Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

James 3:15

αὕτη (σοφία), this false wisdom indicated above, the fanaticism of the zealot.

ἐπίγειος. Comp. εἰ τὰ ἐπίγεια εἶπον ὑμῖν καὶ οὐ πιστεύετε, πῶς ἐὰν εἴπω ὑμῖν τὰ ἐπουράνια πιστεύσετε; John 3:12 : τὰ ἐπίγεια φρονοῦντες, Philippians 3:19, see also 1 Corinthians 15:40; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Philippians 2:10. As applied to σοφία, ἐπίγειος denotes a wisdom which is limited by earthly conceptions.

ψυχική. ψυχικός is used in N.T. in distinction from πνευματικός, to indicate the lower animal life in contrast with the higher spiritual life. Comp. ψυχικὸς δὲ ἄνθρωπος οὐ δέχεται τὰ τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ θεοῦ, 1 Corinthians 2:14 : σπείρεται σῶμα ψυχικόν, ἐγείρεται σῶμα πνευματικόν, 1 Corinthians 15:44 : οὗτό εἰσιν … ψυχικοὶ πνεῦμα μὴ ἔχοντες, Jude 1:19. Taken absolutely both in the classics and in Hellenistic Greek ψυχή signifies life in all its degrees and modes from the lowest vegetative life to the highest spiritual existence. This extent of meaning gives force to the expression: ὃς γὰρ ἂν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, Matthew 16:25.

δαιμονιώδης, here only in N.T. In its extreme phase the desperate resistance to foreign power or to any infringement of the national religion exhibited characteristics which closely approached the phenomena of demoniacal possession.

The false σοφία looked to a time of material prosperity and to the satisfaction of desire.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

James 3:15

Old Testament

New Testament