Verse 1
1. The negative warning 3:1
As in the previous two chapters, James introduced a new subject with a command (cf. James 1:2; James 2:1).
Every Christian is responsible to teach others what God has revealed in His Word (Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 5:12). However, James was evidently speaking of becoming teachers as the rabbis in his day were, namely, "professional" teachers. He may have been cautioning those who were considering teaching in the church and suggesting that some who were ministering in this capacity unworthily should step down. [Note: Ibid., p. 107.]
"Teachers are necessary, but incompetent and unworthy ones do much harm." [Note: Robertson, 6:39.]
The Jews regarded teachers (rabbis) with great awe and gave them much honor in James’ day (cf. Matthew 23:8). The synagogue service allowed opportunity for men in the congregation to rise and address the rest of the assembly (cf. Acts 13:15). The Christians carried this opportunity over into the meetings of the early church (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:26-33). Consequently there were many in James’ audience who, though not qualified with ability, aspired to teach others publicly for the sake of prestige or some other motive. James warned that God will judge a teacher more strictly than a non-teacher because he presumably knows the truth and claims to live by it.
"This is not an attack upon the office of the teacher or the teaching function, for James at once identifies himself as a teacher. Rather, he is seeking to restrain the rush to teach on the part of those not qualified." [Note: Hiebert, James, p. 185.]
"Any teacher runs the risk of becoming ’Sir Oracle.’ No profession is more liable to beget spiritual and intellectual pride." [Note: Barclay, The Letters . . ., p. 94. His allusion is to William Shakespear’s The Merchant of Venice, Acts 1, Scene 1, Line 93: "I am Sir Oracle, and when I ope my lips let no dog bark!"]
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