Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of James 3:16
For where envying and strife [is,] there [is] confusion and every evil work.
16. envying and strife ] Better, as before, envy and rivalry. See note on Jas 3:14.
there is confusion and every evil work ] On the first word see note on Jas 3:8. It describes here the chaotic turbulence of such an assembly as that indicated in the preceding verse. Comp. Pro 26:28, where the Greek word in the LXX. answers to the “ruin” of the English version. The word for “evil” is not the common one, and expresses contempt as well as condemnation. Better, every vile deed. It is the word used in Joh 3:20; Joh 5:29.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion – Margin, tumult or unquietness. Everything is unsettled and agitated. There is no mutual confidence; there is no union of plan and effort; there is no co-operation in promoting a common object; there is no stability in any plan; for a purpose, though for good, formed by one portion, is defeated by another.
And every evil work – Of the truth of this no one can have any doubt who has observed the effects in a family or neighborhood where a spirit of strife prevails. All love and harmony of course are banished; all happiness disappears; all prosperity is at an end. In place of the peaceful virtues which ought to prevail, there springs up every evil passion that tends to mar the peace of a community. Where this spirit prevails in a church, it is of course impossible to expect any progress in divine things; and in such a church any effort to do good is vain.
The Spirit, like a peaceful dove,
Flies from the realms of noise and strife.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 16. For where envying and strife is] . Zeal-fiery, inflammatory passion, and contention-altercations about the different points of the law, of no use for edification, such as those mentioned, Tit 3:9. The Jews were the most intolerant of all mankind; it was a maxim with them to kill those who would not conform to their law; and their salvation they believed to be impossible. This has been the spirit of Popery, and of the Romish Church at large; in vain do they attempt to deny it; they have written it in characters of blood and fire even in this country, (England,) when they were possessed of political power. With them it is still an established maxim, that out of their Church there is no redemption; and fire and faggot have been in that Church legal means of conversion or extinction. In the short popish reign of Mary in this country, besides multitudes who suffered by fine, imprisonment, confiscation, c., two hundred and seventy-seven were burnt alive, among whom were one archbishop, four bishops, twenty-one clergymen, eight lay gentlemen, eighty-four tradesmen, one hundred husbandmen, fifty-five women, and four children! O earth! thou hast not drunk their blood but their ashes have been strewed on the face of the field.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For where envying and strife is; the usual companions of this devilish wisdom.
There is confusion; or, inconsistency, viz. both with mans self and others; envy makes him unqniet in himself, and troublesome to others, by causing contentions and seditions among them, and breaking their peace, as well as his own.
And every evil work; all manner of wickedness is ushered in by this confusion and sedition.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16. envyingSo EnglishVersion translates the Greek, which usually means “zeal”;”emulation,” in Ro13:13. “The envious man stands in his own light. He thinkshis candle cannot shine in the presence of another’s sun. He aimsdirectly at men, obliquely at God, who makes men to differ.”
striferivalry[ALFORD].
confusionliterally,”tumultuous anarchy”: both in society (translated”commotions,” Lu 21:9;”tumults,” 2Co 6:5),and in the individual mind; in contrast to the “peaceable”composure of true “wisdom,” Jas3:17. James does not honor such effects of this earthly wisdomwith the name “fruit,” as he does in the case of the wisdomfrom above. Jas 3:18; compareGa 5:19-22, “worksof the flesh . . . fruit of the Spirit.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Ver. 16 For where envying and strife is,…. Where these are cherished in the heart, and especially where they break out into action, in families, neighbourhoods, states, or churches:
there is confusion and every evil work; these occasion disturbances, raise uneasiness, make disquietude, and cause tumults whenever they appear; and put persons upon doing everything that is wicked, to gratify such insatiable lusts.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Confusion (). Late word (from ), Jas 1:8; Jas 3:8), a state of disorder (1Co 14:33).
Vile (). Kin to German faul, first slight, ordinary, then bad. The steps are cheap, paltry, evil. Opposed to (good) in Joh 5:39.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Confusion [] . See on restless, ver. 8.
Evil [] . 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 Joh 3:20; Joh 5:29; Tit 2:8. Rev., vile, which, according to its etymology, Lat., vilis, follows the same process of development from cheap, or paltry, to bad.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
Wherever jealousy, strife, faction, confusion, restlessness and unstable efforts to establish oneself in good esteem, as a teacher exists, it is ethically bad, mean and base. It is below the dignity and behavior of anyone who should desire to be a teacher of the Word of God. 2Ti 2:24; Pro 20:3; Pro 26:17.
ONLY A WORD
Only a word of anger,
But it wounded one sensitive heart; Only a word of sharp reproach,
But it made the teardrops start, Only a hasty, thoughtless word,
Sarcastic and unkind. But it darkened the day before so bright,
And left a sting behind.
Only a word of kindness,
But it lightened one heart of its grief; Only a word of sympathy,
But it brought one soul relief; Only a word of gentle cheer.
But it flooded with radiant light The pathway that seemed so dark before,
And it made the day more bright.
Selected
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
16 For where envying is. It is an argument from what is contrary; for envying, by which hypocrites are influenced, produces effects contrary to wisdom. For wisdom requires a state of mind that is calm and composed, but envying disturbs it, so that in itself it becomes in a manner tumultuous, and boils up immoderately against others.
Some render ἀκαταστασία inconstancy, and sometimes it means this, but as it signifies also sedition and tumult, perturbation seems the most suitable to this passage. For James meant to express something more than levity, even that the malignant and the slanderer does everything confusedly and rashly, as though he were beside himself; and hence he adds, every evil work
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(16) For where envying and strife is, there is confusion.Where emulation, zeal, and rivalry exist, there also are sedition, anarchy, restless disturbance, and every villainous act. The whole state is evil, and utterly contrary to the rule of the Gospel
For words and names let angry zealots fight:
Whose life is in the wrong can neer be right.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
16. The characteristics of this worldly wisdom are envying, rather, emulation, and strife, or rivalry. It is the wisdom of making yourself great in disregard of the rights and well-being of all or any others.
Evil work Deeds of cruelty and oppression.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every worthless deed.’
For jealousy and selfish ambition and self-assertiveness simply produce confusion and worthless, useless and vain practises and a church at war with itself (contrast 1Co 14:33). Jealous people and people who are selfishly ambitious make the truth secondary to the fulfilment of their desires.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jas 3:16 . Reason of the judgment expressed in Jas 3:15 . With the introductory words: , James points back to Jas 3:14 ; with the following words: . . ., he names the fruit of and ; these are and ; ] is uproar, disorder; comp. Pro 26:28 ; . An uproarious disorderly nature proceeds not from God: , , 1Co 14:33 .
To this special idea, which is particularly brought forward on account of the condition of those to whom James writes, the general idea: every evil deed , is added, in order to lay stress on the fact that zeal and partisanship bring along with them the corruption of the whole moral life. Of a wisdom which effects this, it must naturally hold good what is said of it in Jas 3:15 .
The supposition of Kern ( Tb. Zeitschr. 1835, II. 59), to which de Wette assents, that the here presupposed controversies between Jewish and Gentile Christians are alluded to, is properly rejected by Brckner.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
16 For where envying and strife is , there is confusion and every evil work.
Ver. 16. For where envying and strife is, &c. ] The number of two hath been therefore accounted accursed, because it was the first that departed from unity. Divisions (saith one) are like the torrid zone, nothing prospers under it. (Dr Rayner.) When the dogstar ariseth, no plants thrive as at other times. When a fire is kindled in a town, the bells ring backwards; when fires of contentions are kindled in places, all things go awry. (Mr Burr’s Heart Divisions.)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
16 .] Justification of the foregoing assertion . For where is emulation (in a bad sense) and rivalry (see above), there is confusion (ref. 1 Cor.: anarchy, restless disturbance. Cf. ref. Prov., ), and every evil (reff.) thing (or, deed).
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Jas 3:16 . : this sums up the matter; cf. Joh 3:20 , , and with this one might compare again the words in our Epistle, Jas 1:17 , .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
confusion = commotion, or unrest. Greek. akatastasia. See Luk 21:9. Compare Jam 3:8.
evil. Greek. phaulos. See Joh 3:20.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
16.] Justification of the foregoing assertion. For where is emulation (in a bad sense) and rivalry (see above), there is confusion (ref. 1 Cor.: anarchy, restless disturbance. Cf. ref. Prov., ), and every evil (reff.) thing (or, deed).
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Jam 3:16. , there [is] confusion) contrary to peace, Jam 3:17. What is the character of that wisdom, is known by the effect. James thinks it unworthy of the name of fruit. Comp. Jam 3:17-18.- , every evil work) The force of the word every, is plain, if the sentence is thus put: Every work which arises from that source is evil. The antithesis is, full of mercy and of good fruits, etc.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
where: Jam 3:14, 1Co 3:3, Gal 5:20
there: Gen 11:9, *marg. Act 19:29, 1Co 14:33
confusion: Gr. tumult, or, unquietness
every: 1Jo 3:12
Reciprocal: Gen 13:7 – a strife Gen 38:9 – lest that Jdg 9:49 – put them Jdg 12:1 – we will burn Pro 29:22 – a furious Zec 11:14 – I cut Mat 5:9 – are Mat 13:27 – whence Mar 3:25 – General Rom 12:18 – General 1Pe 2:1 – envies
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jas 3:16. James verifies his description of this wisdom (preceding verse) by repeating virtually the sentiments of verse 14. He emphasizes it by adding the results of such “wisdom.” namely, confusion and every evil work.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jas 3:16. For, the reason assigned for the above description of earthly wisdom, where envying and strife is; where zeal (in a bad sense) and party-strife are, there is confusion and every evil workall kinds of wickedness. Certainly the reference is primarily to religious controversy; but the supposition that the controversy between the Jewish and Gentile Christians is here referred to is without foundation.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
For where envying and strife [is], there [is] confusion and every evil work.
What a description of church trouble. Confusion and every evil work. To get what they want those causing trouble, will cause confusion and will use any reason/tactic to gain what they want. Often, when there are problems, they all can be traced to one person that is using every tactic that they can muster to accomplish their purpose.
“Confusion” is just that, confusion, or turmoil or instability or state of disorder. Having been in situations where someone was causing this sort of strife, I can attest to the instability that it causes. It becomes the focus of all that you do. You want to be on your guard not to say anything that would cause more trouble; you walk on eggshells, not knowing what side the person you are talking to is on.
There is little focus on anything good. You are focused on the problem. Your prayer life tends to be focused on the problem, and sadly your family and personal life are often focused on the problem to the detriment of your work and your family.
Paul calls this carnality. 1Co 3:3 “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”
When you see envy and strife in this list, you might give second thought to being involved in it. Gal 5:20 “Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Strife is the same Greek word, while envy is a different word for envy.)
At this point the reader should be fully aware that it is their responsibility to turn away from anyone showing these characteristics. They are not Christian, they are not Godly and they are not appropriate. Turning away will give clear signal that you are not interested in ungodliness and it may cause the perpetrator to rethink their incorrect activity and thought life.
Fuente: Mr. D’s Notes on Selected New Testament Books by Stanley Derickson
God is not the God of disorder but of order and peace (Genesis 1; 1Co 14:33). He opposes every evil thing (1Jn 1:5). Therefore ungracious jealousy and personal ambition are not part of the wisdom He provides.
"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." [Note: Barclay, The Letters . . ., p. 110.]