John 17:14
I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights a subtle but powerful connection: the disciples' hatred from the world isn't a random misfortune, but a direct consequence of receiving God's word. This means their very reception and embodiment of God's truth is what sets them apart and makes them targets, mirroring Jesus' own experience.
Jesus is praying for His disciples in the hours before His crucifixion, entrusting them to the Father's care. He explains that He has given them God's word, which sets them apart from the world and makes them targets of its hatred, just as Jesus Himself is. Though they are hated and remain in the world, Jesus prays not for their removal, but for their protection from evil and their sanctification through God's truth.
Jesus shares a profound truth: receiving God's word comes with a price. Discover why this divine gift inevitably leads to conflict with the world.
In John 17:14, Jesus states, 'I have given them your word.' This isn't just handing over information; it's imparting the very revelation of God, the truth that sets people apart. But this isn't a comfortable exchange.
The World's Reaction
Jesus immediately contrasts this gift with the world's response: 'and the world has hated them.' Why such animosity? Because, as He explains, 'they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.'
This 'world' refers to the system of values, beliefs, and practices that are opposed to God. When someone truly receives and lives by God's word, they become distinct. Their priorities shift, their behavior changes, and their allegiance is clearly to a different kingdom. This difference, this 'not of the world' identity, is precisely what provokes hostility from those who remain entrenched in the world's ways.
It’s like a light shining in darkness – the darkness inherently reacts against the light. The hatred isn't random; it's a direct consequence of belonging to God.
Jesus' prayer hinges on a crucial declaration: His followers belong to a different realm. Unpack what it truly means to be 'not of the world'.
Jesus emphasizes a fundamental truth in this verse: His disciples are 'not of the world, just as I am not of the world.' This isn't about physical location, but about a deep-seated identity and allegiance.
Two Distinct Realms
There's the world system – driven by pride, self-interest, rebellion against God, and temporary values. Then there's the spiritual reality – characterized by humility, love for God and others, obedience to His word, and eternal perspective.
When Jesus says his followers are 'not of the world,' he means:
Understand the original words
logos · Greek Noun
The divine message or revelation from God to humanity, specifically the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the instrument through which God imparts truth, sanctifies, and calls people into fellowship with Himself.
miseō · Greek Verb
A strong expression of the antagonism felt by the fallen world system toward God, His message, and His people. It signifies the hostility inherent in the conflict between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light.
This prayer was uttered by Jesus in the very final hours of his earthly ministry, just before his arrest and crucifixion. The 'word' he gave his disciples was the core of his teaching and the Gospel message they would soon be commissioned to spread. The 'hatred of the world' was not a future hypothetical but an immediate reality they were already experiencing and would continue to face intensely.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and First Disciples
Jesus begins his public ministry, calling disciples who leave their former lives to follow him and learn his teachings. This core group, including the apostles, are the immediate recipients of Jesus' prayer in John 17.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified and resurrected, events that confirm his identity and mission. His death and resurrection are central to the 'word' he gives his disciples to proclaim.
c. AD 30-50s
Early Church Growth and Opposition
Following Jesus' ascension, the apostles and early believers spread the Gospel, facing increasing hostility from Jewish authorities and Roman powers who view their message as a threat.
c. AD 50s-60s
Paul's Letters to Churches
This passage directly echoes John 17:14 by explaining that the world's hatred for Jesus' followers stems from their separation from the world's values, just as Jesus himself was not of the world.
1 John 3:13This verse reinforces the idea that the world's hatred is a sign of genuine discipleship, stating 'Do not marvel, my brothers, if the world hates you.'
Matthew 10:22Jesus explicitly warns his disciples that they will be hated by all for his name's sake, linking their calling to persecution and misunderstanding from the world.
Romans 8:7This passage highlights the fundamental conflict between the mindset of the flesh (the world) and the mind set on the Spirit (believers), explaining why the world would naturally oppose those who are 'not of the world'.
2 Corinthians 6:14This verse speaks to the inherent incompatibility and lack of fellowship between righteousness and lawlessness, or light and darkness, mirroring the core reason for the world's animosity towards those who belong to Christ.
calvinJohn 17:14-19: "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."
- I have given them thy word, and the world hath hated them; because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15. I ask not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17. Sanctify them by thy truth: thy word is truth. 18.…
clarkeJohn 17:14: "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."
I have given them thy word - Or, thy doctrine - τον λογον σου. In this sense the word λογος is often used by St. John. And the world hath hated them - The Jewish rulers, etc., have hated them. - Why? Because they received the doctrine of God, the science of salvation, and taught it to others. They knew Jesus to be the Messiah, and as such they proclaimed him…
The verse highlights a subtle but powerful connection: the disciples' hatred from the world isn't a random misfortune, but a direct consequence of receiving God's word. This means their very reception and embodiment of God's truth is what sets them apart and makes them targets, mirroring Jesus' own experience.
Jesus is praying for His disciples in the hours before His crucifixion, entrusting them to the Father's care. He explains that He has given them God's word, which sets them apart from the world and makes them targets of its hatred, just as Jesus Himself is. Though they are hated and remain in the world, Jesus prays not for their removal, but for their protection from evil and their sanctification through God's truth.
Jesus is praying for His disciples in the hours before His crucifixion, entrusting them to the Father's care. He explains that He has given them God's word, which sets them apart from the world and makes them targets of its hatred, just as Jesus Himself is. Though they are hated and remain in the world, Jesus prays not for their removal, but for their protection from evil and their sanctification through God's truth.
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This separation isn't a cause for arrogance, but a recognition of a profound transformation. It explains the friction with the world; believers are living under a different set of laws and principles, reflecting a different King.
Apostle Paul writes letters to various churches, often addressing the challenges they face from within and without, including persecution and the struggle to live distinctively from the surrounding culture.
"I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." — The verse highlights a subtle but powerful connection: the disciples' hatred from the world isn't a random misfortune, but a direct consequence of receiving God's word. This means their very recept…
