John 15:18 kjv
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
John 15:18 nkjv
"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
John 15:18 niv
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
John 15:18 esv
"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
John 15:18 nlt
"If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.
John 15 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 15:18 | If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. | Foundation of the verse's assertion. |
| John 17:14 | "I have given them your word and the world has hated them..." | Christ's prayer confirming the world's hatred for his disciples. |
| 1 John 3:13 | "Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you." | Echoes the instruction to be unsurprised by worldly hatred. |
| 1 John 4:5 | "They are from the world and therefore speak from the landfill of the world..." | Contrasts the origin and speech of those from the world. |
| Matthew 10:22 | "You will be hated, all men will hate you because of my name..." | Prophesies the universal hatred believers would face for Christ's sake. |
| Luke 21:17 | "You will be hated by all, for my name's sake." | Reinforces the reason for the hatred – Christ's name. |
| Acts 4:27 | "...Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were united in this city against your holy servant Jesus..." | Historical example of unified opposition against Christ. |
| Acts 13:50 | "But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing Jewish women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas..." | Shows worldly opposition instigated against the apostles. |
| Romans 8:7 | "The mind of the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so." | Explains the inherent enmity of the carnal mind towards God. |
| Galatians 1:10 | "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ's servant." | Highlights the incompatibility of pleasing people and serving Christ. |
| Colossians 1:21 | "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies of him because of your evil behavior." | Describes the previous state of believers as enemies of God. |
| 2 Timothy 3:12 | "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." | Asserts persecution as an inevitable outcome of godliness in Christ. |
| 1 Peter 4:12 | "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come on you to test you, as though something unusual were happening to you." | Similar to 1 John 3:13, a call not to be surprised by trials. |
| 1 Peter 4:4 | "They are surprised that you do not join them in their wicked, wasteful wild parties, and they vilify you." | Explains why the world scoffs at and persecutes believers. |
| Genesis 4:3-8 | Cain's envy and murder of Abel. | Early Old Testament example of unprovoked hatred leading to violence. |
| Psalm 1:1 | "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked..." | Implies a distinction and separation from the wicked way. |
| Psalm 2:1-4 | Nations plot against the Lord and his Anointed. | Demonstrates a pattern of worldly opposition to God's chosen ones. |
| Isaiah 53:3 | "He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering." | Prophetic depiction of Christ's rejection by the world. |
| Jeremiah 1:8 | "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD. | God's promise of presence and rescue for those facing opposition. |
| John 1:10-11 | "He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to his own, and his own did not receive him." | Parallel account of Christ's rejection by his own creation. |
| John 3:19-20 | "...light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates light..." | Explains the reason for hatred of Christ: preference for darkness and sin. |
John 15 verses
John 15 18 Meaning
The verse states that the world's hatred towards believers originates from its prior hatred of Christ. If believers were part of the world, the world would love them. However, because Christ separated believers from the world, the world hates them.
John 15 18 Context
This verse is spoken by Jesus during His farewell discourse to His disciples the night before His crucifixion. He is describing the spiritual reality of the world's relationship with both Himself and those who follow Him. Jesus has just spoken about the vine and its branches, emphasizing His intimate union with His disciples and their dependence on Him. This union, by implication, separates them from the world system. The "world" (kosmos) here refers not to the physical planet, but to the organized system of humanity opposed to God, characterized by its sin, rebellion, and rejection of Christ. The disciples are warned that just as the world rejected their Master, it will also reject them.
John 15 18 Word analysis
- "If": Conditional particle (ean). Introduces a hypothetical or real condition.
- "the world": (ho kosmos) Refers to the human race and its systems that are alienated from God.
- "hates": (miseō) Strong word denoting intense dislike, aversion, and hostility.
- "you": (ymes) Refers to the disciples addressed by Jesus.
- "be amazed" / "keep in mind": (thaumazo) Can mean to wonder or be amazed. Here it implies a need for the disciples to understand and accept this reality without surprise.
- "that it hated me first": A clear statement of priority; Christ was hated before His followers.
Word Group Analysis:
- "If the world hates you": Establishes the premise of external opposition based on identity in Christ.
- "remember that it hated me first": Provides a foundation and explanation for the disciples' suffering; their experience mirrors Christ's.
John 15 18 Bonus section
This opposition from the world is a confirmation of one's belonging to Christ. The absence of worldly opposition can sometimes be a cause for self-examination concerning one's commitment and separation from the world's influence. Jesus' teaching here is not an encouragement to seek persecution, but a realistic preparation for those who follow Him. The hatred is a consequence of the Spirit of Christ dwelling within believers, which makes them radically different from and thus offensive to the unregenerate world. This also highlights the spiritual warfare described throughout Scripture, where the forces of darkness actively oppose God's people.
John 15 18 Commentary
The world's antagonism towards believers is not arbitrary but rooted in its foundational rejection of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus' disciples are identified with Him and set apart from the world's sinful patterns, they inevitably face the same opposition Christ encountered. This is a crucial reassurance for believers facing persecution. It clarifies that the animosity stems from the world's deep-seated enmity against God and His Son, rather than any inherent fault of the believers themselves. Understanding this causal link allows disciples to endure hardship with a proper perspective, seeing their suffering as participation in Christ's suffering and a testament to their spiritual separation from worldly values.