling us to live accordingly
It prevents abuse of the command. The first many times I heard this verse quoted were, in my opinion, abusive. When we twist what God said, we end up with a distorted version of the truth that will do more harm than good.
It allows us to understand other verses. Like what?
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
This verse sounds like it stands in contrast to John’s command…at least it could sound that way. But understanding what the world is, we understand that God’s agape love is directed to the world of human people, not the Devil’s kingdom that is in open rebellion.
A little understanding goes a long way.