James 3:17

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. FIRST PURE, [ hagnee (G53)] - 'clean' from all that is "earthly, sensual (animal), devilish" (James 3:15). This is 'first of all' before "peaceable," because there is an unholy peace with the world, which makes no distinction between clean and unclean. Compare "undefiled" and "unspotted from the world," James 1:27; James 4:4; James 4:8;...

17_But the wisdom which is from above_. He now mentions the effects of celestial wisdom which are wholly contrary to the former effects. He says first that it is _pure_; by which term he excludes hypocrisy and ambition. (127) He, in the second place, calls it _peaceable_, to intimate that it is not contentious. In the third place, he calls it_kind _or humane, that we may know that it is far away from that immoderate austerity which tolerates nothing in our brethren. He also calls it _gentle _or tractable; by which he means that it widely differs from pride and malignity. In the last place, he says that it is _full of mercy_, etc., while hypocrisy is inhuman and inexorable. By _good fruits _he generally refers to all those duties which benevolent men perform towards their brethren; as though he had said, it is full of benevolence. It hence follows, that they lie who glory in their

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 17. _THE WISDOM THAT IS FROM ABOVE_] The pure religion of the Lord Jesus, bought by his blood, and infused by his Spirit. See the rabbinical meaning of this phrase at the end of this chapter. _IS FIRST PURE_] αγνη. _Chaste, holy_, and _clean_. _PEACEABLE_] ειρηνικη. Living in peace with others, and promoting peace among men. _GENTLE_] επιεικης. _Meek, modest_, of an _equal mind_, taking every thing in good part, and putting the best construction upon all the actions of others. _EASY TO BE ENTREATED_] ευπειθης. Not stubborn nor obstinate; of a yielding disposition in all indifferent things; obsequious, docile. _FULL OF MERCY_] Ready to pass by a transgression, and to grant forgiveness to those who offend, and performing every possible act of kindness. GOOD FRUITS

BUT THE WISDOM THAT IS FROM ABOVE - Compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 2:6. The wisdom which has a heavenly origin, or which is from God. The man who is characterised by that wisdom will be pure, peaceable, etc. This does not refer to the doctrines of religion, but to its spirit. IS FIRST PURE - That is, the first effect of it on the mind is to make it pure. The influence on the man is to make him upright, sincere, candid, holy. The word here used (ἁγνη hagnē) is that which would be applied to one who is innocent, or flee from crime or blame. Compare Phi 4:8; 1 Timothy 5:22;...

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

BUT THE WISDOM THAT IS FROM ABOVE,.... Which has God for its author; which is infused into the soul by the Spirit of God; and leads into the knowledge of things that are above, of heavenly things; and which only is true wisdom and knowledge; and those who are possessed of it are the only true Gnostics; for which, James 3:13 namely, the grace of God: this wisdom IS FIRST PURE; it is pure in itself, it is free from everything that is earthly, carnal, or sensual, or devilish; it produces purity of heart, of life, and conversation; and is the means of keeping persons pure and chaste, and free from impure lusts, lusts of uncleanness, pride, envy, wrath, c. which prevail in carnal and unregenerate men: AND THEN PEACEABLE it inclines and engages those who have it to live in peace with the saints, and even with all men; with those of their own househol

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)