A Word from Bob
Many biblical counselors use James 3:13-18 in their counseling ministry. To make it easier for you to use today’s post with a counselee, or in a teaching/training setting, I’ve created a free PDF version of this post. You can download it here.
The Truly Wise Person: Peaceable Not Pugnacious
We often think of wisdom as:
- The ability to relate God’s truth to life.
It is that. But biblically, wisdom is much more than that. Biblical wisdom is:
- The ability to relate well while we relate God’s truth to life.
Do you detect the difference?
The purpose and point of James 3:13-18 is to teach us that genuine wisdom shows itself by genuine love:
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom” (James 3:13).
- Biblically, wisdom is not just about content and facts. Biblical wisdom is about character and relationships.
This aligns seamlessly with the overall purpose of the book of James, which is to emphasize that true faith is not merely intellectual assent. True faith shows itself in genuine love.
14 “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:14-17).
How does true wisdom show itself? As we’ll see from James 3:13-18:
- The truly wise person is peaceable, not pugnacious.
- The sage is patient, not quick tempered. They are gentle, not quarrelsome.
Someone potentially could be “smart enough” to apply a biblical passage, however, they do it in an arrogant, belligerent, pugnacious way. They speak truth harshly and punitively, rather than in love with gentleness.
- The pseudo-sage is pugnacious. The genuine sage is a peacemaker.
Two Very Different Portraits of “Wisdom”
In James 3:13-18, we read:
13 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”
Don’t forget the context of James 3. James is talking about teachers.
- We think of false teachers as those who don’t speak the truth.
- James thinks of false teachers as those who don’t speak in love.
In our social media age, there are a lot of pseudo-teachers spouting all sorts of proclamations. Here’s the question that James answers for us:
How do we discern whether a teacher is speaking words of wisdom from God, versus words of worldly “wisdom” from below?
James starkly contrasts wisdom from above with “wisdom” from below. James contrast pugnacious pseudo-wisdom with peaceable genuine wisdom. Be sure to notice—these contrasts all have to do with character and relationship.
9 Marks of Worldly, Earthly “Wisdom”: The Pugnacious Pseudo-Sage
Mark #1: Bitter Envy—James 3:14
The pseudo-sage harbors bitter jealousy. They are harsh, critical, contentious. They speak in a fight-provoking manner. Their words are like broken cisterns holding only brackish, salty, filthy water, instead of bubbling, refreshing, fresh spring water.
They speak out of envy, malice, indignation, and wrath. They are resentful when others are in the spotlight. They are “sour souls” who resent when others have more attention or followers.
If a teacher, counselor, or pastor claims to be wise, but consistently is hyper-critical and persistently contentious, then they are a pseudo-sage spouting worldly drivel not godly wisdom.
Mark #2: Selfish Ambition—James 3:14
Moffat nails this, describing selfish ambition as, “the intensity and harsh zeal which lead to unscrupulous partisanship, which are sometimes justified as loyalty to the truth.” Worldly “wisdom” defends its harshness with, “But I’m just fighting for the truth!” In reality, they are just fighting! Pseudo-sages go against the qualifications of a pastor-shepherd in 1 Timothy 3:7 and Titus 1:7 which teach that pastor-teachers are not to be pugnacious, a striker, short-fused, quarrelsome, violent.
The Greek behind “selfish ambition” portrays a party spirit, a fractious person, a tribal mindset, a contentious attitude, and a feisty brawler. Again, Moffat is spot on:
“Religious people may be extremely provoking, and defeat their own ends by overbearing methods. Right views and sound counsels may lose their effect if they are expressed by men who are self-seeking partisans or unscrupulous controversialists.”
If a teacher, counselor, or pastor claims to be wise, but habitually is hyper-partisan, tribal, and quarrelsome, then they are a pseudo-sage spouting worldly drivel not godly wisdom.
Mark #3: Arrogant—James 3:14
The arrogant person is boastful, glories over others, and assumes superiority over others. In their hubris, they see issues in other people and groups, but they are blind to the specks and logs in their own eyes. Calvin describes it like this, “they exalt and shew off themselves by criminating all others.”
If a teacher, counselor, or pastor claims to be wise, but lacks humility and the ability to discern issues in their own life or their own “tribe,” then they are a pseudo-sage spouting worldly drivel not godly wisdom.
Mark #4: Lying and Mischaracterizing—James 3:14
James says that worldly wisdom claims to speak the truth in love but in reality they lie against the truth in cruelty. Matthew 5:11 uses the same word as James 3:14 and describes it as “speaking all kinds of evil against you falsely.” Pseudo-sages mischaracterize others.
Here are Calvin’s descriptions of this type of behavior:
“The lust of slandering arises mostly from pride.”
“They are supercilious censors, who largely indulge themselves, and at the same time spare not others. They seem to themselves to be very wise, but are greatly mistaken; for the Lord teaches his people far otherwise, even to be meek, and to be courteous to others.”
If a teacher, counselor, or pastor claims to be wise, but slanders and mischaracterizes others, then they are a pseudo-sage spouting worldly drivel not godly wisdom.
Marks #5, 6, and 7: Earthly, Unspiritual, Demonic (The World, the Flesh, and the Devil)—James 3:15
Feisty, fighting, pugnacious, mischaracterizing “wisdom” is does not come down from God above. Instead, it is “earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.” It is of the world, the flesh, and the devil.
“Earthly” is inferior, temporal—it claims God’s perspective, but in reality see’s life with “eyeballs only,” not with “spiritual eyes.” “Unspiritual” means to be occupied with this life only, to be focused on the sensual, the natural, the flesh. “Demonic” is inspired by the pride of demons.
If a teacher, counselor, or pastor claims to be wise, but fights like the world, and frames life through a worldly perspective, then they are a pseudo-sage spouting worldly drivel not godly wisdom.
Mark # 8: Disorder—James 3:16
“Disorder” means instability; hence, an unsettled state, commotion, tumult, sedition, chaos and confusion. Calvin describes it as the person who is “tumultuous and boils up immoderately against others.” It reminds me of the words to the theme song to the TV show, Monk: “It’s a jungle out there, disorder and confusion everywhere. It’s a jungle out there, poison in the very air we breathe.”
If a teacher, counselor, or pastor claims to be wise, but promotes commotion, provokes division, and spews poisonous slander, then they are a pseudo-sage spouting worldly drivel not godly wisdom.
Mark #9: Evil Practice—James 3:16
Many commentators take “evil practice” as a summation—it is the evil heart acting out in evil practices. Calvin summarizes it like this, “the malignant and the slanderer does everything confusedly and rashly, as though he were beside himself; and hence he adds, every evil work.”
If a teacher, counselor, or pastor claims to be wise, but their heart leads them to speak destructive words, then they are a pseudo-sage spouting worldly drivel not godly wisdom.
12 Marks of Godly, Heavenly Wisdom: The Peaceable Genuine Sage
Worldly “wisdom” relates in a worldly way. It is pugnacious rather than peaceable.
True wisdom—godly, heavenly wisdom—relates in a Christlike way. It is meek, humble, peaceable.
Mark #1: Good Life—James 3:13
James 3:13 is the key verse. The wise person shows their wisdom by their good life, by deeds done in humility. Wisdom is not just content/understanding; wisdom is character/relationship.
“Good life” is a beautiful, honorable, virtuous life of exemplary conduct, of living in such a way that you attract others to Christ. Colossians 4:5-6 pictures it well. “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Mark #2: Humble Deeds—James 3:13
Rather than pugnacious and violent, the truly wise person is humble, gentle, meek, and mild. Their words and actions display patience and forbearance. They have stretchy love that covers over a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). They look first and primarily at the log in their own eyes, before they ever point out the speck in the eyes of others.
Mark #3: Pure—James 3:17
According to James, wisdom from above is first of all “pure.” That it, it is chaste, modest, innocent, blameless. “The reference is not to sexual purity but to the absence of any sinful attitude or motive.” (Burdick).
When the sage speaks, their motives are pure. When the pseudo-sage speaks, their motives are impure, self-serving, arising out of jealousy and envy; knocking others down in order to build themselves up. Unlike them, the wise person speaks to empower and encourage others, rather than to overpower and discourage others.
Mark #4: Peace-Loving—James 3:17
Wisdom from above is peaceable. It is not pugnacious, not always looking for a verbal sparring match, not quick to pick a fight, not addicted to conflict. The wise person is gentle and kind, not stern and punitive. The true sage is a shalom-spreader.
Mark #5: Considerate/Gentle—James 3:17
Wisdom from above is considerate/gentle: suitable, fair, reasonable, mild, patient. Sam Storm describes it like this:
“Heavenly wisdom produces in the heart a considerate and respectful attitude that says to those who disagree with him, ‘Let’s sit down and talk; I’d love to hear your point of view; help me see the ways that I might be misled or misinformed.’”
The gentle person is forgiving and gracious, not perfectionistic with others, not condemning of others. Matthew Arnold called it “sweet reasonableness.” It is the ability to extend to others the kindly consideration we would wish to receive ourselves” (Barclay).
Mark #6: Submissive/Open to Reason—James 3:17
Wisdom from above is submissive and open to reason: easily persuaded, compliant. To be “open to reason” is the opposite of being stubborn and unyielding. This wisdom is willing to yield. It is conciliatory. It is the opposite of stiff and unbending. Barclay describes it like this:
“Eupeithes can mean easy to persuade, not in the sense of being pliable and weak, but in the sense of not being stubborn and of being willing to listen to reason and to appeal… true wisdom is not rigid but is willing to listen and skilled in knowing when wisely to yield.”
Mark #7: Full of Mercy—James 3:17
Wisdom from above is full of mercy: pity, compassion, kindness. It does not judge others strictly on the basis of the law, but will extend a generous hand full of grace. This wisdom knows that the same measure of mercy we grant to others is the same measure God will use with us (Matthew 7:2).
Mark #8: Full of Good Fruit—James 3:17
Wisdom from above is full of good fruit: beneficial, profitable, generous. This wisdom can be seen by the fruit it produces. It isn’t just the inner power to think and talk about things the right way; it is the God-empowered ability to live out truth in how we relate to and minister to others.
Mark #9: Impartial—James 3:17
Wisdom from above is impartial: free from prejudicial judgment. Poole explains:
“Without partiality; or, without judging, i.e. not a curious inquiring into the faults of others to find matter for censures.”
The pseudo-sage speaks and spouts about seeing and spotting sins in others. The pseudo-sage constantly censures others. The genuine sage is not a sin-spotter, but a grace-giver. The true sage does treat others as “outsiders” to be judged. The true sage is not tribal, but impartial.
Mark #10: Sincere—James 3:17
Wisdom from above is sincere: free from hypocrisy, unfeigned, real, This wisdom is without hypocrisy.
“Without pretending to be what it is not; acting always in its own character; never working under a mask. Seeking nothing but God’s glory, and using no other means to attain it than those of his own prescribing” (Clarke).
Mark #11: Peacemaker—James 3:18
In this final verse, James captures and encapsulates the essence of the character of the true sage—peacemaker. Not pugnacious, not a brawler, not itching for a fight, not constantly trying to trap someone in their words, not consistently trying to trip up someone from outside their tribe. Calvin describes this pointedly:
“Those who wish to be physicians to heal vices ought not to be executioners.”
“Peacemakers moderate their zeal with the condiment of peace, while hypocrites throw all things into confusion by a blind and furious violence.”
Peacemakers are characterized by humility, harmony, tranquility. They care about and focus on the safety, welfare, health, and wellbeing of others. Their goal is reconciliation. They are “addicted” to peace, not to strife. They love unity. The wise person lives out Ephesians 4:2-3:
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Mark #12: Righteousness/Integrity—James 3:18
“Righteousness” is integrity, fairness, and equitable dealings with others. Burdick captures the meaning well:
“Far from being theoretical and speculative, James’s concept of wisdom is thoroughly practical. It is the understanding and attitude that result in true piety and godliness.”
Who Among You Claims to Be Wise?
James asks and answers the question, “Who among you claims to be wise?”
Let him show it by the fruit of his life—humility in attitude, piety in character, and peacemaking in relationships.
According to James, wisdom is:
- The ability to relate well while we relate God’s truth to life.
- The ability to relate as a peacemaker while we relate God’s truth to life.
Also according to James, the pseudo-sage, the worldly-wise:
- Habitually seeks to expose error in others, yet habitually seeks to cover, conceal, and suppress error in themselves.
- Claims to fight for truth, but in reality is simply habituated to fighting—pugnacious.
- Tries to expose others, but actually ends up exposing their own foolishness.
- Disqualifies themselves from the role of pastor, shepherd, elder, teacher, overseer, counselor because they are pugnacious, quick-tempered, short-fused, and quarrelsome (see 1 Timothy 3:3 and Titus 1:7).
May we all seek the Spirit’s empowering to demonstrate the 12 marks of genuine wisdom, and to eliminate in our relationships the 9 marks of pseud-wisdom.
