James
Summary
James warns about the serious responsibility of those who teach, noting that they will be judged with "greater strictness." He focuses on the power and volatility of the tongue, describing it as a "small member" that can "boast great things" and defile the whole body, much like a small fire can set a whole forest ablaze. The author contrasts the tongue, which can both bless God and curse people, with the wisdom that comes from above. True wisdom is described as "pure, peaceable, gentle," and full of mercy and good fruits, as opposed to the "earthly, sensual, and demonic" wisdom characterized by bitter envy and strife.
My brothers, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
For in many things we all stumble. If any person does not stumble in word, the same is a perfect person, and able also to bridle the whole body.
Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven by fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, wherever the pilot desires.
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles!
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind:
But the tongue can no one tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
With it we bless God, even the Father; and with it we curse people, who are made after the similitude of God.
Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not so to be.
Does a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
Can the fig tree, my brothers, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
Who is a wise person and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conduct his works with gentleness of wisdom.
But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
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.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.