1 John 2:17 kjv
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
1 John 2:17 nkjv
And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 2:17 niv
The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:17 esv
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 2:17 nlt
And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
1 John 2 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 102:25-27 | Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth...they shall perish, but thou shalt endure... | The transience of creation vs. God's eternity |
| Isa 51:6 | Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away... | Earth's passing, God's enduring salvation |
| Matt 7:21 | Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. | Doing God's will is key to kingdom entry |
| Matt 24:35 | Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. | God's word's permanence vs. creation's end |
| John 3:16 | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son...that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. | God's eternal life for those who believe |
| John 4:34 | Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me... | Jesus' priority: doing the Father's will |
| John 5:24 | Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life... | Hearing and believing lead to eternal life |
| John 6:39-40 | And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life... | God's will for eternal life through faith |
| Rom 12:2 | And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind... | Warning against conforming to the world |
| Gal 5:16-17 | Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh... | Spirit vs. flesh desires; resisting lust |
| Eph 2:1-3 | Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh... | Past walk according to world's course and lusts |
| Col 3:1-2 | If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. | Heavenly focus vs. earthly attachments |
| Jas 1:14-15 | But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin... | Lust leading to sin |
| 1 Pet 1:24-25 | For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. | The enduring Word vs. fading human glory |
| 1 Pet 4:2 | That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. | Living according to God's will, not man's lusts |
| 2 Pet 3:10-13 | But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be... | The world's complete dissolution and new heavens/earth |
| 1 Tim 6:7 | For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. | The material world offers no lasting gain |
| Tit 2:12 | Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; | Renouncing worldly lusts for godly living |
| Heb 10:36 | For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. | Perseverance in doing God's will leads to promise |
| Psa 119:89 | For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. | God's eternal word |
| 1 Cor 7:31 | And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. | The temporary "fashion" of the world |
| Php 3:19-20 | Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: | Earthly focus leads to destruction, heavenly citizenship |
| Rev 21:1 | And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away... | The complete replacement of the old order |
1 John 2 verses
1 John 2 17 Meaning
This verse contrasts the fleeting nature of the present world system and its desires with the enduring reality of God's will and the person who consistently obeys it. It highlights that worldly pursuits, marked by self-centered desires and the corrupt system under their influence, are transient and headed for destruction. In stark opposition, the individual whose life is characterized by actively fulfilling God's moral and salvific purposes will abide, not only enduring in time but dwelling in a permanent, fruitful relationship with God into eternity.
1 John 2 17 Context
1 John 2:17 concludes a warning in verses 15-17 against loving the "world" (kosmos) and the things within it. Verse 15 issues a direct command not to love the world or the things in the world, stating that such love is incompatible with the love of the Father. Verse 16 then elaborates on "the things in the world," categorizing them into three forms of worldly desires: "the lust of the flesh" (sensory pleasures, illicit desires), "the lust of the eyes" (covetousness, things seen and desired), and "the pride of life" (arrogance, self-importance derived from earthly possessions or status). These three expressions summarize the human tendency towards idolatry and rebellion against God. Verse 17 acts as the climactic reason for this warning, explaining why the world and its desires should not be loved: they are transient and will pass away, whereas doing God's will yields eternal life and a permanent relationship with Him. This exhortation also serves as an indirect polemic against those within the community who may have been drifting into worldliness, perhaps influenced by emergent Gnostic thought that dismissed the importance of physical life and ethical living, or by the broader Hellenistic culture's focus on material accumulation and self-indulgence. John emphasizes true discipleship lies in ethical obedience, not worldly pursuit.
1 John 2 17 Word analysis
- And (Καὶ - Kai): Connects the conclusion directly to the preceding warning, emphasizing the consequence.
- the world (ὁ κόσμος - ho kosmos): This refers not to the created physical universe or humanity, but the fallen, corrupted system of human society organized apart from God, dominated by sin, and antagonistic to divine principles. It represents human life as organized independently of and in opposition to God.
- passeth away (παράγεται - paragetai): A present active indicative verb from parago, meaning "to pass by, go by, pass away, disappear." It signifies a continuous process of decay and dissolution, emphasizing the ongoing nature of its impermanence and its ultimate vanishing. It implies its transient, temporary nature.
- and (καὶ - kai): Conjoins the two things that pass away.
- the lust thereof (ἡ ἐπιθυμία αὐτῆς - hē epithymia autēs): "Lust" (epithymia) signifies strong desires or cravings, which can be neutral but are here explicitly tied to the world, making them inherently sinful or corrupt. It specifically references the three categories listed in verse 16 (lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life), embodying the sum of worldly desire. "Thereof" refers back to the kosmos.
- but (ὁ δέ - ho de): A strong adversative conjunction, marking a sharp contrast and transition to the enduring truth.
- he that doeth (ὁ ποιῶν - ho poiōn): A present active participle of poieō, meaning "to do, make, practice." This highlights not a one-time act, but an ongoing, characteristic way of life – someone whose habit and defining identity is to perform or obey. It denotes a practical, active demonstration of faith, not merely intellectual assent.
- the will of God (τὸ θέλημα τοῦ Θεοῦ - to thelēma tou Theou): Refers to God's determined purpose and moral precepts for humanity. It encompasses obedience to His commands (1 Jn 3:22, 24), living in accordance with His divine nature, and ultimately the saving purpose of Christ (Jn 6:39-40). It implies a lifestyle of conscious, obedient alignment with God's revealed desires.
- abideth (μένει - menei): A present active indicative verb from menō, meaning "to remain, dwell, abide, endure, continue." In John's writings, it often signifies an enduring relationship with God, characterized by union and spiritual vitality, leading to eternal life. This is the antithesis to "passing away."
- for ever (εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα - eis ton aiōna): Literally "into the age," meaning eternally, for all time. It emphasizes the absolute permanence and eternal nature of what endures.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: This phrase functions as a clear statement of temporal limitation and spiritual bankruptcy for anything that opposes or stands apart from God. The focus is on the corrupt system and the deep, pervasive desires generated within that system. It underlines a critical theological truth: worldly gain, status, and pleasure are ultimately fleeting and have no eternal value.
- But he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever: This phrase provides the stark and hopeful contrast. It defines the path to permanence and true life: an active, consistent alignment of one's life and actions with God's intentions. The emphasis on "doing" (an ongoing participle) highlights that this is not a passive acceptance, but a dynamic, lived out obedience. The "abideth for ever" implies a secure, enduring spiritual existence, participation in God's eternal purposes, and an unbroken relationship with Him, which is true, unending life. The eternal nature of this state stands in direct opposition to the transient nature of the world, positioning obedient fellowship with God as the only truly lasting reality.
1 John 2 17 Bonus section
The contrast in 1 John 2:17 echoes a deeply rooted biblical motif found throughout scripture, particularly the Old Testament prophets and wisdom literature, where the ephemeral nature of human life and creation is contrasted with the steadfastness and eternity of God (Psa 90:2, Isa 40:8, Mal 3:6). This verse serves as a foundational ethical principle, calling for an evaluation of one's priorities and allegiances. It implies that true security and purpose are not found in temporal accumulation or human glory, which will all be stripped away. Instead, abiding in God, through obedience to His will, signifies participating in His unchangeable, everlasting nature, ensuring that one's labor is not in vain. This 'doing' is not mere outward ritual, but a heartfelt expression of faith and love, which stems from the love for the Father discussed in the preceding verse.
1 John 2 17 Commentary
1 John 2:17 offers a profound ethical and eschatological statement, urging believers to align their affections and pursuits with eternal realities. It acts as a powerful summation of John's warning against worldliness, which is defined by love for things intrinsically opposed to God and His eternal love. The fleeting nature of the "world" and its "lusts" underscores the futility of investing one's life in temporary gratification or temporal power structures that ignore God. These things, despite their superficial appeal, are subject to decay and dissolution. In stark contrast, a life committed to actively obeying God's revealed will secures an enduring reality. This "abiding" is not just about eternal life after death, but about a current, living, permanent union and fellowship with God. It signifies living out one's purpose in sync with the eternal Creator, resulting in a life of eternal significance that transcends the passing ages. It teaches that true stability, purpose, and everlasting joy are found not in accumulating or conforming to earthly desires but in devoted obedience to God, making such a life truly unshakeable.