The Book of James: Chapter 3:7-18

Verse 7

James continued his illustration of a person not being able to control what they say. The question is why can a person control the animal kingdom and yet not control their words? We have four categories of species mentioned with regard to animals. The Greek word for beasts is “therion,” and refers to wild animals on the land. The Greek word for birds is “petainon,” which refers to animals who fly above the land. The Greek word for reptiles is “herpeton,” referring to snakes. The Greek word for creatures of the sea is “enalios,” referring to all marine animals. The Greek word for tamed is “damazo,” meaning to subdue or to control. While mankind can control these creatures, they cannot seem to control their tongue.

Verses 8-10

The Greek word for restless is “akatastasos,” meaning unstable. The Greek word for deadly is “thanatephoros,” meaning death-carrying. Poison is the Greek word “ios,” meaning venom. In this analogy, mental sins are the venom, while the tongue is the fang that carries the venom to the victim. The sins of the tongue demonstrate the instability of reversionism.

Remember that in reversionism there are wide mental and emotional swings. That is why a reversionist praises a person one minute and curses them the next. Reversionism is characterized by instability. A spiritually mature believer avoids the sins of the tongue. Their tongue does that for which it was designed, “blesses” God. It also expresses capacity for life, enthusiasm for life, and impersonal and personal love.

The sins of the tongue come from the sin nature. (Psalm 34:13; James 3:6) The sins of the tongue are motivated by mental attitude sins, especially pride, jealousy, bitterness, vindictiveness, implacability, and hatred. (Psalm 5:9) Out of the seven sins that are “an abomination to God,” three are sins of the tongue. (Proverbs 6:16-19) The habitual “sins of the tongue” are a sign of reversionism.

Control of the tongue is a sign of a spiritually maturing believer. (James 3:2) The tongue can produce enough slander, gossip, maligning, and judging to destroy an entire congregation (James 3:5-6) Since the sins of the tongue can destroy an entire congregation of believers, it is the duty of the pastor to constantly warn against them. (II Timothy 2:14-17) Troublemakers are characterized by sins of the tongue. (Psalm 52:2) Believers are specifically commanded to avoid such troublemakers and separate from them. (Romans 16:17-18)

The Greek word for likeness is “omoiosis,” which means essence and has a double connotation. First of all, it means all mankind has the same essence of the soul, invisible but real. Second, each member of the human race has a different personality and different character, so that they are all distinct from other members of the human race. The human race is one in essence but many in personality and character, just as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are One in essence but different in personalities.

Verse 11

This is a rhetorical question to illustrate and to teach; not a question to which an answer is sought. The answer is already expressed before the question is asked. A spring is consistent in the type of water that comes from it. While nature is always consistent, believers in reversionism are very inconsistent.

Verse 12

The fig tree was the national tree of Israel. The national tree of the Greeks was the olive tree.

James was saying it is not possible for a fig tree to produce olives or vice versa. (And the underlying thought seems to be that it impossible for a Jewish mother and a Jewish father to have a Greek child or vice versa.)

Nor can saltwater produce fresh means a believer should not be speaking cursing and blessing. If a believer is filled with the Holy Spirit, they will speak blessing. Speaking cursing is a sign of a believer who is out of fellowship with God.

Verse 13

Wise is a reference to maximum doctrine in the soul, a completed edification complex of the soul and the application of Bible doctrine. The Greek word for wise is “sophos,” and it means insight into spiritual things. The Greek word for understanding is “epistemon,” which means to be a master of a subject; an expert in the field of doctrine. So, we have

The Greek word for show is “deiknumi,” which means to demonstrate. The Greek word for behavior is “anastrophe,” meaning manner of life. His deeds is a reference to divine production. The Greek word for gentleness is “prautes,” which means grace orientation. The Greek word for wisdom is “sofia,” and means applied doctrine.

Verse 14

The Greek word for jealousy is “zelos,” which means envy. The Greek word for bitter is “pikros,” which is an adjective to describe jealousy. Jealousy always produces bitterness and strife. It leads to the sins of the tongue. Selfish ambition is the Greek word “erithia,” which means self-seeking, rivalry, or self-willed.

Do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. The Greek word for arrogant is “kauxaomai,” which means to boast. The Greek word for lie is “pseudo,” meaning falsely. A person in reversionism tries to make themselves out to be honorable by boasting about their pseudo-spiritual life, which is arrogance.

Verse 15

Wisdom is the Greek word “sofia,” which is used for accurate Bible doctrine that can be applied. Satan has a counterfeit, which is the application of demonic doctrine to experience. This doctrine is not from God; it is false doctrine from Satan. The devil is the ruler of this world system and his doctrine is false. The world system is the devil’s kingdom and the “wisdom of the earth” belongs to his kingdom.

Verses 16-18

Wisdom is the Greek word “sofia,” referring to Bible doctrine that is applicable.

Bible doctrine that has been converted into spiritual knowledge is pure, meaning it is holy (Greek word “hagnos”), and is without contamination. Peace-loving means the Word of God is in harmony with the mind of God and His plan for believers. Gentle is the Greek word “epieikes,” which means humble or teachable. Full of mercy and good fruits means grace in action that produces divine good. Impartial means any believer can have divine wisdom from the study of God’s Word. Free of hypocrisy means not pseudo-wisdom, but genuine wisdom from God.

The fruit of righteousness refers to the harvest that is being produced in the life of a believer who is applying Bible doctrine consistently. The Greek word for peace is “eirene,” meaning tranquility based on the application of accurate Bible doctrine.