John 17:20-26, What World did God Love? (5)

·       Jhn 17:18: “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world (the world God loved, in which are those who will believe and those who will not believe.)

·       Jhn 17:21: “that they all may be one, … that the world may believe that You sent Me.”  (Now you might want to say this “world” is the “world of the elect” because they are the only ones who will believe.  No, it is the “world” where are the “whosoevers,” believers and unbelievers.  This is consistent with the thought that God is not willing that any should perish, 2 Pt. 3:9, and that the gospel should be preached to the whole world, Mk. 16:15; 13:11; the world God loved.)

·       Jhn 17:23: Jesus prays for us, “that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” 

·       Jhn 17:24: “… for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”

·       Jhn 17:25: “O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.”

·       Jhn 18:20: Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing.” (World includes the places where Jews always meet.  It is not the world of the elect but of the “whosoevers.”)

·       Jhn 18:36: Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

·       Jhn 18:37: Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”  (The “world” has people who are “of the truth” but also people who are not of the truth.  He did not say that “everyone in the world hears my voice.)

·       Jhn 21:25: … I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Here is Strong’s definition of the Greek “kosmos.”  You will see the variety.

1. an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government 2.  ornament, decoration, adornment 3. the world, the universe 4. the circle of the earth 5. the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family 6. the ungodly multitude 7. world affairs, the aggregate of things earthly 8. the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, 9. any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort 10. the Gentiles as contrasted to the Jews.