1 John 2:15

Love not. Having given his reason for writing to them and for expecting them to heed his counsel, John proceeds to warn the younger men of the things they must avoid. He does so in a direct, unequivocal manner, using the present imperative of the verb “to love” (agapao; see on Matt. 5:43; John 21:15). His word of warning may be rendered “stop loving,” or “do not continue to love.”

World. Gr. kosmos, the “world,” considered as an orderly arrangement of things or people (see on Matt. 4:8; John 1:9). In the NT kosmos often represents the ungodly multitude, alien and hostile to God, or worldly affairs that lead away from God. John uses kosmos more than 100 times in his writings, and more than any other NT author. In most instances he conveys a picture of the world as being alien and hostile to God and in opposition to His kingdom. This usage may reflect concern for false teachings that later developed into Gnosticism, with its dualism, its belief in the struggle between darkness and light, between matter and spirit, between the Demiurge and the true God (see Vol. VI, pp. 54-57).

Accordingly, when John bids his readers, “Love not the world,” he is not thinking of the earth as it came from the hand of the Creator, but of earthly elements, animate and inanimate, that Satan has marshaled in rebellion against God. John knows how attractive these can appear, and bids Christians to beware of them and to resist their seductive power. Hatred for the world of sin will not prevent the Christian from trying to help the sinner; rather it will enable him the more effectively to love the victim of sin. God Himself is our example in this respect (John 3:16).

The things. That is, the separate parts that together compose the kosmos. Things that have no good use must be avoided entirely, and many things good in themselves may come between man and God. Houses and lands, clothing and furniture, relatives and friends, are worthwhile possessions. But when any of these is made a center of attention, to the detriment of spiritual life, it takes the place of God and becomes an idol (see on Matt. 10:37; Luke 14:26). To be sure, self is always what actually comes between a man and his God.

If any man. Again the apostle makes a conditional statement when he must have known many who had given the love of the world a place in their hearts (cf. on ch. 1:6). Those who allow their affections to dwell on interests that are opposed to God do not truly love Him. The Christian cannot serve, or love, both God and mammon (see on Matt. 6:24).

Love of the Father. Textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 10) for the reading “love of God.” If the better-attested KJV reading be retained, this is the only instance where the words “love of the Father” occur in the Bible. The phrase refers to the believer’s affection for his heavenly Father, not to the Father’s love for His earthly children (see on v. 5; cf. on Rom. 5:5; 2 Thess. 3:5). Even when we permit the love of the world to enter our hearts God still loves us, for He loved us before we ever thought of repenting and serving Him at all (Rom. 5:8).