1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not from the Father but from the world. The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.
Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Read all of 1 John 2
21 songs meet this passage
“Nothin' make a woman feel better than Berrettas and Amarettas”
No Time · Lil' Kim
strains against 1 John 2:15-17
The song locates identity and satisfaction in possessions and sensuality, which this passage names as the passing things of the world rather than lasting life.
goosebumps · Travis Scott
strains against 1 John 2:15-16
The song's overall pursuit of lust, status, and wealth embodies exactly what John calls the desires of the flesh and the pride of life.
“I robbed the devil of love, all right”
Cradle Of Love (Remastered 2001) · Billy Idol
strains against 1 John 2:15-16
Framing lust as something 'robbed' from the devil inverts the warning against loving the world's desires.
Black Velvet · Alannah Myles
strains against 1 John 2:15-16
The song's whole posture elevates romantic/celebrity infatuation to near-spiritual intensity, the kind of misplaced longing this passage cautions against without condemning the song itself.
“Hypnotized mesmerized by what my eyes have seen”
Carnival · Natalie Merchant
strains against 1 John 2:15-16
Her admission of being captivated by sensory spectacle stands in tension with the call not to love the passing allure of the world.
Under Ground Kings · Drake
strains against 1 John 2:16
The song's overall posture, centered on lust, pride of possessions, and self-glory, mirrors exactly what this verse names as not from the Father.
“I don't want the world, but I'll take this city”
HOT TO GO! · Chappell Roan
strains against 1 John 2:16
The desire named here is fairly modest in scope, but the verse's warning about the lust of the flesh and eyes still frames the song's core craving.
Timeless · The Weeknd & Playboi Carti
strains against 1 John 2:16
The song's overall posture, flaunting wealth, bodies, and status as the marks of being 'timeless,' is a portrait of exactly what this verse names as passing away.
“Give me your best and I won't turn you down”
Beautiful People · David Guetta & Sia
strains against 1 John 2:16
The demand to be endlessly impressed and given 'your best' mirrors the boastful pride of life John warns is not from the Father.
24K Magic · Bruno Mars
strains against 1 John 2:16
The song's whole posture, boasting in status, looks, and possessions, lines up with what John calls the pride of life rather than anything of the Father.
SICKO MODE · Travis Scott
strains against 1 John 2:16
The song's whole posture, flexing wealth, lust, and pride of life, is almost a checklist of what this verse names as not from the Father.
“I want the world in my hands”
Sweater Weather · The Neighbourhood
strains against 1 John 2:16
The opening desire to possess 'the world' echoes the self-focused craving John warns against, though the song doesn't dwell there.
“Pay for like ten n- to get in, we crunk, lit”
Rich Flex · Drake & 21 Savage
strains against 1 John 2:16
The boasting of lifestyle and status here is exactly the 'pride of life' this verse warns is not from the Father.
Hypnotize · The Notorious B.I.G.
strains against 1 John 2:16
The whole song's celebration of lust, luxury, and pride of life is precisely what John names as not of the Father.
Feel So Good · Mase
strains against 1 John 2:16
The chase after cars, status, and pleasure mirrors exactly what John calls the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, not the Father's love.
“Every time the ladies pass, they be like hi Will”
Miami · Will Smith
strains against 1 John 2:16
The boasting about attention, wealth, and pleasure reflects the 'lust of the eyes' and 'pride of life' this verse names as not from the Father.
Big Pimpin' (feat. UGK) [Edited] · JAŸ-Z
strains against 1 John 2:16
The whole song's preoccupation with lust, wealth, and status is a vivid picture of what John calls the pride of life.
Ride Wit Me · Nelly
strains against 1 John 2:16
The entire song, lust, pride in possessions, and self-glory, is nearly a checklist of what this verse names as not from the Father.
“Shorty in the drop top V made a right”
Fiesta · R. Kelly
strains against 1 John 2:16
The song's opening flex of cars and women mirrors exactly what John calls 'the lust of the eyes and the pride of life,' not of the Father.
Southern Hospitality · Ludacris & Pharrell Williams
strains against 1 John 2:16
The whole song is an ode to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, exactly what John warns does not come from the Father.
Wildest Dreams · Taylor Swift
strains against 1 John 2:17
The song treats a passing romance as worth preserving in memory forever, while this passage points to a love and hope that actually endures.