Online-SUNDAY SCHOOL

Watch Your Language 22 NOV 09

JAMES 3:1 Dr. Herschel H. Hobbs in his Studying Life and Work Lessons, July-September 1993, page 45 wrote “The Greek text reads, “Not many teachers seek to be” or “become.”…”Teachers” renders didaskaloi (note our “didactic.” a manner of teaching)…. Among the Jews (rabbi) was the most honored of titles. Thus James spoke of a real problem…. his stated reason is based on the responsibility resting on teachers. The greater the prominence, the greater is the responsibility. Teachers, yes, and preachers, will receive the greater “condemnation.” Note Dr. Hobbs makes a distinction between a preacher and a teacher. Many preachers don’t want to agree that Eph 4:11 talks about preachers AND teachers. They claim both terms apply to pastors only to help keep the Old Boy’s SBC Club alive. But James and Paul clearing wrote of two separate tasks in the body of Christ. Here James addresses the teacher. But we note that Paul did say the pastor is to be the lead teacher for a church. (Titus 1:9 RSV) "he must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it." If anyone is to have “controlled speech”, it is a teacher of the Bible. Dr. Hobbs, page 46 “The context calls for the degree of judgment in light of responsibility, a loss of degrees of glory and reward in heaven.” That is why I do not shy away from strongly teaching that the Father raised Jesus from death and Christian women are spiritual equals with Christian men, to name two.

JAMES 3:2 Words are what makes us so human. James’s point really begins here. Dr. Hobbs, page 46 “The verb “offend” may better read “stumble” or the trip over something. Here it is first person plural, so it calls for “we” as the subject. James included himself in the stumblers, and “all” means there are no exceptions to this.” Thus he says there are no teachers who are correct all the time. It is not that they try to be wrong but Christians make mistakes and believe wrong things just as the less educated in the particular topic. But the teacher is to work and try not to make mistakes. Dr. Hobbs continued, “In verse 2b James singled out stumbling “in word” or speech. This relates back to “teachers,”… If persons do not stumble at this point, they are “perfect” (teleios). “Perfect” does not mean freedom from any fault. The Greek word means to achieve a goal or to fulfill the purpose of one’s being. In this case that of being a teacher.” Teachers are to control themselves and present only correct information.

JAMES 3:3-4 It is poor scholarship to fail to set the proper context for any verse or passage. Cults and many Christian theology errors come from not establishing and relating the context. Dr. Hobbs did teach the context. So from the context we see the importance of having both qualified and spiritual life-living teachers. Without good teachers, how are students to learn? You may say "by the Holy Spirit." That is true, but the Holy Spirit was sent to teach teachers. (John 16:13 RSV) "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." Jesus commanded Christians to teach Christians. (Mat 28:20 RSV) "teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."" Thus this James passage is focused upon those who teach or want to teach.

JAMES 3:5 Perhaps to most important verse here is (James 3:5 RSV) "So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!" The verse points out that the tongue (human communications) can boast of great achievements, which is good. But a few words (a little fire) can cause a huge package of problems (a forest fire). Teachers must be particularly careful for both what they say and how they say it. [I must digress and state that I have offered a sincere apology for some errors I taught early in my teaching career. I was sincere in what I taught but I still taught some wrong things which my students seemed to accept. I hope the Holy Spirit was able to put out these small fires in their lives. The basic problem is SBC churches have no criteria for being a teacher. Just so long as you say yes to the nominating committee, you are declared qualified. This was the major reason my errors got taught. This is a major reason why the typical SBC church does not grow. Too many teachers are not Biblically qualified. Personally, I have been able to learn over time and have eliminated these errors, with many thanks to my spiritual-father, Dr. Hobbs.] Teachers are responsible for what they teach. "We who teach shall be judged with greater strictness." Cult teachers cause people to not accept Jesus biblically, and thus remain lost. Dr. Hobbs, page 48 "James added that the uncontrolled tongue is a fire that destroys or hurts everyone it touches. … James could not have used any stronger word (than Hell) to describe the tongue." TEACHERS MUST GET SERIOUS ABOUT BEING ACCURATE, RESPONSIBLE, AND ACCOUNTABLE!

James 3:3-9a Dr. Hobbs, page 47 "In short, he showed how little thing such as the tongue can exercise control over our entire lives, either for good or for evil." Dr. Hobbs, page 49 ""But the tongue can no man tame." What man cannot do, God can do. God can tame our tongue, if we let Him do so." This does not mean just saying to God, "Here is my tongue, tame it." It means (Eph 4:22-24 RSV) "Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, {23} and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, {24} and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." Christians have the responsibility to "put off" and put on" under the council of the Holy Spirit. The new nature has a tongue that praises and not fires.

JAMES 3:6 To what degree does this have impact? Wrong doctrine can destroy of hurt in a major way. It can set a person on a path to Hell. All this from false teaching: whether it is intentional or through incorrect study by the teacher. We should remember what Jesus said about the best official teachers in the Jewish religion of His day: (MATT 23:13 - 15 RSV) “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you shut the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither enter yourselves, nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you traverse sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of Hell as yourselves.”

JAMES 3:7-8 Dr. Hobbs, page 48 “”But the tongue can no man tame.” What man cannot do, God can do. God can tame our tongue, if we let Him do so.” Please read that again: “if we let Him.” This is the point Paul Eph 4:22-24. The Holy Spirit is our guide, not our Controller. What the Holy Spirit recommends can always be done and it brings maximum glory to Jesus. But a Christian can refuse to follow the Holy Spirit.

JAMES 3:9-12 A teacher must not be double-tongued. James is addressing the issue of teachers praising God during classes and then cursing people during daily life. A teacher cannot be so inconsistent. In the church the position can never be "Do what I say and not what I do." Dr. Hobbs, page 49 stated about the Greek grammar: "This double use of the tongue most certainly should not happen, not "be" (ginomai). In a sense it should not come into being….Therefore, if your tongue is being used doubly, you should examine your profession of faith in Christ to determine if it is genuine. If so, then you should use your tongue as He intends." [My emphasis.] Teachers need to look at themselves even more critically than they do their students. Only saved people should teach in any church! Only qualified saved people should teach.

JAMES 3:13 James declares that wisdom is an essential attribute of a teacher. Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge properly. Dr. Hobbs, page 50 “Like the tongue, wisdom is necessary for teaching and is also subject to abuse. The Greek text reads, “Who is wise and understanding among you?” “Wise” (sophos) denotes the practical teacher (v. 1); “understanding (epistemon) refers to “an expert and scientific person with a tone of superiority’ (Robertson, Word pictures, 45)… James did not expect an answer. This is a rhetorical question to present the following exhortation. In effect he said, :”Show it by the way you live.” “Conversation” means the manner in which you walk. It refers to one’s manner of life or conduct.

This life is to be lived in “meekness of wisdom.” Meekness does not mean weakness; meekness means to be teachable.”

JAMES 3:14-16 But do not be deceived that the wisdom James addresses comes from anywhere but from God through the Holy Spirit. D. Hobbs, page 51 “The wisdom expressed in such conduct is not from heaven. It is earthly, coming out of human nature, and from the devil! The devil would rather use good people than evil ones. The result is “confusion” or a state of disorder and every evil work. Paul said that “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” (1 Cor. 14:33).

JAMES 3:17-18 Note that real wisdom is testable. It has key characteristics. James seems to make a general application here to both teachers and students.

How does your teacher stack up? Is your Bible time a study time or a social time? This is the lesson title’s real meaning. We have only an hour in Sunday School to do Bible STUDY. Do you? Does it meet MATT 28:20? Do you do (Acts 17:11b RSV) …for they received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”? The FINAL AUTHORITY is the Holy Spirit!

Marvin Ganote, Hobbs Study Class, Adult Teacher. Lesson at: http://dma.dreamhosters.com/~ganotemd/lesson.htm or http://homepages.udayton.edu/~ganotem/bible/lesson.htm