NOTES for Jam 3:13-18

It seems that an intelligent person can be either evil or good—what connection is there between intelligence and moral and ethical categories? But the Apostle James distinguishes wisdom from above from demonic wisdom. And the first sign of demonic "wisdom" is envy and quarrelsomeness... Painful as it is to admit, these are the hardest things to free ourselves from. We have become far too accustomed to expressing all our grievances to everyone around us in the clearest possible terms—in short, to making scenes and grumbling at every opportunity. And it seems to us that this will help: if I just explain to this idiot that he is an idiot, the world will become a better place... But the wisdom that comes down from above, from God, teaches meekness. A truly wise person knows how to remain silent when necessary and, when possible, to correct the person who has gone astray with meekness and love.