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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Theophylact of Ohrid
Having applied the teaching to the spiritual ages, the apostle adds an exhortation. "Do not love the world." He says this as if to children, for children always tremble with joy before what seems pleasant. Then he states the reason why no one should love the world, nor the things that are in the world. Next he offers teaching to fathers and young men, who are more capable and mature. Lest you understand by "the world" the totality of heaven and earth, the apostle explains what the world is and what is in the world. …
Oecumenius
"Do not love the world, nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." We have already mentioned what John is calling the world, "a vile crowd", for which the Lord also says to the disciples: "You are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." (Jn. 17:16) The father of this world is the Devil (see Jn. 8:44 and 2 Cor. 4:4), I say, of worldly pleasure and confusion. …
Cyprian
But there are some rich women, and wealthy in the fertility of means, who prefer their own wealth, and contend that they ought to use these blessings. Let them know first of all that she is rich who is rich in God; that she is wealthy who is wealthy in Christ; that those are blessings which are spiritual, divine, heavenly, which lead us to God, which abide with us in perpetual possession with God. …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
But how can we love God, if we love the world? He prepareth us therefore to be inhabited by charity. There are two loves: of the world, and of God: if the love of the world inhabit, there is no way for the love of God to enter in: let the love of the world make way, and the love of God inhabit; let the better have place. …
Bede
Do not love the world, etc. He writes this generally to all the children of the Church, both to those who are fathers through maturity of prudence and doctrine, and to those who are little children through the devotion of humility, and to those who are adolescents or young men because of the conquered trials of temptations. He commands all these alike to use this world only for necessity, but not to love it for excessive desires, as Paul also says: And make no provision for the flesh in its desires (Romans XIII).
Translation