John 15:19 — Community Reflections

JOHN 15:19 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“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.”

If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. But because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you — the disciples' alienation from the world is the condition of their election by Jesus. To choose the kingdom of God is necessarily to step outside the world's logic and values; the world recognizes in the disciples a refusal to play by its rules and retaliates with hatred. This is not a reason for despair but for clarity: the disciples know whose they are and can endure opposition with the confidence of those chosen by God.

Church Fathers on John 15:19

Our Lord had said, I have ordained that you should walk and bring forth fruit. Love is this fruit. Wherefore, He proceeds: These things I command you, that you love one another. Hence the Apostle said, The fruit of the Spirit is love(Gal 5:22), and enumerates all other graces as springing from this source. Well then does our Lord commend love, as if it were the only thing commanded: seeing that without it nothing can profit, with it nothing be wanting, whereby a man is made…
Augustine · 4th century

I have said that I lay down My life for you, and that I first chose you. I have said this not by way of reproach, but to induce you to love one another. Then as they were about to suffer persecution and reproach, He bids them not to grieve, but rejoice on that account: If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you: as if to say, I know it is a hard trial, but you will endure it for My sake.
Chrysostom · 4th century · Or thus

For the dispraise of the perverse, is our praise. There is nothing wrong in not pleasing those who do not please God. For no one can by one and the same act please God, and the enemies of God. He proves himself no friend to God, who pleases His enemy; and he whose soul is in subjection to the Truth, will have to contend with the enemies of that Truth.
Gregory the Great · 6th century

Read all 13 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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