James 3:13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - James 3:13-18

As the sins before condemned arise from an affectation of being thought more wise than others, and being endued with more knowledge than they, so the apostle in these verses shows the difference between men's pretending to be wise and their being really so, and between the wisdom which is from beneath (from earth or hell) and that which is from above. I. We have some account of true wisdom, with the distinguishing marks and fruits of it: Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you?... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 3:13-14

3:13-14 Who among you is a man of wisdom and of understanding? Let him show by the loveliness of his behaviour that all he does is done with gentleness. If in your hearts you have a zeal that is bitter, and selfish ambition, do not be arrogantly boastful about your attainments, for you are false to the truth. James goes back, as it were, to the beginning of the chapter. His argument runs like this: "Is there any of you who wishes to be a real sage and a real teacher? Then let him live a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 3:13

Who is a wise man. Meaning, not in things natural and civil, or merely moral, but in things spiritual: and he is a wise man, who is both wise to do good, and wise unto salvation; who has learned to know his own ignorance, folly, and stupidity; for the first lesson in the school of spiritual wisdom is for a man to know that he is a fool: and he is a wise man who considers his latter end, thinks of a future state, and what will become of him in another world; and who builds his faith and hope... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:13

Who is a wise man - One truly religious; who, although he can neither bridle nor tame other men's tongues, can restrain his own. And endued with knowledge - Και επιστημων· And qualified to teach others. Let him show - Let him by a holy life and chaste conversation show, through meekness and gentleness, joined to his Divine information, that he is a Christian indeed; his works and his spirit proving that God is in him of a truth; and that, from the fullness of a holy heart, his feet... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:13

Verse 13 13Who is a wise man. As the lust of slandering arises mostly from pride, and as the false conceit of wisdom for the most part generates pride, he therefore speaks here of wisdom. It is usual with hypocrites to exalt and shew off themselves by criminating all others, as the case was formerly with many of the philosophers, who sought glory for themselves by a bitter abuse of all other orders. Such haughtiness as slanderous men swell with and are blinded by, James checked, by denying that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:13

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? ( τίς σοφός καὶ ἐπιστήμων ἐν ὑμῖν ;); better, who is wise and understanding among you? ' επιστήμων is found here only in the New Testament. In the LXX . it is joined with σοφὸς (as here) in Deuteronomy 1:13 ; Deuteronomy 4:6 . "The ἐπιστήμων is one who understands and knows: the σοφὸς is one who carries out his knowledge into his life" (Dr. Farrar, who aptly quotes Tennyson's line, "Knowledge comes,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:13-16

False wisdom. The apostle suggests here that those who aspired too hastily to become Christian teachers ( James 3:1 ) showed themselves to be sadly deficient in wisdom. They were unwise at once in their estimate of their own powers, and in their judgment as to the kind of public discussions, which would be profitable for the Church. The cause of gospel truth could never be advanced by dogmatic disputations or bitter personal wrangling. Attend, therefore, says James in verse 13, to a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:13-18

WARNING AGAINST JEALOUSY AND FACTION . James 3:13 contains the positive exhortation to meekness; James 3:14 the negative warning against jealousy and party spirit; and then the following verses place side by side the portraits of the earthly and the heavenly wisdom. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:13-18

Wisdom. I. WISDOM SHOWS BY ITS FRUITS IN HEART AND LIFE . The following are some of the fruits of the heavenly wisdom: "By their fruits ye shall know them;" and therefore the presence or absence of such qualities as these form tests by which every one may recognize the presence or absence in his own heart of the wisdom which is from above. II. THE SINFULNESS OF PARTY SPIRIT . A sin which is not always recognized, especially in religious circles, as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:13-18

Wisdom, true and false. The temptation to be "teachers" ( James 3:1 ) arose from the notion that they possessed wisdom. How shall they show this wisdom, how shall they even use it, if they may not teach? The life is to be at once the practice and the manifestation of a wisdom that is true ( James 3:13 ). James here reverts to his earlier theme ( James 1:5 ); and we have for our consideration—The false wisdom and the true, in their origin, nature, and fruits. I. THE FALSE ... read more

Group of Brands