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John 17:15
“I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one.”
This verse is part of Jesus's 'High Priestly Prayer' in the Gospel of John, offered to his Father shortly before his crucifixion. He is praying for his disciples, whom he is about to leave, expressing his desires for their future and protection.
how might jesus's understanding of 'the world' in this prayer inform how we engage with challenges in our own lives today?
Then — the setting
The Gospel of John, likely written in the late first century CE, presents Jesus's understanding of 'the world' (kosmos) in a nuanced way. For John, 'the world' often refers to humanity in general, both as God's creation which He loves (John 3:16) and as a system or sphere of human existence hostile to God and divine truth. In this prayer, Jesus's distinction between being 'in the world' and not being 'of the world' reflects a theological tension present in early Christian thought regarding engagement with surrounding culture and society. The audience, likely a community facing persecution or feeling distinct from the dominant culture, would have resonated with the idea of being set apart yet still present.
Across the Testaments
In the Old Testament, 'the world' (often expressed through terms like 'earth' or 'land') is fundamentally God's good creation (Genesis 1). While humanity's sin introduces corruption, the emphasis is often on God's sovereignty over creation and His desire for humanity to live righteously within it. The New Testament, particularly John's Gospel, develops a more complex understanding where 'the world' can also represent an alienated, fallen human system or ethos opposing God, shaped by 'the evil one.' This passage in John bridges both aspects: recognizing the disciples' necessary presence in the physical world (God's good creation) while acknowledging the spiritual danger posed by the 'evil one' who influences the 'world system' (the fallen human sphere).
Keep thinking
Read alongside it
Jesus tells his disciples that the world will hate them because they are not 'of the world'.
This passage warns against loving 'the world' or the things in it, defining 'the world' as desires and pride.
Jesus describes his followers as 'salt of the earth' and 'light of the world,' implying a positive, transformative presence within society.
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