“This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.”
Such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil — the 'wisdom' that emerges from envy and selfish ambition is recharacterized: it is not sophia (true wisdom) but a false wisdom that is ependemos (earthly/terrestrial, belonging only to this realm), psychikos (unspiritual/natural, lacking the pneuma), and daimoniōdēs (demonic, from demons). The triadic condemnation establishes this 'wisdom' as thoroughly corrupted, antithetical to the divine wisdom of 1:5.
Church Fathers on James 3:15
There is, however, another wisdom, which you must repel from you, and pray against its remaining in you; this the same apostle expressed his detestation of when he said, But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, . . . this is not the wisdom which descends from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For wherever there is envying and strife, there is also confusion, and every evil work. But the wisdom which is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!