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The attitude from the religious leaders was a defending of the law and the punishment of
those who disobeyed. A judgmental attitude was coming from them and now the same
attitude was coming from the people in the local church. Factions were forming that were
produced from the hearts of the people.
The Greek word epitheian (cf. Romans 2:8; 2 Corinthians 12:20; Galatians 5:20; Philippians
1:17, 2:3; James 3:14, 16) denotes a willingness to use unworthy and divisive means to
promote one’s own views or interest. With these types of attitudes, the people are also
trying to admit they are right when they know the Word tells them they are wrong. Now
they are not only in opposition to James, but also God and His Word. They are glorying
(boasting) and lying against the truth. Jealousy and factions have produced an arrogance
against each other and, the absolute standard in life, the Word of God.

C. Wisdom from Satan’s World

Jas 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

This wisdom descendeth not from above but is earthly (epigeios: springing from the earth),
sensual (psuchike: soulish), devilish (daimoniodes: demon inspired).

“This wisdom” is the summary of verse 14. What the people are calling wisdom is
proceeding from a heart filled with jealousy and factions. It can only produce a lifestyle of
the same. James now explains that this type of wisdom is not God’s, but Satan’s. A wisdom
that produces no meekness and love for others cannot be from the God who gives only
good and perfect gifts (1:17). This type of wisdom the people are showing at this time is the
same as the world shows. James calls it earthly (epigeios: springing from the earth) or
originating from the world’s system. Paul also makes a distinction between the two types
of wisdom: the wisdom of the world (1 Corinthians 1:20, 2:5‐6) and the wisdom of God (1
Corinthians 1:24, 2:7).

Next, James calls this type of wisdom sensual (psuchike: soulish). It springs from the world’s
system, man’s own thinking, and nature of the flesh, not God’s Spirit. Finally, James calls
this wisdom devilish (daimoniodes: demon inspired) because the ultimate source of the
world’s system and man’s nature of the flesh is Satan himself, who brought the curse into
this world. Evil spirits are at work in the world to fulfill Satan’s plans. They turned the world
in a direction opposite of the gospel and regeneration and inspire believers to be filled with
jealousy and divisions.

Jas 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

For where envying (jealousy) and strife (factions) is (are), there is confusion (akatastasia:
chaos) and every evil (phaulo: vile) work (pragma: deed).

Confusion and evil works are a result of verse 14. Verse 15 explains the source of jealousy
and strife, and now James is telling his congregation where these two will lead. When there
is an attitude of evil, it will surface in words and actions. This type of wisdom comes from
the world and the flesh, and the devil produces confusion (akatastasia: chaos) and every
evil (phulon: vile) work (pragma: deed). This is the result of the double‐minded person (1:8).