Verses 13-14: Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
Note: It should be remembered that the entire context of chapter three has its origin in the first verse concerning teachers—James’ cautionary note to those who had begun to teach without being qualified. It is imperative that a teacher of God’s Word should regard James’ instruction of what personal qualities to avoid as well as which to embrace.
However, this has practical application for all believers. For we all may not stand in front of a congregation to teach, but we all have an obligation to be effective witnesses of the gospel and that may well entail teaching. Therefore, all believers must avoid the negative qualities which James illustrates here.
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There are two parts to the question which James begins with here. First, who is wise? W.E. Vine states that this adjective refers to “believers endowed with spiritual and practical wisdom.”1 In other words, a believer who has studied God’s Word and has learned the doctrines of their faith. Now this is excellent! But what if this is merely an academic exercise? All that had been learned would be simply facts and data minus any momentum to apply these truths.
Which brings us naturally to the second part of the question: who understands? The Greek word for understanding [epistḗmōn/ἐπιστήμων] is an adjective describing someone who is full of knowledge. But it infers more than just having knowledge—it means one who is skillful, an expert. An understanding believer is one who has the expertise to put into practice what they have learned and demonstrate it by their good behavior.
This is why James suggests that the underlying deficiency of the stumbling man and the untamed tongue can be attributed to the lack of a good behavior. By behavior he means our conduct or manner of life, specifically, that our actions should be in accord with God’s Word. For some unknown reason the New American Standard Bible translators used the word deeds instead of the correct one: works. By employing the word deeds, it diminishes the continuity of James’ teachings so far on Christian works. In this case the works (actions/deeds) should demonstrate the product of the believers’ saving faith.
The command to believers given, let him show, should be more forceful. A better reading would be: he must exhibit by his good behavior his works. This is in perfect harmony within the context of this chapter. James is urging that the believer should endeavor to be a “perfect man, able to bridle the whole body” (3:2). The exhibition of the perfect man’s good behavior is impossible without the Biblical and practical wisdom from the God’s Word. The apostle Paul refers to this perfect man as the new self that has had a renovation in the spirit and mind:
In reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” (Ephesians 4:22–24)
Finally, the works of our good behavior is to be performed in the gentleness or meekness of wisdom. Lenski fully explains:
It is that lowly attitude of heart which is full of gentleness and mildness towards others, the opposite of arrogant self-assertion and of ruthless domination...it is James who connects wisdom with meekness and thereby shows his depth of insight, which is not merely the fact that wisdom shows itself in conduct by shows itself in the meekness of that conduct.2
Bitter Jealousy and Selfish Ambition
James identifies two opposite characteristics of a good behavior: bitter jealousy—better understood as bitter rivalry—and selfish ambition. MacArthur states what these traits combined suggest:
Refers to self-seeking that engenders antagonism and factionalism. The Greek word came to describe anyone who entered politics for selfish reasons and sought to achieve his agenda at any cost (i.e., even if that meant trampling on others).3
James proceeds to state that these qualities may be located “in your heart”, the very core of your being where God’s wisdom ought to be. This seems to be analogous with the question in verse 11[I paraphrase]: can a fountain (heart) produce both fresh and bitter water? By possessing these bitter rivalries and a self-seeking attitude we are not going to be effective witnesses to a lost culture. Therefore, we must heed James’ command: “do not be arrogant.” As derived from the Greek construction, the emphasis is: Stop being arrogant or stop boasting, as in some translations. In defining the word arrogant, Bultmann states that "It brings out strongly the element of comparative superiority expressed in boasting, 'to boast in triumphant comparison with others.'”4
The problem which James is trying to point out is that those who teach and proclaim that they have wisdom—knowledge of divine truth—ought not to be boasting about their wisdom. Boasting about what they know implies that they are exaggerating the truth of the matter. This exposes their error: lying against what is factual constitutes lying against the actual truth—these “petty triumphs are often gained at the expense of truth.”5
[1] Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2.679.
[2] Lenski, R.C.H. (2001). Commentary on the New Testament. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 10.615-616.
[3] MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, James 3:14, note.
[4] Bultmann, R. (1964–). κατακαυχάομαι. In Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley, & G. Friedrich, Eds.). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 3.653.
[5] Oesterley, W.E. (1990). The Expositor’s Greek Testament (Nicoll, W. Robertson, ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 4.455.
© 2023 David M. Rossi
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