Jn 15:18-21
[Jesus said to his disciples,] 18“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. 19If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. 20Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.”
THE WORLD: In John, the “world” (Greek kosmos) is used in both a neutral and a hostile sense. The world may stand for the whole of created order which came into being through the Word of God (1:9-10). God loves the world (3:16). On the other hand, the world can represent all that has fallen under the power of evil and is opposed to God. The world is at odds with Jesus (16:20) and his Spirit (14:17). In fact, the world hates Jesus and his followers (16:20). In response, Jesus will judge the world and the sons of darkness who live in it (12:35-36). Later, the Paraclete will formally try and convict the world (16:8-11).
The mixture of positive and negative attitudes towards the world most probably reflects the loves and hates in the “community of the Beloved Disciple” who gave us the Fourth Gospel. It echoes their life—not only that of Jesus.
In the early stage, the community of believers saw the world as a good place, but in need of reform. God loved the world and sent his only Son to save it. Jesus came to be the light of the world.
But in the later stage, the Johannine community began to experience rejection and even persecution from some Judean audiences, especially the religious leaders. These were called “Jews” in contra-distinction to the believers, even if the latter were themselves Jewish in origin. This bitter experience caused the development of negative attitudes towards the “world” made up of people who were hostile to the community or were unbelievers. The community used “the world” to distinguish themselves from these people, as in the case of “us” versus “them” mentality.
One might see “the world” as evil and retreat from it. The believers do not “belong to the world,” and yet are in the world and are sent into the world (17:11, 18). On the other hand, one may see “the world” to be evangelized speedily, to be “conquered” for Christ, and may get disillusioned by the results. A view of the world as both welcoming and rejecting is more balanced and healthy.