Albert Barnes Commentary 1 John 3:13

"Marvel not, brethren, if the world hateth you." — 1 John 3:13 (ASV)

Marvel not. Do not think it so unusual, or so little to be expected, as to cause astonishment.

If the world hate you. The emphasis here is to be placed on the word you. The apostle had just referred to the fact that Cain hated Abel, his brother, without cause, and he says that they were not to consider it strange if the world hated them in the same way.

The Savior (John 15:17–18) introduced these subjects in the same connection. When instructing his disciples about the duty of brotherly love, he points out that they must expect to be hated by the world, and tells them to remember that the world hated him before it hated them. The object of all this was to show more clearly the necessity of strong and tender mutual affection among Christians, since they could hope for none from the world. (See Barnes on John 15:18-19).