Wednesday, 7 August 2019

This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. James 3:15

The previous verse spoke of having bitter envy and self-seeking in one’s heart. James now states that those things are opposed to that which is heavenly or godly. Rather, the opposite is true.… Read the rest

Tuesday, 6 August 2019

But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. James 3:14

James, still addressing teachers, has just said that the wise among them should “show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” Now, he shows a state which is contrary to that by saying, “But if you have bitter envy.” The word translated as “envy” is one which can have a positive or a negative connotation, zelos.… Read the rest

Monday, 5 August 2019

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. James 3:13

James has been speaking of the tongue, and in particular that of it issuing forth both blessings and curses. He shows that this is contradictory and illogical.… Read the rest

Sunday, 4 August 2019

Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. James 3:12

James continues with more rhetorical questions, again demanding negative answers. He questions, “Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives”? This takes the student of the Bible back to the first page of Scripture –

“Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth’; and it was so. … Read the rest

Saturday, 3 August 2019

Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? James 3:11

James now turns to a rhetorical question. In the Greek, the question begins with an interrogative particle which implies that a negative response is expected. To get a further sense of the language, he uses a definite article before “spring.” He says, “the spring.” This is given to emphatically generalize the question.… Read the rest