John 15:19 Meaning and Explanation
“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The disciples are hated because they no longer belong to the worlds value system, having been chosen out of it by Jesus.
The Context of John 15:19
Jesus explains the reason for worldly hatred: His disciples are now citizens of a different kingdom, bound by different loyalties.
What Does John 15:19 Mean?
I have chosen you out of the world. This is the language of separation and election. To be chosen by Christ is to be taken out of one realm and placed in another. We do not do this ourselves; it is His action. And once we are out, the world recognizes us as foreign. Its values are our values no longer. What it loves, we may regard with indifference. What it pursues, we see as empty.
This estrangement is not something to regret but to accept as evidence of transformation. If the worlds approval were the goal, we would have to remain of the world. But we have been chosen for something higher. The cost is estrangement; the gain is belonging to Christ and His kingdom. The hatred becomes a badge of our realignment.
John 15:19 in the Original Language
kosmos (Greek, world), used throughout John to mean the value system of creation apart from God, the organized opposition to Christs purposes
How to Apply John 15:19 Today
We can ask honestly whether we are trying to keep a foot in both worlds, and whether the worlds indifference or dislike of our faith is actually a sign we are being true to our choice.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 15:19
What does John 15:19 mean?
The disciples are hated because they no longer belong to the worlds value system, having been chosen out of it by Jesus.
What is the context of John 15:19?
Jesus explains the reason for worldly hatred: His disciples are now citizens of a different kingdom, bound by different loyalties.
How can I apply John 15:19 today?
We can ask honestly whether we are trying to keep a foot in both worlds, and whether the worlds indifference or dislike of our faith is actually a sign we are being true to our choice.