Biblical Term for Loving World Over God
The biblical term for loving the world over God is rooted in several key passages that caution against prioritizing earthly desires and attachments over one's relationship with God. The apostle John writes, "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" [1]. This warning is echoed in other New Testament passages, such as Jesus' statement that "they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" [2].
In biblical terms, loving the world is characterized by an inordinate desire for earthly things, including "the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" [8]. This is in contrast to loving God with all one's heart, soul, and mind, which is described as the first great commandment [4]. The biblical writers emphasize that one's affections should be supremely set upon God, and that this love is produced by the Holy Spirit [3, 4].
The early church fathers also addressed this issue, with one writer cautioning that "it behoves... the good to love [God] above all things, that is, above riches, glory, rest, parents, relatives, friends, and everything in the world" [7]. According to Augustine, loving God is a means of becoming like God, with the Scriptures saying, "I have said, Ye are gods, and all of you sons of the Most High" [8].
Different Christian traditions have interpreted these biblical warnings in various ways. For example, John Gill notes that loving the world means being enamored with the things of this life, rather than being a sojourner or pilgrim on earth [6]. Similarly, Adam Clarke cautions that the love of the world can manifest as covetousness, particularly in old age, or as an inordinate desire for earthly pleasures and honors in youth [5].
The biblical concept of loving the world over God is thus characterized by a prioritization of earthly desires and attachments over one's relationship with God. This is seen as being in opposition to the love of God, and is warned against throughout the New Testament and by early Christian writers.
Sources
- King James Version “[KJV] 1 John 2:15 — 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.”
- King James Version “[KJV] John 12:43 — For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affections, The — Should be supremely set upon God -- De 6:3; Mr 12:30. Should be set Upon the commandments of God. -- Ps 19:8-10; 119:20,97,103,167. Upon the house and worship of God. -- 1Ch 29:3; Ps 26:8; 27:4; 84:1,2. Upon the people of God. -- Ps 16:3; Ro 12:10; 2Co 7:13-15; 1Th 2:8. Upon heavenly things. -- Col 3:1,2. Should be zealously engaged for God -- Ps 69:9; 119:139; Ga 4:18. Christ claims the first place in -- Mt 10:37; Lu 14:26. Enkindled by communion with Christ -- Lu 24:32. Blessedness of making God the object of -- Ps 91:14. Should not grow cold -- P”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love to God — Commanded -- De 11:1; Jos 22:5. The first great commandment -- Mt 22:38. With all the heart -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Better than all sacrifices -- Mr 12:33. Produced by The Holy Spirit. -- Ga 5:22; 2Th 3:5. The love of God to us. -- 1Jo 4:19. Answers to prayer. -- Ps 116:1. Exhibited by Christ -- Joh 14:31. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 5:11. Should produce Joy. -- Ps 5:11. Love to saints. -- 1Jo 5:1. Hatred of sin. -- Ps 97:10. Obedience to God. -- De 30:20; 1Jo 5:3. Perfected in obedience -- 1Jo 2:5. Perfected, gives boldness -- 1Jo 4:17,18. God, faith”
- 1 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 John 2:15: Love not the world - Though these several classes were so well acquainted with Divine things, and had all tasted the powers of the world to come: yet so apt are men to be drawn aside by sensible things, that the Holy Spirit saw it necessary to caution these against the love of the world, the inordinate desire of earthly things. Covetousness is the predominant vice of old age: Ye fathers, love not the world. The things which are in the world, its profits, pleasures, and honors, have the strongest allurements for youth; therefore, ye young men, little children, and ba”
- 1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 2:15: Love not the world,.... The habitable earth, the world in which men live; this is not to be loved by saints, as if it was their habitation, where they are always to be, and so loath to remove from it, seeing they are but sojourners, and pilgrims, and strangers here; this is not their rest, nor dwellingplace, their continuing city, or proper country, that is heaven. Nor should they love the men of the world, who are as they came into it, are of it, and mind the things of it, and lie in wickedness, and are wicked men; for though these are to be loved, as men, as fellow ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 8: Twelve Patriarchs, Excerpts, Epistles, Apocrypha, Decretals — CHAP. LIV.--GOD TO BE SUPREMELY LOVED.: "It behoves, therefore, the good to love that way above all things, that is, above riches, glory, rest, parents, relatives, friends, and everything in the world. But he who perfectly loves this possession of the kingdom of heaven, will undoubtedly cast away all practice of evil habit, negligence, sloth, malice, anger, and such like. For if you prefer any of these to it, as loving the vices of your own lust more than God, you shall not attain to the possession of the heavenly kingdom”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — HOMILY II. (part 16): thou shall be earth. Lovest thou God? what shall I say? thou shall be a god? I dare not say it of myself, let us hear the Scriptures: "I have said, Ye are gods, and all of you sons of the Most High."(1) If then ye would be gods and sons of the Most High, "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. For all the things that are in the world, is the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is”