Comments on James 3 v1-12 These verses address defilement by the tongue, the second of the types of disunity within a person. The first disunity was a difference between what you say and what you do. This disunity is between what you say and what you say. Or, in other words, the person is inconsistent in their speech. They bless and curse with the same mouth. v1 The IV/JST differs from the KJV, as follows: KJV IV --- -- My brethren, My brethren, be not many masters, strive not for the mastery, knowing that knowing that in so doing we shall receive we shall receive the greater condemnation. the greater condemnation. The Greek term "didaskalos" translated here to "masters" is more commonly translated to "teachers". v2 The KJV translation is poor. The New American Standard translated this verse: For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. v11-12 The examples employed here use symbols of unity from nature. Just as a fountain cannot produce water that is both bad and good, because it mixes, and just as fig trees produce figs and not olives, we should follow nature's example rather than rebel against it. v13-4:12 This section addresses contention occurring among the people of the Church. This is the hardest hitting section of text within the letter as it very pointedly addresses the underlying roots of contention: envy (v. 14), arrogance (v. 14), lying (v. 14), hypocrisy (v. 17), covetousness (cf. 4:2), adultery (cf. 4:4), double-mindedness (cf. 4:8). James pulls no punches as he states that contention is simply a byproduct of sinfulness within the ecclesia, it is only a symptom of more serious woes. This is why contention is so vigorously warned against in the Scriptures, because once it rears its ugly head you can be certain that there is serious sin within the ecclesia. He warns them off from contention (cf. 4:11-12) and encourages them to be truly wise in deed as well as word (v. 13). Copyright © 2002 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.