The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature. Robinson, in his book, studies in the epistle of james, makes this observation about the defiling effect of our words. According to statisticians, the average person spends at least one fifth of his or her life talking. Like fire, our speech has the potential for causing great harm. However, its potential for evil is so great god saw fit to imprison it behind a double jailer. Ultimately though, james is pointing out the power of our words. The third chapter of james is about the untamable tongue. James is therefore highly relevant to the christian life.
James 3 new international version niv taming the tongue. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. Bible verses about power of the tongue king james bible. James is not calling for more will power and determination to control our tongues. The book of james teaches that we can control horses with bits in their mouths and steer great ships with a small rudder, but taming the tongue is practically impossible james 3. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man.
The book of james or epistle of james, very often referred as james is believed to be authored by james the brother of jesus, and it is the nineteenth book of the new testament, it is written by apostle james. By this, james provides a measure of spiritual maturity for teachers and for all christians. To understand this metaphor in context, we need to begin in verse 5. The book of james describes the tongue as a restless evil, full of deadly poison that no human can tame james 3. Just a few words, just a spark, can cause years of heartache. What better way to be heard as a believer than to be a teacher of the gospel. There are several allusions in the book of james to this interbiblical wisdom book, written about 180 b. Bible verses about power of the tongue king james version. In james letter, out of the five chapters, he dedicates one entire chapterhis thirdto his warning about the tongue. With bible gateway plus, you gain instant access to a digital. Unlike many of the other books of the new testament, james s aim is not to give a theological presentation of the gospel. Iakobos, the epistle of james, or simply james, is one of the 21 epistles didactic letters in the new testament the author identifies himself as james. New king james version and the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.
The concept of taming the tongue is found in james 3 where god declares, through the apostle james, that no one can tame the tongue james 3. If the tongue is set ablaze by hell, then only heaven can. Bible helps publications series studies studies in james the use and abuse of the tongue. It is an evil power that dirties the rest of the body and sets a persons entire life on fire with flames that come from hell itself. It is powerful and as such will incur a stricter judgment. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of ones life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. It might be a small part of the body, but the tongue is. One of the central issues of the book of proverbs is how you use your tongue. The book of james is a website dedicated to the study of the epistle letter of james in the new testament.
The apostle james explains the power of the tongue and its use and abuse in james chapter three. The following table shows the clear comparisons between objects and a mans tongue. How we handle the tongue is a great indicator of our hearts before god. The description given here is one of the tongue that is uncontrolled by the spirit of god.
Our speech reveals what kind of a christian we are. The book of james a detailed commentary basic training bible ministries page 2 introduction to james background of the book the epistle of james is one of the general epistles. Read these bible verses about the tongue and be encouraged to. Everything you need to know about james james is one of my favorite books of the bible. James 3 niv taming the tongue not many of you bible. God tells us in his word that the tongue has incredible power. This message appears as a chapter in the power of words and the. Now, third, a series of vivid pictures flashes rapidly across james s mind as he thinks about the power of the tongue. New king james version out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. I think all of us remember reading in the book of james where it says though the tongue. Bible verses related to power of the tongue from the king james version kjv by relevance. The tongue james 3 introduction we all have experienced the power of the tongue whether good or bad.
It has the means to commend or corruptto bless or to blame. We must not be hasty in propelling ourselves into a position where the tongue is constantly used. In order to emphasise this fact james uses three pairs of illustrations to show the power of the tongue. It is difficult to overestimate the power of the tongue. Verse 6 is a fairly complicated sentence in the greek. Death and life are in the power of the tongue proverbs 18. In verse 2 we are told the sign of a mature christian is one who has his tongue under control. The tongue is a fire, with the power set fire to all our relationships.
The similarities between a fire and the tongue are hard to miss. This passage of scripture deals with the tremendous power of the tongue, mainly on the evil side. Yet, james urges us to consider the power of the tongue. The power of the tongue james 3 knowing jesus christ. James 3 niv taming the tongue not many of you bible gateway. James has said that if a man can control his tongue, he can control his entire body. Dictionaries encyclopedias bible stories apocrypha books lexicons. So james shows us very pointedly that the tongue of a christian is the indicator of that christians spiritual health.
Ordinarily, in a single day enough words are used to fill a 50page book. The bible even says that death and life are in the power of the tongue. The second reason is that the tongue, while small, has a very destructive power. James says that the tongue also has that kind of power, verse five, even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
For the tongue is difficult, indeed impossible, to tame naturally, because, as we have also seen, it exercises power out of all proportion to its size. Study 6 the right and wrong use of the tongue words of. The book of james, chapter 3 free bible commentary. This is especially relevant to teachers, who have so much more opportunity to sin with their tongue. James 3 nlv the power of the tongue my christian bible. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. These are word pictures, and we are about to see even more in the book of james.
Power of the tongue poem by joseph james breunig 3rd. Secondly, he not only talks about the responsibility of teaching but also about the power of speech. The power of the tongue has been added to your cart add to cart. Weve each felt the wonderful affirming words of a friend who. In fact, the subject of the tongue and how we use our words is perhaps the preeminent theme of this book. To not stumble in word shows true spiritual maturity. The weight for a male is about 70 grams, for a female, 60 grams. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. He now sets out to illustrate this tongue totality principle, first with a horse, and then with a ship.
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