what does I John 2:16 mean?

Question

i am doing a project 4 bible and i dont really understand what "I John 2:16" means....we have to answer this question: How does the appeal of the forbidden fruit in Genesis 3:6 compare to the appeal of the world mentioned in I John 2:16? Compare this to the record of Christ's temptation in Luke, Chapter 4.

Genesis 3:6
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

I John 2:16
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Answer 1

maybe this will help...

http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/30567/eVerseID/30567

or this.....

http://www.ask.com/web?o=kw&l=zj&q=john+2%3A16%2C+temptation

Answer 2

(1 John 2:16) . . .because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world.

*** w97 10/1 p. 26 Is the Spirit of the World Poisoning You? ***

How can the spirit of the world sap our spiritual strength? By stimulating the desire of the eyes and by playing on our innate selfishness. (Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 John 2:16) By way of example, we will consider three different areas where worldly thinking could gradually poison our spirituality.

*** w57 6/1 p. 345 par. 13 How to Avoid Backsliding Today ***

13 Christians are warned to resist the beckoning glitter of worldly materialism: “Do not be loving either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever.” But it is not only the masses of so-called Christians that have succumbed to the worldly glitter; many religious leaders have also. Harold C. Case, Boston University president, warned clergymen: “Budgets may receive more attention than the Bible and competition for a place in the sun may be more captivating than co-operation or fulfilling the condition of the Kingdom of God on earth. . . . Ministers, in some cases, are losing sight of their objective by overinterest in their salaries, positions and advancements.”l—1 John 2:15-17, NW.

Answer 3

The verse mentions three main types of temptation:
1. the lust of the flesh
2. the lust of the eyes
3. the pride of life

#1 is about personal gratification (usually implies sex, but could also be about overindulgence in other physical areas such as eating & addictions.

#2 is greed---wanting whatever you see, wanting something you can't have or doesn't belong to you, etc.

#3 is obvious--it is about pride (wanting fame, power, status, prestige, popularity, etc.)

If you think about it, those 3 things really do drive society. Don't most advertisements have one or more of those elements in them?? If you can bring out something about that in your project and compare those 3 things to common marketing strategies you will probably get a good grade!

Now go back and read the account in Geneis about the serpent tempting Eve, as well as the temptation of Christ in Luke 4 and see how these enticements were used.

Eve saw that the fruit was good for food (#1), that it was pleasant to the eyes (#2), and that is would make her wise (#3). Go back to verse 5 & you will see that the serpent told her it would make her "like God", that's even a stronger example of #3.

You can take Luke 4 and match it up the same way. Stones to bread is obviously #1. Earthly riches if Christ will bow down to the devil is #2. Tempting Christ to throw Himself down and have the angels save Him is tempting Him to go against His destiny to complete God's plan for salvation by humbling Himself & going to the cross (a painful, shameful death), so that is appealing to #3.

A theologian may have more in depth interpretation than that, but that's what I get out of it.

I enjoyed researching this for you--as many sermons as I've heard preached from these texts, I had never made that connection in exactly that way.

Good luck on your project & I hope your study of the Bible is beneficial to you personally as well!

I've included a link to my favorite Bible website. It has a great search engine for looking up passages or keywords in various versions, and also includes commentaries.

www.biblegateway.com

Answer 4

The citation refers to the First Letter of John, chapter 2, verse 16, and the text is: "Everything the world affords, all that panders to the appetites or entices the eyes, all the glamour of its life, springs not from the Father but from the godless world."

This is the New English Bible, can't find my RSV.

Answer 5

Walking in the light, not in the darkness (1:1–2:29). “We are writing these things,” says John, “that our joy may be in full measure.” Since “God is light,” only those “walking in the light” are having “a sharing with him” and with one another. These are cleansed from sin by “the blood of Jesus his Son.” On the other hand, those who “go on walking in the darkness” and who claim, “We have no sin,” are misleading themselves, and the truth is not in them. If they confess their sins, God will be faithful and forgive them.—1:4-8.

Jesus Christ is identified as “a propitiatory sacrifice” for sins, one who is “a helper with the Father.” He that claims to know God but does not observe His commandments is a liar. He that loves his brother remains in the light, but he that hates his brother is walking in the darkness. John strongly counsels not to love the world or the things in the world, for, he says, “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Many antichrists have come, and “they went out from us,” explains John, for “they were not of our sort.” The antichrist is the one that denies that Jesus is the Christ. He denies both the Father and the Son. Let the “little children” stay with what they have learned from the beginning so as to “abide in union with the Son and in union with the Father,” according to the anointing received from him, which is true.—2:1, 2, 15, 18, 19, 24.

Giving free rein to the desires of the fallen flesh

The influence of this can be seen and heard everywhere. There is a need constantly to be on guard against it. (1 John 2:16; Eph. 4:17, 19; Gal. 5:19-21) The thinking and the desires that may lead to more serious evidences of it may be manifest in a person’s conversation, the jokes he tells, the lyrics of music to which he listens, the kind of dancing he does, or in his watching shows that feature immoral sex. This aspect of the world’s spirit shows itself in drug abuse, drunkenness, adultery, fornication, and homosexuality. It also is manifest when a person unscripturally, but perhaps legally, divorces one mate and takes another.—Mal. 2:16.

Answer 6

1 John 2:16 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society


16For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.

These are all qualities that Satan like to promote-they go against EVERYTHING that Jesus taught!

Answer 7

Fact #1:
The world, in general is not influenced by God.
It greater influence comes from the Devil.
That's what 1 John 5:19 says.
That means, in general, whatever the world holds up high ....its probably against God's will.
Examples:
Violence, Pride, Lying, Immorality, Selfishness, seeking material things first in life.
All these things are very tempting.
Sex is glorified, violence is approved, etc.
It is a strong influence coming from television, movies, even schools.
It is possible to resist however ....as exemplified by Christ.
The balance of your homework you'll have to do yourself.

Answer 8

I don't know if you mean what I think you mean, but anyway!

I think when you compare Genesis and 1 John, you notice that Satan made it seem like Eve was being deprived of something good for her, that God's restriction was just that- restrictive!

Nowadays, things that God forbids in the Bible or that go against Bible principles (pre-marital and extramarital sex, recreational drugs, smoking, love of pleasure, materialism, looking out for self-interests) are made to seem good by Satan's world, with the aim of making these laws seem restrictive, that Christians are being deprived of a 'normal' life.

Jesus' temptation in Luke gives us insight into who really rules the world- the kingdoms of the world really are under Satan's control. He knew Jesus was in line to receive the kingship of God's Kingdom, so Satan thought Jesus would like the idea of having ALL the kingdoms of the world.

(Interesting that a certain bad angel was referred to as the 'Prince of the royal realms of Persia' who tried to prevent a faithful angel from getting to Daniel (Dan. 10:9-14) Maybe this particular demon agreed to do an act of worship before Satan and got his 'reward'? Just my assumption!!)

Answer 9

The forbidden fruit was appealing because Satan made it so. Satan convinced Eve that somehow she was missing out and God was keeping something from her. So he convinced her to eat it against God's command not to. Satan tries to do the same thing while tempting Jesus. He's telling him that God is keeping things from him and that he has the power to do anything. But Jesus being perfect could see through Satan's lies. I hope this explained it a little more clearly. Oh and 1 John is saying basically that the bad things of this world do not come from God, but come from the fallen nature of the world.

Answer 10

Satan told Eve the forbidden fruit was pleasing to the eye (lust of the eyes), good for food (lust of the flesh), and gives you to be like God (pride of life)

Answer 11

john 2:16 means that the church is a place of worship not a place to buy or sell things. that is why jesus threw the money changers out of the temple.