John 17:16 · Bible study
John 17:16 Commentary: Not of the World as Jesus Is Not
Greek · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
What does it mean for believers to be 'not of the world' like Jesus? Study the Greek, context, and commentary on John 17:16.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Believers share Jesus’ own separation from the world’s fallen system, an identity that grounds both their suffering and their sanctification.
- Key words: ἐκ (ek), origin; κόσμου (kosmou), the fallen world-order; καθὼς (kathōs), “just as,” linking believers’ status to Christ’s.
- Main debate: No significant debate, the verse is accepted across traditions as affirming that Christians’ true citizenship is in heaven, while they remain on earth.
- Theological theme: Identity and mission: being “not of the world” is the basis for being sent into the world (v.18).
- Best use: Preach or teach this verse to ground believers in their new identity, especially when they feel out of place or pressured to conform.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
WEB World English Bible 2000
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
KJV King James Version 1769
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`Of the world they are not, as I of the world am not;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
They are not of the world, as I am not of the world.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
They are not of the world, as I also am not of the world.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
No son del|strong="G1537, G3588" mundo, como tampoco yo soy del|strong="G1537, G3588" mundo.
Eles não são do mundo, assim como eu não sou do mundo.
Ils ne sont pas du monde, comme moi je ne suis pas du monde.
Sie sind nicht von der Welt, gleichwie ich auch nicht von der Welt bin.
Zij zijn niet van de wereld, gelijkerwijs Ik van de wereld niet ben.
Essi non sono del mondo, come io non sono del mondo.
Nie sąć z świata, jako i ja nie jestem z świata.
Они не от мира, как и Я не от мира.
他們 不 屬 世界，正如 我 不 屬 世界一樣。
They are not of the world any more than I am of the world.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · John 17:16
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse restates a core claim from verse 14, but with a different role in the prayer. Cambridge Bible notes the slight word order shift, the Greek literally reads “Of the world they are not, even as I am not of the world”, which puts the stress on “I” (ἐγὼ). The repetition is not empty; it grounds the coming petition for sanctification (v.17) in the reality that believers share Jesus’ own relation to the world. Gill and Matthew Henry both see the verse as an argument Christ uses with the Father: because these people are not part of the world’s system, they are exposed to its hostility and need divine protection. Calvin adds that the world’s hatred does not rise from the disciples’ fault but from their belonging to a different order. In short, “not of the world” is both a fact of identity and a reason for the prayer that follows.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Jesus clearly says that his disciples do not share the world's origin or allegiance, and that this is the same quality that characterizes his own relationship to the world.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'not of the world' | All Christians agree it means believers are no longer defined by the values, goals, and patterns of fallen human society. | Some emphasize the transfer at conversion (a past event); others stress an ongoing call to live distinctly. Both are affirmed in John 17. |
| Imitation of Christ's non-worldliness | Jesus is the pattern: his origin from the Father sets the standard for what 'not of the world' looks like. | Catholic tradition often highlights sacramental grace enabling this separation; Protestant traditions focus on the word and Spirit working in the believer. |
| Practical outworking for mission | Jesus sends believers into the world; they are not to withdraw physically. | Some traditions prioritize social engagement as part of mission, others prioritize evangelism; both agree that being 'not of the world' does not mean isolation. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Jesus prays the high-priestly prayer in John 17 late on the night of his arrest. He is about to leave his disciples physically, yet they must remain in a world that opposes God. John’s Gospel consistently uses κόσμος (world) to refer not to the planet itself but to fallen humanity organized apart from God, a system that rejected the light (John 1:10) and hates both Christ and his followers (John 15:18, 19).
The phrase “not of the world” is rooted in Jesus’ own origin: he came from the Father (John 16:28) and his kingdom is not from this world (John 18:36). Believers, by contrast, were originally “of the world” but have been drawn out by the Father (John 6:44) and given to the Son. Their new identity is not earned; it is the result of receiving Jesus’ word (John 17:14).
In this prayer, Jesus does not ask the Father to remove believers from the world physically (v.15). Instead, he prays for their protection “from the evil one” and for their sanctification in truth. The repeated declaration in verse 16 therefore sets the stage: the same “not of the world” reality that provokes hatred is also the foundation for preservation and mission. These disciples live where they do not ultimately belong, carrying the presence of the One who sent them.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Greek text (ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου οὐκ εἰσὶν καθὼς ἐγὼ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου) is stable across the major manuscripts.
Reception History
John 17:16 has been treasured across Christian tradition as a concise statement of Christian identity. Early church fathers like Augustine used it to distinguish the church from the pagan world while still calling believers to remain in society. During the Reformation, both Catholic and Protestant commentators stressed that this otherworldly identity does not mean leaving the world physically, the verse sits alongside v.15, which asks for protection, not removal. In hymnody, it echoes through lines like “I’m not of this world, I’m a stranger here” (traditional gospel song). Modern interpreters across traditions see it as a key text for understanding the church’s relationship to culture, neither total withdrawal nor uncritical embrace.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Identity that sets apart. Believers are “not of the world” because God has given them a new origin in Christ. Like Jesus, their deepest belonging is elsewhere.
- Reason for hostility. The world hates what it does not recognize. The same separation that brings conflict also signals that we share Christ’s own relationship to the world.
- Ground for prayer. Jesus repeats this truth to ask the Father for protection, sanctification, and mission. Our otherworldly identity is not an excuse to withdraw; it is the platform for being sent.
Five-point outline
- Jesus speaks about his people. He does not describe what they should achieve but declares what they are.
- The “world” means the fallen system. It is the culture, values, and powers that run without God.
- “Not of the world” is a shared condition. Jesus is not of the world by nature; believers are not of the world by grace.
- This truth explains hatred. The world’s rejection is not a failure to fit in; it is proof of which side we belong to.
- It opens the door for sanctification. Only those who are set apart can be made holy, and sent on mission.
Illustration hooks
- A foreign diplomat lives in a country but is not a citizen. Their identity, rights, and ultimate loyalties are elsewhere. Christians live the same way.
- A child adopted into a new family has the old surname legally replaced. The world still sees the old name, but the adoption papers say different. Our spiritual adoption changes our origin.
- A lifeguard wades into the water to rescue a swimmer but never becomes part of the sea. Jesus entered the world to rescue us without becoming of it.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If I am “not of the world,” why do I still feel drawn to its approval and comforts?
- Does not belonging mean I should avoid non-Christians?
- How can I know when the world’s values are shaping me instead of Christ’s?
Leading a Discussion
This verse appears twice in Jesus’ prayer, once in verse 14 and again in verse 16. Repetition in Scripture often signals a truth we need to let sink in. Jesus is about to ask the Father to sanctify his disciples, and he grounds that request in the fact that they are “not of the world” just as he is not. As you discuss, think about what this identity means for daily life, especially when the world around you feels like the only reality.
Discussion questions
- Read John 17:14, 19 together. What reasons does Jesus give for saying his disciples are “not of the world”?
- In John’s Gospel, “the world” often means human society organized apart from God. Give examples from your own context of what “the world” looks like today.
- Jesus says believers are not of the world “even as I am not of the world.” In what ways is Jesus’ not-of-the-worldness different from ours? In what ways is it the same?
- Why does Jesus repeat this statement from verse 14? How does that affect the way you read the prayer?
- Verse 15 says Jesus does not ask for believers to be taken out of the world. How does that shape our understanding of Christian mission?
- If someone said, “I want to be in the world but not of it,” what would that look like practically in your workplace or school?
- What is one area of your life where the world’s values feel especially strong, and how might this verse help you pray about it this week?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| John 17:14 | I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that Christ repeats the world's hatred not to shame the disciples but to secure the Father's help for them. He also makes clear that this hatred springs from the world's hostility toward God and Christ, not from any fault in the believers themselves.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that Jesus here adds a fresh ground for his prayer: the disciples will soon need help because he is leaving. The repeated statement that they are not of the world shifts the request beyond mere protection toward sanctification, with Jesus’ own separation from the world as the pattern.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes draw attention to the direct comparison Jesus makes between his own separation from the world and that of his followers. Believers are not of the world in the same way he is not of the world, grounding their distinct identity in his perfect example.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights that Jesus repeats the same words for two distinct reasons: first to explain why the world hates believers, and second to show that believers are vulnerable to the world's evil. In both cases, Jesus uses this truth as a plea for the Father to watch over and protect them.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that Jesus repeats the truth that believers are not of the world, just as He is not. This statement is not new but is intentionally restated here to prepare the way for the prayer that Jesus is about to offer.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry highlights that Christ prays only for spiritual blessings—protection from sin, fitness for duty, and safe passage to heaven—not for worldly wealth or advancement. He also notes that Christ’s intercession is perfectly suited to each disciple’