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James 3: 1, bearing in mind that the word James used which is translated `masters' in
the A.V. is really the word `teachers'. Expounding the Word of God is a solemn
responsibility which should never be taken on lightly. Those who do so are deeply
responsible to the Lord, and if thy have taught error instead of truth they will surely
receive `the greater condemnation', for they have not only professed to know more than
the people they teach, but have been misled themselves, and consequently have misled
others also.
Commentators have been puzzled over the next verse because it appears to have no
connection with the context:
"Be no longer a drinker of water but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine
often infirmities" (5: 23).
But Timothy had just been advised `to keep himself pure' and he might have
construed this as meaning asceticism. He evidently was not robust physically and had a
tendency toward `neglecting the body'. Now the body must be neither over-indulged nor
neglected. We know that `neglecting of the body' was part of the false holiness
propounded by some in the Colossian church (Col. 2: 20-23) and the Apostle Paul, who
knew Timothy better than anyone else, took care to check any tendency in him to this sort
of thing. Hence his advice to the young man who was the leader of his assembly, to take
a little wine as a tonic. Some Christians may be surprised at this, but Paul was a good
deal wiser than his critics and knew what he was doing. He had not only Timothy's
welfare at heart, but that of the whole church over which he presided.
Regarding the next verse, it is better to link it with verse 22 and treat verse 23 as a
parenthesis:
"Some men's sins are evident, going before unto judgment; and some men also they
follow after. In like manner also there are good works that are evident; and such as are
otherwise cannot be hid" (5: 24, 25, R.V.).
We also give this passage in the modern N.I.V. translation:
"The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them;
the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even
those that are not cannot be hidden."
The Apostle is giving Timothy further advice concerning the appointment of men to
Christian service. A distinction is drawn between those whose faults are obvious and
others whose failings are not immediately apparent but come out later on. Timothy's
judgment must take this into consideration and this is another reason why he must not be
in a hurry to appoint anyone to a Christian office. First impressions may be wrong,
leading him to make wrong decisions, but this must be avoided at all costs. Of course the
judgment of sin finally will be made by God, but Timothy must exercise wisdom and
caution, so that the Lord's witness and work may not be hindered.