Ministry of Grace Church

But if you have bitter zeal and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

Truth to Learn

Strong, bitter feelings towards others and loud, boastful proclamations are not marks of a good teacher.

Behind the Words

The words translated “bitter zeal” are dzelos pikros. The word dzelos means “strong feelings” (we get our English word, zealous from this) and pikros means “bitter.” It is the same word used a few verses earlier in reference to bitter water. In the New Testament, dzelos is often joined with eris, which means strife. Here it is joined with eritheia.

The word translated “self-seeking” is eritheia. James may have been making a play on words by using this word instead of eris (strife). But this word, though sounding similar, is derived from erithos, meaning “a hired servant.” Eritheia refers to “labor for hire” and it has come to be applied to those who serve in official positions for their own selfish interest. Hence, this word often is used in reference to those who cause contentions.

“Boast” is translated from katakauchomai, which is made up of kata, meaning “down” or “against” and a form of kauchaomai, meaning “to boast” or “to loudly proclaim.” Hence, this word refers to making loud and boastful proclamations against someone or something. From the end of the verse it is clear that the boasting is against “the truth.” No teacher of God’s word should ever do that!

Meaning Explained

Even if you have great talents for teaching and have vast knowledge of the Word of God, James says if you are contentious, you like to argue, you harbor bitterness, and you make boastful claims about yourself or against what is clearly taught in God’s Word then you are not called to teach. In fact, this type of teaching is against the truth of the Word. These things are contrary to humility and righteous living. You are not yet ready to be a teacher.

The key attributes for a close walk with God are “submit and commit.” Submit to His will, not your own, submit to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And, commit to obeying and serving Him and Him alone in the position He has chosen for you. If these things are not true of your own walk with the Lord, then how can you possibly expect others to believe your teaching and to submit and commit themselves?

A teacher of the Bible who is putting all his or her effort into disproving what someone else is teaching is not teaching God’s way. By simply teaching what the Bible says, we reprove the works of darkness. Our job is to build up the saints with the knowledge of the truth, not to equip them for a contentious verbal battle against teachers of error. This is not to say that we should ignore bad doctrine. The way to combat error and lies, however, is not to fight against them; rather it is to proclaim God’s truth in humility, backed by a life of meekness and faith.

Application

I have listened to sermons where the preacher spent forty-five minutes spinning a tale and making powerful claims about what God wants for Christians without making a single reference to God’s Word. It sounded good and it felt good, but it wasn’t God’s truth that was being proclaimed. If you are a teacher, make sure that you are teaching God’s truth from a humble, submitted heart.