'Jesus explains that because the world hates him, it will hate us and his followers. I am confused on this statement as I think it gives the wrong impression of the world. Firstly, Jesus says that the World has hated him, but in the bible, Jesus was condemned by humans. Why does Jesus personify the world as an evil entity that opposes him?... The world has no biases and chooses no sides and has never hated. The idea that the world is bad, evil, [and] hateful is dangerous to the wellbeing and potential progress of this world. By Jesus' statement in John 15:1819, isn't it scapegoating the fact that humans are really the problem? Why did Jesus not condemn humanity?' [condensed]Thanks for this in-depth question! It's good to know that these deep textual questions are being addressed and wrestled with as we attempt to learn and hear from God's Word as reveal by Scripture.
In response to this question, the answer lies in the understanding of how the word 'world' is used in this context and how it was translated. In the original Greek that was used to record what Jesus said, the word 'kosmos' is used and is translated into the English word, 'world'. Now, in a few cases, 'kosmos' means the planet and universe, but there is another meaning that is far more prominent and which the disciple John frequently used in his writings. The exegetical (understanding the word in the original context) translation of 'kosmos' in which it was written and recorded to have been said in this passage refers to the 'world inhabitants' and 'mankind'. In particular, the usage of this word often carries the additional understanding of men/women who are hostile to God and whose ways of life are opposed to His purpose.
It is the same root word that is used in John 3:16 - 'For God so loved the world...' It is understood in this passage that it refers more to God loving us, rather than God loving an unbiased planet. Similarly, the John 15 passage refers to people, and not the world in which circles the sun and where we live. In thinking through your question, you had already began to answer it without knowing. When Jesus said that if the world hates Him and us and how we do not belong to the world, it is speaking of the 'kosmos' as unbelievers and those who do not follow Him. The Son is talking about all that is world-ly (those who put the things of this world above God) as opposed to that which is heaven-ly (the eternal, which we have been saved and set apart for).
[answered by Jon, who is living in the world, but not of it]
