James 3:15 NIV

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 3:15-16

3:15-16 Such wisdom is not the wisdom which comes down from above, but is earthly, characteristic of the natural man, inspired by the devil. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil thing. This bitter and arrogant wisdom, so-called, is very different from real wisdom. James first of all describes it in itself, and then in its effects. In itself it is three things. (i) It is earthly. Its standards and sources are earthly. It measures success in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 3:15

This wisdom descendeth not from above ,.... If it must be called wisdom, as it ought not; an envious, quarrelsome, and contentious spirit, does not deserve such a name; yet if any will call it so, or can think that a man of such a disposition is a man possessed of wisdom; it is such wisdom as does not come from above, from heaven, from the Father of lights, from Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and from the spirit of wisdom and revelation: what the Jews say ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:15

This wisdom descendeth not from above - God is not the author of it, because it is bitter - not meek. See at the end of this chapter. Is earthly - Having this life only in view. Sensual - Ψυχικη· Animal - having for its object the gratification of the passions and animal propensities. Devilish - Δαιμονιωδης· Demoniacal - inspired by demons, and maintained in the soul by their indwelling influence. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:15

Verse 15 15This wisdom descendeth not. As hypocrites with difficulty give way, he sharply checked their haughtiness, denying that to be true wisdom with which they were inflated, while they were extremely morose in searching out the vices of others. Conceding to them, however, the term wisdom, he shews by the words he applies to it its true character, and says that it is earthly, sensual, devilish, or demoniac, while true wisdom must be heavenly, spiritual, divine; which three things are... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:15

" This wisdom [of which you boast] is not a wisdom which cometh down from above." Vulgate, non est enim ista sctpientia desursum descendens. But is earthly, sensual, devilish. Dr. Farrar well says that this wisdom is "earthly because it avariciously cares for the goods of earth ( Philippians 3:19 ); animal , because it is under the sway of animal lusts ( 1 Corinthians 2:14 ); demon-like , because full of pride, egotism, malignity, and ambition, which are the works of the... read more

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

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 3:15-16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 3:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:15

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:13-16

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:13-18

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:13-18

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:13-18

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:15

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