14 [a]I have written unto you fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome that wicked one.

15 [b]Love not this [c]world, neither the things that are in this world. If any man love this world, the [d]love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in this world, (as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life) is not of the Father, but is of this world.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 2:14 He addeth afterward in like order, as many exhortations, as if he should say, Remember your fathers: as I wrote even now, that the everlasting Son of God is revealed to us. Remember ye young men, that that strength whereby I said that you put Satan to flight, is given you by the word of God, which dwelleth in you.
  2. 1 John 2:15 The world which is full of wicked desires, lusts or pleasures, and pride, is utterly hated of our heavenly Father. Therefore the Father and the world cannot be loved together: and this admonition is very necessary for green and flourishing youth.
  3. 1 John 2:15 He speaketh of the world, as it agreeth not with the will of God, for otherwise God is said to love the world with an infinite love, John 3:16, that is to say, those whom he chose out of the world.
  4. 1 John 2:15 Wherewith the Father is loved.

14 I write to you, dear children,(A)
    because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.(B)
I write to you, young men,
    because you are strong,(C)
    and the word of God(D) lives in you,(E)
    and you have overcome the evil one.(F)

On Not Loving the World

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world.(G) If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[a] is not in them.(H) 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh,(I) the lust of the eyes,(J) and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 2:15 Or world, the Father’s love