James 3 : Teachers

Ward Green Version, 2003	American Standard Version, 1901
© 2008 Ward Green. All rights reserved. Draft Version James 3 ¹Not many of you should become teachers-- my brothers know that they catch a bigger piece of hell, ²because we all stumble very often. If a man doesn't stumble in his words, he is a perfect man well able to completely control himself. ³Now if we twist the bit upon the mouth of a horse we convince it to turn its whole body around. ⁴Think about massive ships being driven hard by the wind turned by means of the least rudder to anywhere the thrust of the steering dictates. ⁵Now the tongue also is a tiny member but it talks a big talk. Think about how a forest fire is started. How small a flame do you think it takes to start it? ⁶The tongue is a world of unfairness. Put afire by Gehenna, the tongue ordains that one of our members spoils the whole body and so sets ablaze the course of regeneration. (death, hellfire, Greek word `Gehenna' = `valley of Hinnom' refers to the ritual of child sacrifice where living babies were thrown into the fire in that valley outside Jerusalem, a fact to which Jesus also later referred, in remarks about the `judgment of Gehenna', a reference which doubtless also had application to the refuse which in Jesus' day was being constantly burned in this valley as garbage). Hinnom: 2Kings 23:10; 2Chronicles 28:3; 33:6; Jeremiah 7:31-32; 19:2,6; 32:35 Gehenna: Matthew 5:22; 5:29-30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15; 23:33; Mark 9:43; 9:45; 9:47; Luke 12:5 ⁷Yet mankind has tamed, or is to tame, every kind of wild beast, bird, animal, or sea critter. ⁸But no one tames the tongue of mankind, for it can always change to be hurtful, full of venom, and even deadly. ⁹With it we praise our Lord and Father, also with it we curse man's very likeness to God-- ¹⁰out of the same opening comes blessing and cursing depending upon the needs of my brother at the time. ¹¹Does a well give out both sweet and bitter water? ¹²Do you harvest olives from a fig tree, and figs from a vine? Neither is salt water also sweet. ¹³Who is wise and intelligent among you? Let him manifest his work by good conversation in the wisdom of lowliness. ¹⁴But if you are harbouring bitter jealousy, contention in your hearts, don't brag about it or play down the truth. ¹⁵It is not wisdom that descends from above, but worldly demonic nature. ¹⁶No doubt, wherever jealousy and contention are, there is confusion and all kinds of nasty business. ¹⁷Whereas the primary wisdom is first of all chaste, then: peacable, gentle, receptive, full of mercy or good fruit, not partial, not hypocritical. ¹⁸Its seed is sown in peace, for the purpose of-- peace-- the fruit of righteousness. © 2008 Ward Green. All rights reserved.	James 3 1 Be not many [of you] teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment. James 3 2 For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. James 3 3 Now if we put the horses` bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also. James 3 4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth. James 3 5 So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire! James 3 6 And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell. James 3 7 For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind. James 3 8 But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] a restless evil, [it is] full of deadly poison. James 3 9 Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God: James 3 10 out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. James 3 11 Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet [water] and bitter? James 3 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? Neither [can] salt water yield sweet. James 3 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom. James 3 14 But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth. James 3 15 This wisdom is not [a wisdom] that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. James 3 16 For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed. James 3 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy. James 3 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.

Ward Green Version, 2003

American Standard Version, 1901

© 2008 Ward Green. All rights reserved.
Draft Version
James 3
¹Not many of you should become teachers-- my brothers know that they catch a bigger piece of hell, ²because we all stumble very often. If a man doesn't stumble in his words, he is a perfect man well able to completely control himself.

³Now if we twist the bit upon the mouth of a horse we convince it to turn its whole body around.

⁴Think about massive ships being driven hard by the wind turned by means of the least rudder to anywhere the thrust of the steering dictates.

⁵Now the tongue also is a tiny member but it talks a big talk. Think about how a forest fire is started. How small a flame do you think it takes to start it?

⁶The tongue is a world of unfairness.

Put afire by Gehenna, the tongue ordains that one of our members spoils the whole body and so sets ablaze the course of regeneration. (death, hellfire, Greek word `Gehenna' = `valley of Hinnom' refers to the ritual of child sacrifice where living babies were thrown into the fire in that valley outside Jerusalem, a fact to which Jesus also later referred, in remarks about the `judgment of Gehenna', a reference which doubtless also had application to the refuse which in Jesus' day was being constantly burned in this valley as garbage). Hinnom: 2Kings 23:10; 2Chronicles 28:3; 33:6; Jeremiah 7:31-32; 19:2,6; 32:35 Gehenna: Matthew 5:22; 5:29-30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15; 23:33; Mark 9:43; 9:45; 9:47; Luke 12:5

⁷Yet mankind has tamed, or is to tame, every kind of wild beast, bird, animal, or sea critter.

⁸But no one tames the tongue of mankind, for it can always change to be hurtful, full of venom, and even deadly.

⁹With it we praise our Lord and Father, also with it we curse man's very likeness to God--

¹⁰out of the same opening comes blessing and cursing depending upon the needs of my brother at the time.

¹¹Does a well give out both sweet and bitter water?

¹²Do you harvest olives from a fig tree, and figs from a vine? Neither is salt water also sweet.

¹³Who is wise and intelligent among you? Let him manifest his work by good conversation in the wisdom of lowliness.

¹⁴But if you are harbouring bitter jealousy, contention in your hearts, don't brag about it or play down the truth.

¹⁵It is not wisdom that descends from above, but worldly demonic nature.

¹⁶No doubt, wherever jealousy and contention are, there is confusion and all kinds of nasty business.

¹⁷Whereas the primary wisdom is first of all chaste, then: peacable, gentle, receptive, full of mercy or good fruit, not partial, not hypocritical.

¹⁸Its seed is sown in peace, for the purpose of-- peace-- the fruit of righteousness.
© 2008 Ward Green. All rights reserved.

James 3 1
Be not many [of you] teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.
James 3 2
For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
James 3 3
Now if we put the horses` bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.
James 3 4
Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth.
James 3 5
So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!
James 3 6
And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
James 3 7
For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind.
James 3 8
But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] a restless evil, [it is] full of deadly poison.
James 3 9
Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God:
James 3 10
out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
James 3 11
Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet [water] and bitter?
James 3 12
Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? Neither [can] salt water yield sweet.
James 3 13
Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.
James 3 14
But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth.
James 3 15
This wisdom is not [a wisdom] that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
James 3 16
For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed.
James 3 17
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.
James 3 18
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.

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