Matthew Poole and continuators on James 3:13

13 Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew, out of a good conversation, his works with meekness of wisdom .

i. e. If there be a wise Man, &c. See Psalm 25.12. and 1 Pet. 3.10. where what David speaks by way of Interrogation, Peter explains by way of Assertion. The Apostle having shewn the Disease of the Tongue, comes now to remove the Cause, viz. Mens Opinion of their own Wisdom; (they censure others, because they take themselves to be wiser than others) and to point out the Remedy, godly Meekness, which is the truest Wisdom.

By Wisdom and Knowledge the same thing may be meant; or if they be taken for several things, (as sometimes there may be great Knowledge where there is but little Wisdom) yet these masterly Censors he speaks of, pretended to both, and were so rigid toward others, because so well conceited of themselves: the sense is, You pretend to be wise and knowing, but if you would approve your selves as such indeed, shew out of a good Conversation, &c.

Let him shew as the Testimony of his Wisdom, not his words in hard Censures, but his Works, viz. good ones, and those not done now and then, or on the by, but in the constant Course, and Tenor of his Life▪ or shew his Works to be good, by their being not casual, but constant, and his ordinary Practice in his whole Conversation.

i. e. Meek and gentle Wisdom, which can hear, and answer, and teach, and admonish, and rebuke mildly, and sweetly, with long-suffering, as well as Doctrine, 2 Tim. 4.2. and then it notes the Quality of this Wisdom, or such Meekness as proceeds from Wisdom, or is joyned with it, there being some which is foolish, affected, carnal, viz. that which is opposed to Zeal; whereas true Meekness is only opposed to Fierceness and Rashness; and thus it notes the cause of Meekness.