How Are We To "Love Not The World?" And How Are We To "Love The World?"

Love not the world, neither the things 

that are in the world. If any man love the world, 

the love of the Father is not in him. For all that

 is in the world,  the lust of the flesh, and the lust 

of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of 

the Father, but is of the world. And the world 

passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he 

that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

1John 2:15-17 

     The Greek word for love is: "άγαπα̃τε" and as I have pointed out before it is always: context, context, context, that leads us to the correct interpretation and translation. This Greek word used here by John as three possibilities: 1. 2person plural, present, indicative. 2. 2person plural, present imperative. 3. 2person plural present subjective. 1. The present tense in the indicative refers to present time and the active voice represnts the subject as acting instead of being acted upon; the indicative mood makes an assertion, in distinction, for example, for a command or a wish. 2. The subjunctive is the mood of dubious assertion, expressing probability, and therefore refers, commonly, to the future, i.e. to what may be or what may have been (the future from the standpoint of the past). 3. The imperative is the mood in which commands and requests are normally expresse. the context here does not allow for the future as John is presntly speaking to fathers, and young men. In the present tense indicative could be used here, that is, to be presently not loving the world, so it has the force of a command, or wish, and in the imperative it is a command or a request: start doing, start not loving the world. What is meant by "the world?" The Greek word: "κόσμον" means an orderly arrangement, a decoration and by implication, the world including its inhabitants. In Hebrews 4:3 it is translated "earth" and in contrast to "heaven." In Romans 4:13 by metonymy (that it to use the name of one object for another to which it is related or which it is a part). The Greek word for "love" "άγαπα̃τε" is from: "άγαπαάω” that means to love, to value, to esteem, or feel or manikfest generous concern for, to delight in, to be devoted.

     It is not wrong to be philanthranpic and done for the right reason, to have principled God love but we are to be separate from the world, not people, that cannot happen unless you become a hermit hidden away somewhere from the world. We are to not love the things of the world that make up what the world is in relationship to God and His commands. If the love of the world is leading a person in how they live their life and exercise life the Father is not in him. Oil and water do not mix and God is not a surfactant that is that He holds as one both good and bad, or as in life to hold oil and water on one molecule. What is wrong it to "love this world and the lust of this world, to have, more and and more, to be autonomous, and be in antinomy, do not tell me what to do...etc.... for this is of the world and not of the Father. We have a choice: live for and with God, or live for and with this world. This world with all its trappings is going to pass away and whoever is not found to be of God, to be an Authentic Christian, a child of God, adopted by Him will be destroyed along with this world.  

     God so love you that He came to you by sending His Wisdom to this world, Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah. If God so loved you as to die for you then will you do the same for Him?  

Though the LORD be high, 

    yet He respect unto the

lowly; but the proud He

    knoweth afar off.

                Psalm 138: 6

Love the world from afar off

Richard L. Crumb