Fathers

James 3

Tap a verse to read the Fathers. Press and hold, then drag, to make a card.

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

About · Privacy · Credits · Support VRSZ

What the Fathers say

James 3:13

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

Having finished his discourse on the recklessness and unruliness of the tongue, the apostle turns his speech to "envy," which is born in people from similar thoughtlessness. He said this, having first praised the good teacher.

Commentary on James ↗

Oecumenius

Who is wise and has knowledge among you? Let him show by good conversation his working in mildness of wisdom. But if you have bitter zeal, and there be disputes in your hearts: glory not and be not liars against the truth. For this is not wisdom descending from above: but earthly, sensual, devilish. For where zeal and contention is: there is inconstancy, and every perverse work. …

Commentary on James ↗

Desert Fathers

Hyperichius said, 'He who teaches others by his life and not his speech is truly wise.'

The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks ↗

Western Saints

Bede

Who among you is wise and disciplined, let him show by good conduct his works in the humility of wisdom. Because he had imposed silence on wicked teachers and had forbidden them to hold the rank of teacher, since he saw that they had neither the perfection of life nor the restraint of the tongue, he consequently admonishes that if anyone among them is wise and disciplined, or appears to be so to himself, let him show his wisdom and discipline more by living wisely and disciplined than by teaching others. …

Commentary on the Catholic Epistles ↗

Bonaventure

The second pillar of the house of wisdom is innocence in the mind. Augustine says that "peace is the tranquility of order," namely, when one humbly subjects himself to a superior, conducts himself equably toward an equal, and discreetly governs an inferior. All who are children of wisdom maintain this order. He who disturbs this peace destroys the house of wisdom. "He who is patient is governed by much wisdom; he who is impatient exalts his own folly." Blessed James says: "Who is wise and instructed among you? …

Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 9 ↗