1 John 4:5

The antichrists’ teachings have an appeal to worldly minds because they come from the world and share the viewpoint of the world (cf. John 3:31). Heterodoxy has a greater appeal than orthodoxy because many religious movements are composed mainly of unsaved people who find false doctrine appealing.

"How can a man whose watchword is competition even begin to understand an ethic whose key-note is service?" [Note: Barclay, p. 113.]

"The term ’world’ (kosmos) is probably to be understood in two ways: as a system of thought antithetical to Christian belief and as a description of those members of the community who were led astray by the false teachers. That some members of the community were easily persuaded to forsake the truth of the gospel should not bewilder the faithful." [Note: Barker, p. 341.]

"The word ’world’ has several nuances of meaning; in 1 John 4:3 it means more the area inhabited by men, but in 1 John 4:4 it refers rather to sinful mankind, while in 1 John 4:5 the stress is more on the sinful principle found in such people" [Note: Marshall, p. 209, footnote 18.]