God is not the God of disorder but of order and peace ( Genesis 1; 1 Corinthians 14:33). He opposes every evil thing ( 1 John 1:5). Therefore ungracious jealousy and personal ambition are not part of the wisdom He provides. [source][source][source]
"There is a kind of person who is undoubtedly clever; he has an acute brain and a skilful tongue; but his effect in any committee, in any Church, in any group, is to cause trouble, to drive people apart, to foment strife, to make trouble, to disturb personal relationships. It is a sobering thing to remember that the wisdom that that man possesses is devilish rather than divine, and that such a man is engaged on Satan"s work and not on God"s work." [1][source]
Context Summary
James 3:13-18 - Seek Wisdom From Above
The true wisdom is not the child of the intellect, but of the heart. It consists not only in what we know, but in what we are. It is in this sense that it is used in the earlier chapters of the book of Proverbs and in Job 28:1-28. Some who profess to be wise are jealous and factious, despising others and confident in their superiority. This spirit and temper are from beneath.
Notice this exquisite string of qualities-like a thread of pearls-that characterize true wisdom: First, pure; then peaceable-this is God's order, never peace at any price. First the holy heart, then the quiet and gentle one. Mercy and good works follow, "free from favoritism and insincerity"; and as the peace-loving soul goeth through the world, dropping the seeds of peace, those seeds produce harvests of righteousness. Those that in peace sow peace, shall reap a harvest of righteousness, the fruit of peace. Such a springtime! Such an autumn! [source]
Chapter Summary: James 3
1We are not rashly or arrogantly to reprove others; 5but rather to bridle the tongue, a little member, 9but a powerful instrument of much good, and great harm 13The truly wise are mild and peaceable, without envy and strife
Vile [παυλον] Kin to German faul, first slight, ordinary, then bad. The steps are cheap, paltry, evil. Opposed to αγατα agatha (good) in John 5:39. [source]
Evil [φαῦλον] An inadequate rendering, because it fails to bring out the particular phase of evil which is dominant in the word:worthlessness, good-for-nothingness. In classical Greek it has the meanings slight, trivial, paltry, which run into bad. In the New Testament it appears in this latest stage, and is set over against good. See John 3:20; John 5:29; Titus 2:8. Rev., vile, which, according to its etymology, Lat., vilis, follows the same process of development from cheap, or paltry, to bad. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for James 3:16
John 3:20Evil [φαῦλα] Rev., ill. A different word from that in the previous verse. Originally, light, paltry, trivial, and so worthless. Evil, therefore, considered on the side of worthlessness. See on James 3:16. [source]
Greek Commentary for James 3:16
Late word (from ακαταστατος akatastatos), James 1:8; James 3:8), a state of disorder (1 Corinthians 14:33). [source]
Kin to German faul, first slight, ordinary, then bad. The steps are cheap, paltry, evil. Opposed to αγατα agatha (good) in John 5:39. [source]
See on restless, James 3:8. [source]
An inadequate rendering, because it fails to bring out the particular phase of evil which is dominant in the word:worthlessness, good-for-nothingness. In classical Greek it has the meanings slight, trivial, paltry, which run into bad. In the New Testament it appears in this latest stage, and is set over against good. See John 3:20; John 5:29; Titus 2:8. Rev., vile, which, according to its etymology, Lat., vilis, follows the same process of development from cheap, or paltry, to bad. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for James 3:16
Rev., ill. A different word from that in the previous verse. Originally, light, paltry, trivial, and so worthless. Evil, therefore, considered on the side of worthlessness. See on James 3:16. [source]
See on John 3:20; see on James 3:16. [source]
See on James 3:16. [source]
Only here in New Testament. The kindred ἀκαταστασία , confusion, is found James 3:16, and elsewhere. [source]