Marvel not, my brothers, if the world hate you.
Marvel not, my brothers, if the world hate you.
Marvel not, brethren, if the world hateth you.
Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world has no love for you.
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
Don't be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.
Marvel not, brethren, if the world hateth you.
Marvel not - if the world hate you - Expect no better treatment from unconverted Jews and Gentiles than Abel received from his wicked and cruel brother. This was a lesson to the Church, preparatory to martyrdom. Expect neither justice nor mercy from the men who are enemies of God. They are either full of malice and envy, hateful, hating one another, or they are specious, hollow, false, and deceitful.
"A foe to God was ne'er true friend to Man."
Marvel not - Do not think it so unusual, or so little to be expected, as to excite astonishment.
If the world hate you - The emphasis here is to be placed on the word "you." The apostle had just adverted to the fact that Cain hated Abel, his brother, without cause, and he says that they were not to deem it strange if the world hated them in like manner. The Saviour John 15:17-18 introduced these subjects in the same connection. In enjoining the duty of brotherly love on his disciples, he adverts to the fact 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 the notes at John 15:18-19.
3:13 Marvel not if the world hate you - For the same cause.