Overcoming the evil one also means overcoming the world—from the Johannine perspective—which “belongs to the evil one” (5:19) and dominates the powers acting within it. The world can be broken down into these three powers: “The evil desires of human nature” (cf. Jn 3:6; Eph 2:3; 1 Pt 2:11), the “lust of the eyes” (3:17; cf. Jas 4:16), and the “pride of riches.” For the believer, victory over both the world and the evil one is a gift from Christ, but it is also a task: “an indication” (2:13; 4:4; 5:4) and “an imperative” (15a). There is no middle ground, no alternative: either the love of the Father or the love of the world (15b; cf. Jas 4:4; Mt 6:24).