James 3:15
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Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
This wisdom--in which ye "glory," as if ye were "wise" (Jam 3:13-14). descendeth not from above--literally, "is not one descending," &c.: "from the Father of lights" (true illumination and wisdom), Jam 1:17; through "the Spirit of truth," Joh 15:26. earthly--opposed to heavenly. Distinct from "earthy," Co1 15:47. Earthly is what is IN the earth; earthy, what is of the earth. sensual--literally, "animal-like": the wisdom of the "natural" (the same Greek) man, not born again of God; "not having the Spirit" (Jde 1:19). devilish--in its origin (from "hell," Jam 3:6; not from God, the Giver of true wisdom, Jam 1:5), and also in its character, which accords with its origin. Earthly, sensual, and devilish, answer to the three spiritual foes of man, the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Open source ↗The apostle here reproves ambition, and an arrogant magisterial tongue; and shows the duty and advantage of bridling it because of its power to do mischief. Those who profess religion ought especially to govern their tongues (Jam 3:1-12). True wisdom makes men meek, and avoiders of strife and envy: and hereby it may easily be distinguished from a wisdom that is earthly and hypocritical (Jam 3:13 to the end).
Open source ↗3:15 The wisdom that is earthly is not part of the good creation; it is the opposite of heavenly wisdom because it excludes God. It is unspiritual because it does not acknowledge or respond to God’s Spirit (1 Cor 2:14; Jude 1:19). It is demonic since it comes from the devil, the ultimate source of this destructive wisdom (Jas 3:6; 4:6; 1 Tim 4:1).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.
The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
These are the ones who cause divisions, who are worldly and devoid of the Spirit.