James Chapter 3 verse 1 Holy Bible
Be not many `of you' teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.
read chapter 3 in ASV
Do not all be teachers, my brothers, because we teachers will be judged more hardly than others.
read chapter 3 in BBE
Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment.
read chapter 3 in DARBY
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
read chapter 3 in KJV
read chapter 3 in WBT
Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.
read chapter 3 in WEB
Many teachers become not, my brethren, having known that greater judgment we shall receive,
read chapter 3 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerses 1-12. - WARNING AGAINST OVER-READINESS TO TEACH, LEADING TO A DISCOURSE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GOVERNMENT OF THE TONGUE. Verse 1. - (1) Warning. Be not many teachers. The warning is parallel to that of our Lord in Matthew 23:8, seq., "Be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your Teacher [διδάσκαλος, and not, as Textus Receptus, καθηγητής], and all ye are brethren." Comp. also 'Pirqe Aboth,' 1:11, "Shemaiah said, Love work and hate lordship (הרבנות)." The readiness of the Jews to take upon them the office of teachers and to set up as "guides of the blind, teachers of babes," etc., is alluded to by St. Paul in Romans 2:17, seq., and such a passage as 1 Corinthians 14:26, seq., denotes not merely the presence of a similar tendency among Christians, but also the opportunity given for its exercise in the Church. (2) Reason for the warning. Knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment (ληψόμεθα). By the use of the first person, St. James includes himself, thus giving a remarkable proof of humility. (The Vulgate, missing this, has wrongly sumitis.) Comp. vers. 2, 9, where also he uses the first person, with great delicacy of feeling not separating himself from those whose conduct he denounces. Μεῖζον κρίμα. The form of expression recalls our Lord's saying of the Pharisees, "These shall receive greater condemnation (περισσότερον κρίμα) " (Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47).
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(1) Be not many masters.--Better, teachers, which meaning was conveyed by "masters" when the English Bible was first published. The condemnation is of those who appoint themselves, and are as "blind leaders of the blind" (Matthew 15:14). No man had a right to exercise the sacred functions of the appointed masters in Israel (see Note on John 3:10), and none might take the honour of the priesthood unto himself, "but he that was called of God, as was Aaron" (Hebrews 5:4). Whereas we know from our Lord's own words that the Scribes and Pharisees loved respectful "greetings in the markets, and to be called of men 'Rabbi, Rabbi'" (Matthew 23:1-12). Nevertheless His disciples were not to be acknowledged thus: for "one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren." The neglect of this wholesome caution perplexed the early Church, as much as the later branches thereof. (Comp. Acts 15:24; 1Corinthians 1:12; 1Corinthians 14:26; Galatians 2:12.) . . .
