Those who know God should not love the world

12 Little children, I am writing to you

because your sins have been forgiven for Christ’s sake.

13 Parents, I am writing to you

because you have come to know him who has been from the beginning.

Young people, I am writing to you

because you have conquered the evil one.

Children, I write to you

because you have come to know the Father.

14 Parents, I write to you

because you have learned to know him who has been from the beginning.

Young people, I write to you

because you are strong,

and God’s message is always in your hearts,

and you have conquered the evil one.

15 Do not love the world or what the world can offer. When anyone loves the world, there is no love for the Father in them. 16 For all that the world can offer – the desires for physical pleasure, the enticements to the eye, the arrogance of wealth – belongs, not to the Father, but to the world. 17 And the world, and all that it gratifies, is passing away, but they who do God’s will remain for ever.