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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - James 3
Verse Commentaries:
Chapter Level Commentary:
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired but it is the key to following the original author's intent which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph
4. Etc.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS TO Jas_3:1-12
A. Human speech is a recurrent theme of James (cf. Jas_1:19; Jas_1:26; Jas_2:14; Jas_3:1-12; Jas_4:11-12; Jas_5:12). He deals with it from several different angles in almost every chapter. Speech is part of the image of God in mankind (cf. Jas_3:9).
B. A person's words, like a person's works in Jas_2:14-26, truly reveals one's spiritual orientation (cf. Mat_12:37).
C. The tongue can be a great blessing when controlled and energized by God, but a terrible, destructive force in the hands of the evil one.
D. Opening Thoughts From Proverbs on Human Speech
1. Human speech enables us to communicate to others how we feel about life. Therefore, it reveals who we really are (Pro_18:2; Pro_4:23; Pro_4:20-27). Speech is the acid test of the person (Pro_23:7).
2. We are social creatures. We are concerned with acceptance and affirmation. We need it from God and from our fellow humans. Words have the power to meet these needs in both positive (Pro_17:10) and negative (Pro_12:18) ways.
3. There is tremendous power in human speech (Pro_19:20-21)—the power to bless and heal (Pro_10:11; Pro_10:21) and the power to curse and destroy (Pro_11:9).
4. We reap what we sow (Pro_12:14).
Principles from Proverbs on Human Speech
1. The negative and destructive potential of human speech
a. the words of evil men ( Pro_1:11-19; Pro_10:6; Pro_11:9; Pro_11:11; Pro_12:5-6)
b. the words of the adulteress (Pro_5:2-5; Pro_6:24-35; Pro_7:5 ff; Pro_9:13-18; Pro_22:14)
c. the words of the liar (Pro_6:12-15; Pro_6:17; Pro_6:19; Pro_10:18; Pro_12:17-19; Pro_12:22; Pro_14:5; Pro_14:25; Pro_17:4; Pro_19:5; Pro_19:9; Pro_19:28; Pro_21:28; Pro_24:28; Pro_25:18; Pro_26:23-28)
d. the words of the fool (Pro_10:10; Pro_10:14; Pro_14:3; Pro_15:14; Pro_18:6-8)
e. the words of false witnesses (Pro_6:19; Pro_12:17; Pro_19:5; Pro_19:9; Pro_19:28; Pro_21:8; Pro_24:28; Pro_25:18)
f. the words of a gossip (Pro_6:14; Pro_6:19; Pro_11:13; Pro_16:27-28; Pro_20:19; Pro_25:23; Pro_26:20)
g. the words too quickly spoken (Pro_6:1-5; Pro_12:18; Pro_20:25; Pro_29:20)
h. the words of flattery (Pro_29:5)
i. too many words (Pro_10:14; Pro_10:19; Pro_10:23; Pro_11:13; Pro_13:3; Pro_13:16; Pro_14:23; Pro_15:2; Pro_17:27-28; Pro_18:2; Pro_21:23; Pro_29:20)
j. perverted words (Pro_17:20; Pro_19:1)
2. The positive, healing and edifying potential of human speech
a. the words of the righteous (Pro_10:11; Pro_10:20-21; Pro_10:31-32; Pro_12:14; Pro_13:2; Pro_15:23; Pro_16:13; Pro_18:20)
b. the words of the discerning (Pro_10:13; Pro_11:12)
c. the words of knowledge (Pro_15:1; Pro_15:4; Pro_15:7-8; Pro_20:15)
d.the words of healing (Pro_15:4)
e. the words of a gentle answer (Pro_15:1; Pro_15:4; Pro_15:18; Pro_15:23; Pro_16:1; Pro_25:15)
f. the words of a pleasant answer (Pro_12:25; Pro_15:26; Pro_15:30; Pro_16:24)
g. the words of the law (Pro_22:17-21)
Principles from the New Testament on Human Speech
1. Human speech enables us to communicate to others how we feel about life, therefore, it reveals who we really are (Mat_15:1-20; Mar_7:2-23).
2. We are social creatures. We are concerned with acceptance and affirmation. We need it from God and from our fellow man. Words have the power to meet these needs in both positive ( 2Ti_3:15-17) and negative (Jas_3:2-12) ways.
3. There is tremendous power in human speech; the power to bless (Eph_4:29) and the power to curse (Jas_3:9). We are responsible for what we say (Jas_3:2-12).
4. We will be judged by our words (Mat_12:33-37; Luk_6:39-45) as well as our deeds (Mat_25:31-46). We reap what we sow (Gal_6:7).
E. There is an interesting discussion on the topic of "Biblical Perspectives on Language" in Foundations of Contemporary Interpretation, edited by Moises Silva, pp. 204-217.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
1. How do you know who truly speaks for God?
2. Describe true wisdom.
Describe false wisdom.
3. How are Galatians 5 and Jas_3:13-18 related?
4. How does chapter 3 relate to chapter 2?