James 3:1 BSB — MannaFest

James 3:1

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

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

KJV

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

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Commentary

5 voices

Bede

Commentary on the Catholic Epistles (735)

Do you not know that you shall receive greater judgment? For as he who ministers well acquires a good degree for himself, so also he who, being unlearned, tries to usurp the office of teaching, who does not sincerely announce Christ, would deserve a greater …

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

Shall receive greater condemnation - For more offenses. St. James here, as in several of the following verses, by a common figure of speech, includes himself: we shall receive, - we offend, - we put bits, - we curse - None of which, as common sense shows, are to be interpreted either of him or of the other apostles.

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Our judging others will but make our own judgment the more strict and severe, Matt. vii. Those who are curious to spy out the faults of others, and arrogant in passing censures upon them, may expect that God will be as extreme in marking what they say and do amiss. Another reason given against such acting the master is because we are all sinners: In many things we offend all,

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

My brethren, be not many masters - “Be not many of you teachers.” The evil referred to is that where many desired to be teachers, though but few could be qualified for the office, and though, in fact, comparatively few were required. A small number, well qualified, would better discharge the duties of the office, and do more good, than many would; and there would be great evil in having many crowding themselves unqualified into the office.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

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.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

11 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
Μὴ	Mē	Not	G3361 →
πολλοὶ	polloi	many [of you]	G4183 →
διδάσκαλοι	didaskaloi	teachers	G1320 →
γίνεσθε,	ginesthe	do become	G1096 →
ἀδελφοί	adelphoi	brothers	G80 →
μου,	mou	of mine,	G3165 →
εἰδότες	eidotes	knowing
ὅτι	hoti	that	G3754 →
μεῖζον	meizon	greater	G3173 →
κρίμα	krima	judgment	G2917 →
λημψόμεθα.	lēmpsometha	we will receive.	G2983 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
1 Corinthians 12:28
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
leads to
- Ephesians 4:11–13
  And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
- Romans 12:6–8
  We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith;
- 1 Corinthians 12:18
  But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design.
Through
Matthew 23:13
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.
leads to
- Luke 11:52
  Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”
Through
1 Peter 5:3
not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
leads to
- 2 Thessalonians 3:9
  Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.
- Ezekiel 34:4
  You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.
- Philippians 3:17
  Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you.
Through
1 Timothy 1:7
They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert.
leads to
- Romans 1:22
  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,

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Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, Tartarus, the Abyss, and Paradise — six words English hid inside one, disambiguated and sourced.

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Fire

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About James

The Feeding of the Multitude — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

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Continue: James 3 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About James

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About James