Henry Krabbendam - James - World Evangelical Alliance

James 3:10-18 aims at this very same truth, although in a different and quite
“colorful” terminology. He contrasts the “above,” and all that this entails, with what is
“poison” to the core, originates in “the pit of hell,” and is essentially hard like a rock,
brutal as a beast and destructive like a demon. He further identifies “envy and selfish
ambition” as the twin root of all human conduct that comes out of the pit of hell and
rises to the surface. Expanding on James, Paul posits as the only “answer” to this twin
evil, as I mentioned already, a heart transplant in regeneration (Eph. 4:20-24; Col. 3:9-
11). Such heart transplant opens up in principle the road to self-denial, sacrifice and
submission, and all that this entails in terms of love, which effects harmony and peace,
and holiness, which guarantees productivity and prosperity. However, both Paul and
James know full well that all this does not automatically flow forth from the regenerate
heart. Indwelling poison in the tongue (James), in fact, indwelling sin in each member
of the human make-up (Paul) fights all this tooth and nail. Therefore Paul together
with, and in the footsteps of, James counsels the recipients of a heart transplant to seek
“the things that are above,” which is the sum and substance of their “life hidden with
Christ in God (Col. 3:2-3). This and only this spells the difference between defeat and
victory. In fact, it is the highlight of the broad biblical backdrop that is furnished by
Jesus, especially in John 15:1ff and Rev. 3:20, by James, especially in James 3:17ff
and 4:5ff, by Paul, especially in Ephesians 2:10 and Colossians 3:1, and by Peter, especially
in 2 Peter 1:3. It puts not only James, but also the rest of the NT in the proper
perspective!
To return to the text and specifically the interpretation that James goes after
false teachers in this context, whether impostors or show-offs, it must be admitted
that such teachers, and the havoc they wreak, are regrettably commonplace
in Church history. Still, it is questionable, whether this interpretation
gets to the core of James’ concern. A close look at the textual facts and clues
discloses that James seeks to expose a deeper and more widespread problem
than the danger posed by disqualified aspiring teachers. This is indicated by a
telling and sobering rationale that he adds to his initial warning. While the
need for the teaching of Scripture, whether expository, textual, or topical, is
quite apparent from the many biblical exhortations to this effect, and the
teaching ministry therefore is unfailingly honorable in itself, those who are
involved in it are still said to open themselves up to closer scrutiny, stricter
judgment, and severer penalties (Moo, 1985, 119, with reference to Mk.
12:40 and Lk. 12:48).
One commentator perceptively points out that the original Greek for
judgment (krisis) pertains to a neutral process that can turn out to be favorable
as well as unfavorable. Therefore it should not be translated with condemnation
(KJV) (Burdick, 186). Apparently “severer penalties” are not a
shoe-in and therefore do not necessarily materialize. The upshot is that in this
context James addresses all teachers and would-be teachers. They all run the
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