world
kosmos = world-system. 1 John 4:3-5 ; John 7:7 .
Kosmos, Summary: In the sense of the present world-system, the ethically bad sense of the word, refers to the "order," "arrangement," under which Satan has organized the world of unbelieving mankind upon his cosmic principle of force, greed, selfishness, ambition, and pleasure. Matthew 4:8 ; Matthew 4:9 ; John 12:31 ; John 14:30 ; John 18:36 ; Ephesians 2:2 ; Ephesians 6:12 ; 1 John 2:15-17 . This world- system is imposing and powerful with armies and fleets; is often outwardly religious, scientific, cultured, and elegant; but, seething with national and commercial rivalries and ambitions, is upheld in any real crisis only by armed force, and is dominated by Satanic principles.
Verse Meaning
If we feel loving concern for one another, it should not surprise us if unrighteous people hate us for being more righteous than they are. Apparently John"s first readers could not understand why the world hated them, because he wrote, "Stop marveling." Christians are to the world what Abel was to Cain, so we should not be surprised if the world hates us. Sometimes unbelievers who become angry with us, for example, are reacting more against God in us than they are reacting against us personally. [source][source][source]
"Of central importance for victory when a Christian is subjected to the world"s hatred is the recognition that hatred is the natural response of the sinful world toward righteousness." [1][source]
"The author does not say that the world always hates believers. It did not always hate Jesus. But whenever the community of faith acts so as to expose the greed, the avarice, the hatred, and the wickedness of the world, it must expect rejection; and if it should go so far as to interfere with its evil practices, as Jesus did in the temple, it may expect suffering and brutal death (cf. John 15:18-19; John 15:25; John 17:14)." [2][source]
Context Summary
1 John 3:13-24 - Loving In Deed And In Truth
Love to the brethren is a sign that we have been born into the family. We may not like them all, yet we can love them. If we love, we live; and if we live in the deepest sense, we shall love; that is, we shall put others first, and our care for them will be tinged with the crimson of sacrifice. Love is not measured by the expressions of the lip or the emotion of the heart, but by the extent to which we will do or suffer.
The believer dares not affirm too much about himself, he is so unworthy and fickle; but God understands us and imputes to us what we would be. Mark in 1 John 3:22 the double condition of prevailing prayer. It is also clear from 1 John 3:23 that men can believe, if they will. God is prepared to impart to those who are wishful all that He commands. Augustine prayed thus: "Give what thou commandest, and command what thou wilt." [source]
Chapter Summary: 1 John 3
1He declares the singular love of God toward us, in making us his sons; 3who therefore ought obediently to keep his commandments; 11as also to love one another as brothers
Greek Commentary for 1 John 3:13
If [ει] Common construction after ταυμαζω thaumazō (wonder) rather than οτι hoti (that, because). Present imperative here with μη mē means “cease wondering.” Note μη ταυμασηις mē thaumasēis (do not begin to wonder) in John 3:6 (an individual case). See this same condition and language in John 15:18. [source]
Brethren [ἀδελφοί] The only occurrence of this mode of address in the Epistle. [source]
Hate [μισεῖ] Indicative mood, pointing to the fact as existing: if the world hate you, as it does. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 John 3:13
John 15:19The world would love its own [ο κοσμος αν το ιδιον επιλει] Conclusion of second-class condition (determined as unfulfilled), regular idiom with αν an and imperfect indicative in present time. But because ye are not of the world Definite and specific reason for the world‘s hatred of real Christians whose very existence is a reproach to the sinful world. Cf. John 7:7; John 17:14; 1 John 3:13. Does the world hate us? If not, why not? Has the world become more Christian or Christians more worldly? [source]
Revelation 2:4Thy first love [την αγαπην σου την πρωτην] “Thy love the first.” This early love, proof of the new life in Christ (1 John 3:13.), had cooled off in spite of their doctrinal purity. They had remained orthodox, but had become unloving partly because of the controversies with the Nicolaitans. [source]
Greek Commentary for 1 John 3:13
Common construction after ταυμαζω thaumazō (wonder) rather than οτι hoti (that, because). Present imperative here with μη mē means “cease wondering.” Note μη ταυμασηις mē thaumasēis (do not begin to wonder) in John 3:6 (an individual case). See this same condition and language in John 15:18. [source]
The only occurrence of this mode of address in the Epistle. [source]
Indicative mood, pointing to the fact as existing: if the world hate you, as it does. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 John 3:13
Conclusion of second-class condition (determined as unfulfilled), regular idiom with αν an and imperfect indicative in present time. But because ye are not of the world Definite and specific reason for the world‘s hatred of real Christians whose very existence is a reproach to the sinful world. Cf. John 7:7; John 17:14; 1 John 3:13. Does the world hate us? If not, why not? Has the world become more Christian or Christians more worldly? [source]
“Thy love the first.” This early love, proof of the new life in Christ (1 John 3:13.), had cooled off in spite of their doctrinal purity. They had remained orthodox, but had become unloving partly because of the controversies with the Nicolaitans. [source]