James 3:15

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. THIS WISDOM - in which ye "glory," as if "wise" (James 3:13). DESCENDETH NOT FROM ABOVE - `is not one descending,' etc.: "from the Father of lights" (true illumination) (James 1:17), through "the Spirit of truth" (John 15:26). EARTHLY - opposed to heavenly: what is IN the earth. Distinct from "earthy" (1 Corinthians 15:47): what is OF the earth. SENSUAL, [ psuchikee ...

15_This wisdom descendeth not_. As hypocrites with difficulty give way, he sharply checked their haughtiness, denying that to be true wisdom with which they were inflated, while they were extremely morose in searching out the vices of others. Conceding to them, however, the term _wisdom_, he shews by the words he applies to it its true character, and says that it is _earthly, sensual, devilish_, or demoniac, while true wisdom must be heavenly, spiritual, divine; which three things are directly contrary to the three preceding ones. For James takes it as granted, that we are not wise, except when we are illuminated by God from above through his Spirit. However, then, the mind of man may enlarge itself, all its acuteness will be vanity; and not only so, but being at length entangled in the wiles of Satan, it will become wholly delirious. (126) _Sensual_, or _animal_, is in opposition to

13-18 These verses show the difference between men's pretending to be wise, and their being really so. He who thinks well, or he who talks well, is not wise in the sense of the Scripture, if he does not live and act well. True wisdom may be know by the meekness of the spirit and temper. Those who live in malice, envy, and contention, live in confusion; and are liable to be provoked and hurried to any evil work. Such wisdom comes not down from above, but springs up from earthly principles, acts on earthly motives, and is intent on serving earthly purposes. Those who are lifted up with such wisdom, described by the apostle James, is near to the Christian love, described by the apostle Paul; and both are so described that every man may fully prove the reality of his attainments in them. It has no disguise or deceit. It cannot fall in with those managements the world counts wise, which are...

Verse 15. _THIS WISDOM DESCENDETH NOT FROM ABOVE_] God is not the author of it, because it is _bitter_-not _meek_. See at the end of this chapter. _"_James 3:18_"_ _IS EARTHLY_] Having _this life_ only in view. _SENSUAL_] ψυχικη. _Animal_-having for its object the _gratification_ of the _passions_ and _animal propensities_. _DEVILISH_] δαιμονιωδης. _Demoniacal_-inspired by demons, and maintained in the soul by their indwelling influence....

THIS WISDOM DESCENDETH NOT FROM ABOVE - Compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 3:3. The wisdom here referred to is that carnal or worldly wisdom which produces strife and contention; that kind of knowledge which leads to self-conceit, and which prompts a man to defend his opinions with over-heated zeal. In the contentions which are in the world, in church and state, in neighborhoods and families, at the bar, in political life, and in theological disputes, even where there is the manifestation of enraged and irascible feeling, there is often much of a certain kind of wisdom. There is learning, shrewdness, tact, logical skill, subtle and skilful argumentation - “making the worse appear the better reason;” but all this is often connected with a spirit so narrow, bigoted, and contentious, as to show clearly that it has not its origin in heaven. The spirit which

EXPOSITION JAMES 3:1 WARNING AGAINST OVER-READINESS TO TEACH, LEADING TO A DISCOURSE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GOVERNMENT OF THE TONGUE. JAMES 3:1 (1) _Warning_. BE NOT MANY TEACHERS. The warning is parallel to that of our Lord in Matthew 23:8, _seq._,_ _"Be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your Teacher [διδάσκαλος,_ _and not, a

THIS WISDOM DESCENDETH NOT FROM ABOVE,.... If it must be called wisdom, as it ought not; an envious, quarrelsome, and contentious spirit, does not deserve such a name; yet if any will call it so, or can think that a man of such a disposition is a man possessed of wisdom; it is such wisdom as does not come from above, from heaven, from the Father of lights, from Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and from the spirit of wisdom and revelation: what the Jews say o of the wisdom of Egypt, may be said of this, that it is חכמה תתאה "wisdom from below", or inferior wisdom, as it follows: BUT IS EARTHLY, SENSUAL, AND DEVILISH; it is "earthly", or of the earth, and springs from thence; and it is only conversant about earthly things, and is only suitable to earthly minds: it is sensual, or natural; what a natural man, one destitute of the Spirit of God, and without...

III. THE EVILS OF THE TONGUE CORRECTED CHAPTER 3 _ 1. The tongue and its work (James 3:1)_ 2. The wisdom which is earthly and the wisdom that is from above (James 3:13) James 3:1 The practical character of this Epistle is still more evidenced by the contents of this chapter. The tongue is the member of the human body which is made prominent. The human tongue is a great and wonderful gift of the Creator; with which no other earthly creature is endowed. It is written: “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” It therefore reveals the real ‘condition of the heart and by what it is governed. The opening verse exhorts to caution as to teaching: “My brethren, be not many teachers, knowi

Who is enlightened among you, and a man of knowledge? Let him exhibit the fruits of it by a noble life, with the humility that true enlightenment brings. We must be careful to remember that meekness in popular use has lost its nobility: the Gr. word describes a strong man's self-discipline and a wise man's humility. One who is strong, and knows it, is not jealous of rivals, or frenzied with partisanship for a cause that God will prosper. Such a spirit means only scorning truth and heaping up lies. Sensual, natural, and animal are all imperfect representations of the adjective _psychic_ from _psyché,_ soul or life. As contrasted with spirit, it means the immaterial parts of man as untouched by the Divine: the climactic adjective following shows that what does not touch God is touched by hell. Note in James 3:16 the stress on _unproductiveness_ as the characteristic of sin. Confusion or re...

THE TEACHER'S PERIL (James 3:1) _ 3:1 My brothers, it is a mistake for many of you to become teachers, for you must be well aware that those of us who teach will receive a greater condemnation._ In the early church the teachers were of first rate importance Wherever they are mentioned, they are mentioned with honour. In the Church at Antioch they are ranked with the prophets who sent out Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey (Acts 13:1). In Paul's list of those who hold great gifts within the Church they come second only to the apostles and to the prophets (1 Corinthians 12:28; compare Ephesians 4:11)