Fathers

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What the Fathers say

James 3:14

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

People who love to rule and who boast of the wisdom of this world preached in opposition to the Orthodox teachers, envying them and mixing the human with the Divine in order to attract listeners to themselves by the novelty of their teaching, from which heresies also arose. And since zeal can be applied to both good and evil — for zeal is a fervent striving of the soul toward something with a certain likening to that toward which there is zeal — the apostle added "bitter," to show what kind of zeal he is speaking of. …

Commentary on James ↗

Western Saints

Bede

But if you have bitter zeal, and there are contentions in your hearts, do not glory, etc. He says 'bitter zeal' because there is also sweet zeal, from which also the apostle Simon rightly received the name of perfect heart. Which also Elijah had, when he said: I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Hosts, for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant (1 Kings 19). And the apostle Paul: For I am jealous for you with a Godly jealousy (2 Corinthians 11). …

Commentary on the Catholic Epistles ↗