Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 John 3:13

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

The hatred of the “world” (GK 3180) for the community of faith must not surprise the believers. The author does not say that the world always hates believers; it did not always hate Jesus. But whenever the community of faith acts so as to expose the greed, avarice, hatred, and wickedness of the world, it must expect rejection; and if it should go so far as to interfere with its evil practices, as Jesus did in the temple, it may expect suffering and brutal death (cf. Jn 15:18-19, 25; 17:14).

“Brothers” (GK 81) occurs only here in 1 John as an address. At this most critical point, the author steps past his relationship to them as “little children” and openly proclaims them his peers. Perhaps they have already experienced persecution with him. Or perhaps he knows that if they receive his letter and obey it, persecution will soon come because they have identified themselves with him rather than with his opponents.