James 3:15

“This wisdom descendeth not from above, etc.] If it must be called wisdom, as it ought not; an envious, quarrelsome, and contentious spirit, does not deserve such a name; yet if any will call it so, or can think that a man of such a disposition is a man possessed of wisdom; it is such wisdom as does not come from above, from heaven, from the Father of lights, from Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and from the spirit of wisdom and revelation: what the Jews say f38 of the wisdom of Egypt, may be said of this, that it is hatt hmkj “wisdom from below”, or inferior wisdom, as it follows: but is earthly, sensual, and devilish; it is “earthly”, or of the earth, and…”

“This wisdom--in which ye "glory," as if ye were "wise" (Jam 3:13-14). descendeth not from above--literally, "is not one descending," &c.: "from the Father of lights" (true illumination and wisdom), Jam 1:17; through "the Spirit of truth," Joh 15:26. earthly--opposed to heavenly. Distinct from "earthy," Co1 15:47. Earthly is what is IN the earth; earthy, what is of the earth. sensual--literally, "animal-like": the wisdom of the "natural" (the same Greek) man, not born again of God; "not having the Spirit" (Jde 1:19). devilish--in its origin (from "hell," Jam 3:6; not from God, the Giver of true wisdom, Jam 1:5), and also in its character, which accords with its origin. Earthly, sensual, and…”

“This wisdom descendeth not from above - Compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 3:3. The wisdom here referred to is that carnal or worldly wisdom which produces strife and contention; that kind of knowledge which leads to self-conceit, and which prompts a man to defend his opinions with over-heated zeal. In the contentions which are in the world, in church and state, in neighborhoods and families, at the bar, in political life, and in theological disputes, even where there is the manifestation of enraged and irascible feeling, there is often much of a certain kind of wisdom. There is learning, shrewdness, tact, logical skill, subtle and skilful argumentation - “making the worse appear the better…”

“This wisdom - Which is consistent with such zeal. Is earthly - Not heavenly; not from the Father of Lights. Animal - Not spiritual; not from the Spirit of God. Devilish - Not the gift of Christ, but such as Satan breathes into the soul. James 3:17”

“3:15 The wisdom that is earthly is not part of the good creation; it is the opposite of heavenly wisdom because it excludes God. It is unspiritual because it does not acknowledge or respond to God’s Spirit (1 Cor 2:14; Jude 1:19). It is demonic since it comes from the devil, the ultimate source of this destructive wisdom (Jas 3:6; 4:6; 1 Tim 4:1).”

“wisdom: Jam 3:17, Jam 1:5, Jam 1:17; Joh 3:17; Co1 3:3; Phi 3:19 but: Sa2 13:3, Sa2 15:31, Sa2 16:23; Jer 4:22; Luk 16:8; Rom 1:22; Co1 1:19, Co1 1:20, Co1 1:27; Co1 2:6, Co1 2:7, Co1 3:19; Co2 1:12; Jde 1:19 sensual: or, natural, Co1 2:14 devilish: Gen 3:1-5; Joh 8:44; Act 13:10; Co2 11:3, Co2 11:13-15; Jo1 3:8-10; Jde 1:19; Rev 9:11, Rev 12:9 James 3:16”