The General Epistle of James

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- Chapter 3 -

(Psalm 64:1–10)

My brothers, not many of you should choose to become teachers, knowing that you shall receive a stricter judgment.

For we all offend in many ways. If anyone does not offend in word, he is a perfect man. And he is then able, as if with a bridle, to lead the whole body around.

For so we put bridles into the mouths of horses, in order to submit them to our will, and so we turn their whole body around.

Consider also the ships, which, though they are great and may be driven by strong winds, yet they are turned around with a small rudder, to be directed to wherever the strength of the pilot might will.

So also the tongue certainly is a small part, but it moves great things. Consider that a small fire can set ablaze a great forest.

And so the tongue is like a fire, comprising all iniquity. The tongue, stationed in the midst of our body, can defile the entire body and inflame the wheel of our nativity, setting a fire from Hell.

For the nature of all beasts and birds and serpents and others is ruled over, and has been ruled over, by human nature.

But no man is able to rule over the tongue, a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

By it we bless God the Father, and by it we speak evil of men, who have been made in the likeness of God.

From the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so!

Does a fountain emit, out of the same opening, both sweet and bitter water?

My brothers, can the fig tree yield grapes? Or the vine, figs? Then neither is salt water able to produce fresh water.

The Wisdom from Above

Who is wise and well-taught among you? Let him show, by means of good conversation, his work in the meekness of wisdom.

But if you hold a bitter zeal, and if there is contention in your hearts, then do not boast and do not be liars against the truth.

For this is not wisdom, descending from above, but rather it is earthly, beastly, and diabolical.

For wherever envy and contention is, there too is inconstancy and every depraved work.

But within the wisdom that is from above, certainly, chastity is first, and next peacefulness, meekness, openness, consenting to what is good, a plenitude of mercy and good fruits, not judging, without falseness.(a)

And so the fruit of justice is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Footnotes

(a)3:17 The word ‘modesta’ in this context is closer to meekness, or even self-restraint, than to modesty. The idea of modesty is included in ‘pudica’. Notice the progression that is necessary to obtain and increase in wisdom: first one must be chaste, for the unchaste are never wise, then peaceful, for violence does not lead to wisdom, then meek, then open to accepting truth, then actually consenting to those truths and other good things, which then results in the ability to be merciful and to bear much fruit.(Conte)

(Psalm 64:1–10)

Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.

For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also.

Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.

Behold,(a) the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.

So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!

And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.(b)

For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind;

but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God.

Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?

Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.

The Wisdom from Above

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth.

This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.

For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Footnotes

(a)3:4 “Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

(b)3:6 or, Hell