James returns to a theme threaded through chapters 1 and 2: “quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger” (1:19); the bridling of the tongue (1:26); the disingenuous idle words (2:16).
He begins with the command that not many should become teachers—specifically, teachers of Bible doctrine. Apparently in the Church’s early days, there were those who wished to aspire to teach without the proper foundations of the faith, possibly emphasizing Jewish customs or introducing false doctrines. Since Christianity was in its infancy, doctrines of the Christian faith hadn’t been fully disseminated until the inspired writing of James then Paul (c. 52 AD), Peter (c. 64-67 AD) and John (c. 90 AD). James’ cautionary note was to those who had begun to teach without being qualified or even comprehending the doctrines of the Christian faith.
However, James implies that it is right for some to consider becoming teachers. The apostle Paul stated that becoming a teacher is divinely motivated seeing that God appointed them in the Church:
And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:28f)
And that He has done so with a specific purpose:
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11–13)
We should be mindful of James’ cautionary note because it applies even to the church today. For those who are motivated to become teachers by blatant arrogance or blind ambition (cf. Matthew 23:5–7; Philippians 1:17), they will receive a stricter judgment for misguiding believers especially if they are teaching false doctrine (Jude 11-16). R.C.H. Lenski aptly observes:
God will look more closely at all teachers when he judges them. Teachers undertake to convey God’s Word in the way in which God wants it conveyed; God will judge them on that score.[1]
James admits in verse 2 the fact that we all stumble, that we all slip up or commit sin. The emphasis in the Greek is on the phrase many ways, so there is no foundation for the false doctrine of sinless perfection. I believe the phrase does not stumble in what he says means ‘does not aspire to teach when unqualified to teach.’ Controlling the impulse to be a teacher is the important point that he is making—the mature (perfect) person has control of the content of what proceeds from his mouth. And by doing so, this individual will be able to control (bridle) the whole body as well.
Next, two illustrations are presented to support his argument: First, a person’s ability to control a horse by placing the bridle (the bits) into the horses’ mouth, the rider is able to direct the horses’ entire body (vs. 3); Second, by using a very small rudder the ship’s pilot can direct the ship wherever he wishes it to sail (vs. 4). These examples indicate two different hindrances that must be overcome in order to control the horse that they will obey and the ship that is large and driven by strong winds. It follows that since a person can control a horse or a ship that he can certainly control what he says and thus become a mature person. Exactly how a person overcomes that which hinders his ability to control what he says, James will explain at length later in this chapter.
The essence of what James is telling us, is that it takes a mature individual to understand that teaching God’s Word is by divine appointment and not to be recklessly grasped; and that the content of what is taught must be consistent with what God has revealed—His divine viewpoint—and not interpreted by human viewpoint.
[1] Lenski, R.C.H. (2001). Commentary on the New Testament, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 10.600.
© 2023 David M. Rossi