September 28th 2025 James ch 3 v 13- 18 + ch 4 v 1- 2
Two Wisdoms..
13. Who is a wise man Although the entire Epistle of James is Wisdom literature, wisdom is expressly mentioned only in this passage and in 1 v 5.
It is important that the Jewish (not Greek) 'idea of wisdom be kept in mind.
Wise man is the technical term for teacher, and knowledge for expert knowledge.
By his good conversation or life style the wise man is to demonstrate his works with meekness of wisdom.
The pride of knowledge has always been the besetting sin of professional teachers.
As teachers, wisdom is shown in how we act and speak in our daily life
V 14. Pride of knowledge in the case of James' readers: gave an opening to jealousy and selfish ambition, which resulted in boasting (glory not) and don’t be false to the truth.
James does not mean here that the teachers were departing from the true doctrine, but rather that by their inconsistent living they were giving a lie to the truth of the Gospel.
V 15. This "false" wisdom is not that which comes down from above i.e., does not have its origin in God (1 v :5).
Instead, It is earthly, sensual, devilish. "These three words describe the so-called wisdom which is not of divine origin,
in this boasting sense it belongs to the earth, it is of this world not to the world above; to mans own nature, not to the spirit; and to the satanic spirits of evil instead of to God"
V 16. for indicates that what James now says is proof for what has just been said.
False wisdom produces confusion (disorder) probably a reference to squabbles in the church and every evil work.
God is neither a God of confusion (I Cor 14 v 33)
nor sympathetic to evil (I John 1 v 5).
So, Wisdom that causes such a situation cannot come from God.
V 17. In contrast is the wisdom that is from above:
It is the gift of God; it is practical Wisdom, wisdom that preserves unity and peace.
Because of the qualities credited to it…..-pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated (open to reason), full of mercy and good fruits without partiality): ( uncertainty)
some Biblical commentators have concluded that wisdom here is in reality Christ.
In the light of the early identification of Christ with the Wisdom of God, this is not impossible.
V 18. The fruit of righteousness could mean "the fruit which is righteousness." The statement then is in agreement with to ch 1 v 20:
The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
The righteousness of God is used by peacemakers who sow the gospel in peace.
CH. 4 V 1-2.
1. Wars and fighting’s are suggested in contrast with the peace mentioned in ch 3 v 18
James had in mind not wars between nations but quarrels and factions among Christians.
The source of these is to be found in your lusts ( Greek word hedonon,which really means pleasures) that war in your own body members.
2. You desire to have and cannot obtain; so you kill.
And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war.
It is not necessary to weaken or alter the reading ye kill, for by doing this you kill your own soul .
(Ropes a Bible commentator says) "James is not describing the condition of any special community, but is analyzing the result of choosing pleasure instead of God"
So the force is almost conditional, "If you desire ... I you covet . '. . .
One reason their desires (In this case the genuine ones) were not being realized was that they did not ask God, who alone can fully satisfy human desires.
News from the Church New dates
28th September… Harvest Festival
1st October..…..Friendship Group, (this covers all ages and the lonely people)
15th October…. Knit and natter is a time to finish old projects or learn new skills
if you just want to talk well that’s OK too
ANSWERS TO 21st September QUESTIONS
1) Amos 2) Romans 3) Job 4) Galatians 5) Matthew 6) Isaiah 7)Nahum 8) Deuteronomy
9) Acts 10) 1 Samuel 11) Zechariah 12) Titus 13) Jude 14) Lamentations 15) 1 John
16) Habakkuk
Bible Quiz this week’s Quiz is Where do you FIND
1 The 10 plagues?
2 A lions den?
3 A pitcher, a trumpet, and 300 men?
4 The hymnbook of the Jews?
5 A dreamer, a pit and a wonderful story?
6 A love story involving a man called Boaz?
7 A boy, a giant and 5 stones ?
8 The wisdom of a great King?
9 The walls of Jericho falling down?
10 A Prophet crying over the sins of the people, before God ?
11 A picture of the future?
12 The faith chapter?
13 A wheel within a wheel and a valley of dry bones ?
14 The prediction of where the Messiah would be born?
15 The words “vanity of vanities….. all is vanity”?
16 A man hanged on the gallows built for another man?
Matthew 25 v 31-32
When the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His GLORY:
V 32 and before Him shall be gathered all nations; and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats
God Bless