James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

◄ James 3:1 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

English Standard Version
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

New American Standard Bible
Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

King James Bible
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment,

International Standard Version
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more severely than others.

American Standard Version
Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Be ye not many masters, my brethren, knowing that you receive the greater judgment.

Darby Bible Translation
Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment.

Young's Literal Translation
Many teachers become not, my brethren, having known that greater judgment we shall receive,

Cross References

Matthew 23:8
But be not you called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all you are brothers.

Acts 13:1
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Romans 2:20
An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which have the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

1 Timothy 1:7
Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

James 1:16
Do not err, my beloved brothers.

James 1:19
Why, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

James 3:10
Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not so to be.

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

3:1-12 We are taught to dread an unruly tongue, as one of the greatest evils. The affairs of mankind are thrown into confusion by the tongues of men. Every age of the world, and every condition of life, private or public, affords examples of this. Hell has more to do in promoting the fire of the tongue than men generally think; and whenever men's tongues are employed in sinful ways, they are set on fire of hell. No man can tame the tongue without Divine grace and assistance. The apostle does not represent it as impossible, but as extremely difficult. Other sins decay with age, this many times gets worse; we grow more froward and fretful, as natural strength decays, and the days come on in which we have no pleasure. When other sins are tamed and subdued by the infirmities of age, the spirit often grows more tart, nature being drawn down to the dregs, and the words used become more passionate. That man's tongue confutes itself, which at one time pretends to adore the perfections of God, and to refer all things to him; and at another time condemns even good men, if they do not use the same words and expressions. True religion will not admit of contradictions: how many sins would be prevented, if men would always be consistent! Pious and edifying language is the genuine produce of a sanctified heart; and none who understand Christianity, expect to hear curses, lies, boastings, and revilings from a true believer's mouth, any more than they look for the fruit of one tree from another. But facts prove that more professors succeed in bridling their senses and appetites, than in duly restraining their tongues. Then, depending on Divine grace, let us take heed to bless and curse not; and let us aim to be consistent in our words and actions.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

CHAPTER 3

Jas 3:1-18. Danger of Eagerness to Teach, and of an Unbridled Tongue: True Wisdom Shown by Uncontentious Meekness.

1. be not—literally, "become not": taking the office too hastily, and of your own accord.

many—The office is a noble one; but few are fit for it. Few govern the tongue well (Jas 3:2), and only such as can govern it are fit for the office; therefore, "teachers" ought not to be many.

masters—rather, "teachers." The Jews were especially prone to this presumption. The idea that faith (so called) without works (Jas 2:14-26) was all that is required, prompted "many" to set up as "teachers," as has been the case in all ages of the Church. At first all were allowed to teach in turns. Even their inspired gifts did not prevent liability to abuse, as James here implies: much more is this so when self-constituted teachers have no such miraculous gifts.

knowing—as all might know.

we … greater condemnation—James in a humble, conciliatory spirit, includes himself: if we teachers abuse the office, we shall receive greater condemnation than those who are mere hearers (compare Lu 12:42-46). Calvin, like English Version, translates, "masters" that is, self-constituted censors and reprovers of others Jas 4:12 accords with this view.