The World Hates the Disciples

¹⁸ “If the world hates you,^(A) keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you^(B) out of the world. That is why the world hates you.^{(C) 20} Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’^[a](D) If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.^(E) If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of my name,^(F) for they do not know the one who sent me.^(G)

²³ But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.^(A)

¹⁹ We know that we are children of God,^(A) and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.^{(B) 20} We know also that the Son of God has come^(C) and has given us understanding,^(D) so that we may know him who is true.^(E) And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.^(F)

⁵ They are from the world^(A) and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.^(B) This is how we recognize the Spirit^[a] of truth^(C) and the spirit of falsehood.^(D)

⁷ The world cannot hate you, but it hates me^(A) because I testify that its works are evil.^(B)

⁸ In one month I got rid of the three shepherds.

The flock detested^(A) me, and I grew weary of them