Ministry of Grace Church

For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

Truth to Learn

One sign of a mature Christian is the words he or she uses.

Behind the Words

“Stumble” is translated from ptaiō, which is a form of piptō, meaning “to fall.” This word, which we have looked at before, refers to an accidental stumbling, or tripping, as we traverse the pathway of life. In other words, James is referring to someone committing unintentional sin.

The Greek word translated “perfect” is also one we have looked at before. It is teleios, which means “complete” in terms of labor, growth, or moral character. James’ statement is in reference to a fully mature Christian. A more descriptive and less misleading translation of this word might be “mature.”

The word translated “bridle” is a very descriptive word in Greek. It is chalinagōgeō, which is made up of chalinos, which refers to “a bridle worn by an animal,” and a form of ago, which means “to lead or direct.” Hence, this word literally means “to lead by use of a bridle.” And, just like a person who controls a horse by leading it around by a bridle, this person is able to control his or her entire body.

Meaning Explained

James now introduces the first of five real world examples of what the tongue is like (a horse that is controlled by a small bridle; a large ship controlled by a small rudder; a small fire which can quickly spread to a flaming inferno; a wild, untamable creature; and a spring of water which brings forth both fresh and brackish water). With these five examples James will show how powerful and unruly the tongue can be.

He starts out the current verse with a reminder that we are all sinners and that we trip, or stumble many times. This is in complete agreement with what the Apostle Paul says:

As it is written, No one is righteous, not even one: There is no one who understands, there is no one seeking after God. (Romans 3:10,11)

None of us is perfect, we all stumble (even when we become a mature Christian). One of the ways we stumble in our Christian walk is with the words we use. In fact, it is often not so much the words, but the attitude behind the words we use. James tells us that if we don’t trip-up with our words, it is a sign that we are a completely mature Christian and are able to control our entire body.

Teaching is only mentioned in the first verse of this chapter. Yet, it is with our words that we teach, whether spoken or written. Words properly used can be a powerful force in building up the body of Christ, but they can also be the cause of great pain and contention within the body if used carelessly.

Application

Whether we have been called to teach or not, we are all called to be a witness for Christ, to be a servant of God, and to build up the body. Whatever service of ministry we have within the body, or to the world around us, we must be careful regarding the words we use.