JAMES—NOTE ON JAMES 3:1 The Sin of Dissension in the Community. This section is the longest in the letter. It discusses the problems people cause with their speech (James 3:1; James 4:1) and the solution to these problems (“wisdom from above”; James 3:13). James is concerned about division (James 4:... [ Continue Reading ]
JAMES—NOTE ON JAMES 3:2 IN WHAT HE SAYS. A person’s words reflect his character. STUMBLE. A metaphor for sinning. PERFECT MAN. Such perfection will be permanent only in heaven. Still, believers should always seek to grow in holiness. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var... [ Continue Reading ]
JAMES—NOTE ON JAMES 3:3 BITS in a horse’s mouth and the SMALL RUDDER on a ship are examples of very small things that control large objects. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JAMES—NOTE ON JAMES 3:5 The TONGUE, one of the smaller parts of the body, is like the bit or rudder (vv. James 3:3). It has a similar control over a person. BOASTS OF GREAT THINGS. Pride is a major cause of sinful talk. A great FOREST fire starts with a SMALL FIRE. In the same way, a lot of problems... [ Continue Reading ]
JAMES—NOTE ON JAMES 3:13 MEEKNESS OF WISDOM. Meekness (translated “gentleness” in Galatians 5:23) does not come from cowardice or passivity. It comes from trusting God. This frees a person from anxious self-promotion. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images... [ Continue Reading ]
JAMES—NOTE ON JAMES 3:16 DISORDER describes the chaotic frenzy of fighting in the church (see James 4:1). The related adjective means “unstable” in James 1:8 and “restless” in James 3:8. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); [ Continue Reading ]
JAMES—NOTE ON JAMES 3:17 The answer to the “disorder” of v. James 3:16 is to seek WISDOM FROM ABOVE. Wisdom produces strong character (compare Galatians 5:22). FIRST PURE, THEN. Purity (blamelessness) is the primary virtue. The other qualities result from this moral purity. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒... [ Continue Reading ]
JAMES—NOTE ON JAMES 3:18 HARVEST OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. The righteous conduct that God will bless (see note on 1:20). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]