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1 John 2 · a question people ask

"Don’t love the world or the things that are in the world" (2:15). Why not?

In the text

The next verse gives a reason, beginning with For: "For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s." (2:16) (tap lust). These notes say no more of it than the verse's words.

The verses

“Don’t love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him.”
1 John 2:15 · World English Bible
“For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s.”
1 John 2:16 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 John 2

1 John 2: The world is passing away

1 John 2 says twice that something is passing away: "the darkness is passing away" (2:8), and "The world is passing away with its lusts" (2:17). In the same verse, beside the world passing away, it says, "he who does God’s will remains forever" (2:17).

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Last reviewed October 12, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions