James 3:13

Τίς σοφὸς καὶ ἐπιστήμων ἐν ὑμῖν : The writer's appeal to the self-respect of his hearers. σοφός and ἐπιστήμων (the latter does not occur elsewhere in the N.T.) are connected in Deuteronomy 1:13, where in reference to judges it is said, δότε αὐτοῖς ἄνδρας σοφοὺς καὶ ἐπιστήμονας καὶ συνετούς, cf. Deuteronomy 4:6; Isaiah 5:21. ἐκ τῆς καλῆς ἀναστροφῆς : Cf. 1 Peter 2:12. ἀναστροφή is literally a “turning back,” but later connotes “manner of life”. Cf. a quotation from an inscription from Pergamos (belonging to the second century B.C.) given by Deissmann, in which it is said concerning one of the royal officials: ἐν πᾶσιν κα [ιροῖς ἀμέμπτως καὶ ἀδ] εῶς ἀναστρεφόμενος (op. cit., p. 83). ἐν πραΰτητι σοφίας : cf. with the whole of this verse Sir 3:17-3, Τέκνον, ἐν πρᾳύτητι τὰ ἔργα σου διέξαγε, καὶ ὑπὸ ἀνθρώπου δεκτοῦ ἀγαπηθήσῃ. Ὅσῳ μέγας εἶ, τοσούτῳ ταπεινοῦ σεαυτόν, καὶ ἔναντι Κυρίου εὑρήσεις χάριν. The pride of knowledge is always a subtle evil, cf. 1 Corinthians 8:1.