James 3:15

15 non est ista sapientia desursum descendens sed terrena animalis diabolica

James 3:15 Meaning and Commentary

James 3:15

This wisdom descendeth not from above
If it must be called wisdom, as it ought not; an envious, quarrelsome, and contentious spirit, does not deserve such a name; yet if any will call it so, or can think that a man of such a disposition is a man possessed of wisdom; it is such wisdom as does not come from above, from heaven, from the Father of lights, from Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and from the spirit of wisdom and revelation: what the Jews say ^F15 of the wisdom of Egypt, may be said of this, that it is (hatt hmkx) "wisdom from below", or inferior wisdom, as it follows:

but is earthly, sensual, and devilish;
it is "earthly", or of the earth, and springs from thence; and it is only conversant about earthly things, and is only suitable to earthly minds: it is sensual, or natural; what a natural man, one destitute of the Spirit of God, and without the knowledge of the things of the Spirit, may have; it is what is acquired by the mere strength of nature, and only relates to natural things; and is only agreeable to corrupt nature, or to a natural and unregenerate man: yea, it is devilish, or such as the devil himself has; and which comes from him, and being used, serves only his kingdom and interest.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 Zohar in Gen. fol. 119. 2.

James 3:15 In-Context

13 quis sapiens et disciplinatus inter vos ostendat ex bona conversatione operationem suam in mansuetudine sapientiae

14 quod si zelum amarum habetis et contentiones in cordibus vestris nolite gloriari et mendaces esse adversus veritatem

15 non est ista sapientia desursum descendens sed terrena animalis diabolica

16 ubi enim zelus et contentio ibi inconstantia et omne opus pravum

17 quae autem desursum est sapientia primum quidem pudica est deinde pacifica modesta suadibilis plena misericordia et fructibus bonis non iudicans sine simulatione