III. James 3 is a division of the Epistle complete in itself, specially concerned with Sins of the Tongue. Warnings and examples are given in plenty (James 3:5) followed by exhortations to meekness and gentleness, and the promise of “the fruit of righteousness” to the lovers of peace (James 3:13).... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT MANY MASTERS. — Better, _teachers,_ which meaning was conveyed by “masters” when the English Bible was first published. The condemnation is of those who appoint themselves, and are as “blind leaders of the blind” (Matthew 15:14). No man had a right to exercise the sacred functions of the appo... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IN MANY THINGS WE OFFEND ALL. — Better thus, _For in many things we all offend:_ not, what might be inferred, “we are an offence to all,” as Matthew 24:9; 1 Corinthians 4:13, _et al._ Humble, indeed, was the holy mind of James, but this confession of error uplifts him in all right appreciation,... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD. — A more clumsy reading is insisted upon here: _but if,_ instead of “behold.” The supporters of such curious corrections argue that the least likely is the most so; and thus every slip of a copyist, either in grammar or spelling, becomes more sacred in their eyes than is the Received text wi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOVERNOR — _i.e._, the “helmsman,” from the Latin _gubernator._ The Venerable Bede, our earliest English translator, refers the ships here to an image of ourselves, and the winds to the impulses of our own minds, by which we are driven hither and thither. St. James, remembering the storms of th... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN SO... — _Thus_, like the tiny rudder of the mighty ship, whereon its course most critically depends — _the tongue is a little member;_ for it “vaunts great words which bring about great acts of mischief.” The verb translated _boasteth_ is peculiar to this place, but occurs so often in the works... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE TONGUE IS A FIRE. — Better thus, _The tongue_ — _that world of iniquity — is a fire,_ to burn and destroy the fairest works of peace. _The tongue is in our members that which defileth the whole body, and setteth the world aflame, and is set on fire itself of Gehenna. “_The course of Nature”... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR EVERY KIND OF BEASTS... — Compare the margin, and read more exactly, thus: _Every nature of beasts and birds, and creeping things, and things of the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed, by the nature of man._ All kinds have been mastered by mankind, as promised at creation (Genesis 1:26). There l... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE TONGUE CAN NO MAN TAME; IT IS AN UNRULY (or, _restless_) EVIL, FULL OF DEADLY POISON. — Mortiferous, bringer of death, like a poisoned dart or arrow; and therefore most suggestive of envenomed flights at the fame of others. St. James does not mean that no one can tame his own tongue, for so... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREWITH BLESS WE GOD, EVEN THE FATHER. — A strange reading of this verse in the more ancient manuscripts makes it, _Therewith bless we the Lord and Father._ And it may serve to remind us of the oneness of our God, that thus He may be termed Lord and Saviour. His worship and praise are, as explaine... [ Continue Reading ]
OUGHT NOT. — The Greek equivalent for this is only found here in the New Testament, and seems strangely weak when we reflect on the usual vehemence of the writer. Was he sadly conscious of the failure beforehand of his protest? At least, there seems no trace of satire in the sorrowful cadence of his... [ Continue Reading ]
DOTH A (or, _the_) FOUNTAIN SEND FORTH (literally, _spurt_) AT THE SAME PLACE (or, _hole,_ see margin) SWEET WATER AND BITTER (_i.e., fresh water and salt_)_?_ — A vivid picture, probably, of the mineral springs abounding in the Jordan valley, near the Dead Sea; with which might be contrasted the cl... [ Continue Reading ]
CAN THE FIG-TREE, MY BRETHREN, BEAR OLIVE BERRIES? EITHER A VINE, FIGS? — Read, _Can a fig-tree bear olives, or a vine, figs?_ The inquiry sounds like a memory of our Lord’s, “Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” (Matthew 7:16.) SO CAN NO FOUNTAIN... — This, the last clause of the s... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS A WISE MAN AND ENDUED WITH KNOWLEDGE? — Who is wise, _i.e.,_ in the wisdom of God, and learned in that of man? The latter state is of knowledge natural or acquired, the former is _Sophia,_ the highest heavenly wisdom, “the breath of the power of God — the brightness of the everlasting light —... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF YE HAVE BITTER ENVYING AND STRIFE IN YOUR HEARTS. — Rather, it should be, _bitter zeal and party-spirit. “_Above all no zeal” was the worldly caution of an astute French prelate. But that against which the Apostle inveighed had caused Jerusalem to run with blood, and afterwards helped in her... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS WISDOM DESCENDETH NOT FROM ABOVE.... — Better thus, _This is not the wisdom coming down from above, but is earthly, natural, devilish._ This — it were profanation to call it by the holy name of Σοφία (_Sophia_)_,_ being in sharpest contrast to it, of the earth earthy; natural (as margin), or “p... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHERE ENVYING AND STRIFE IS, THERE IS CONFUSION. — Where emulation, zeal, and rivalry exist, there also are sedition, anarchy, restless disturbance, and every villainous act. The whole state is evil, and utterly contrary to the rule of the Gospel — “For words and names let angry zealots fight:... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE WISDOM THAT IS FROM ABOVE... — Whereas, in sweetest contrast to all this repulsive foulness and riot, the true _wisdom from above is first pure,_ chaste as the Lamb of God, “the Word made flesh” (John 1:14), then _peaceful, gentle, and compliant_ — easy to be won, _full of mercy and good fru... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS... — Better thus slightly altered: _And fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by them that make peace._ They “shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). Their fruit is hidden in the precious seed, but “the times of refreshing shall come,” and the glorious pl... [ Continue Reading ]