1 John 2:14-16
New English Translation
14 I have written to you, children, that[a] you have known the Father.[b] I have written to you, fathers, that[c] you have known him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young people, that[d] you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have conquered the evil one.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, 16 because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions)[e] is not from the Father, but is from the world.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 John 2:14 tn See the note on “that” in v. 12.
- 1 John 2:14 sn The versification of vv. 13 and 14 (so also NAB, NRSV, NLT) follows that of the NA27/28 and UBS4/5 editions of the Greek text. Some English translations, however, break the verses between the sentence addressed to children and the sentence addressed to fathers (KJV, NKJV, NASB, NIV). The same material has been translated in each case; the only difference is the versification of that material.
- 1 John 2:14 tn See the note on “that” in v. 12.
- 1 John 2:14 tn See the note on “that” in v. 12.
- 1 John 2:16 tn The genitive βίου (biou) is difficult to translate: (1) Many understand it as objective, so that βίος (bios, “material life”) becomes the object of one’s ἀλαζονεία (alazoneia; “pride” or “boastfulness”). Various interpretations along these lines refer to boasting about one’s wealth, showing off one’s possessions, boasting of one’s social status or lifestyle. (2) It is also possible to understand the genitive as subjective, however, in which case the βίος itself produces the ἀλαζονεία. In this case, the material security of one’s life and possessions produces a boastful overconfidence. This understanding better fits the context here: The focus is on people who operate purely on a human level and have no spiritual dimension to their existence. This is the person who loves the world, whose affections are all centered on the world, who has no love for God or spiritual things (“the love of the Father is not in him,” 2:15).sn The arrogance produced by material possessions. The person who thinks he has enough wealth and property to protect himself and insure his security has no need for God (or anything outside himself).
1 John 2:14-16
New International Version
14 I write to you, dear children,(A)
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.(B)
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,(C)
and the word of God(D) lives in you,(E)
and you have overcome the evil one.(F)
On Not Loving the World
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world.(G) If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[a] is not in them.(H) 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh,(I) the lust of the eyes,(J) and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
Footnotes
- 1 John 2:15 Or world, the Father’s love
1 John 2:14-16
English Standard Version
14 I write to you, fathers,
because you know (A)him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because (B)you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
Do Not Love the World
15 (C)Do not love the world or the things in the world. (D)If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—(E)the desires of the flesh and (F)the desires of the eyes and pride of life[a]—is not from the Father but is from the world.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 John 2:16 Or pride in possessions
1 John 2:14-16
New King James Version
14 I have written to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I have written to you, young men,
Because (A)you are strong, and the word of God abides in you,
And you have overcome the wicked one.
Do Not Love the World
15 (B)Do not love the world or the things in the world. (C)If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, (D)the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
Read full chapter
1 John 2:14-16
King James Version
14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
15 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.
16 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.
Read full chapterNET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.


