James 3

“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bits, body, horses. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a…” The line’s distinctive content terms include driven, fierce, governor. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” Naming Even keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body…” The line’s distinctive content terms include fire, tongue, body. Its relationship to verses 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” The line’s distinctive content terms include deadly, evil, full. Its relationship to verses 7 and 9 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” Naming Out keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bitter, envying, glory. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” The line’s distinctive content terms include descendeth, devilish, earthly. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include easy, first, fruits. Its relationship to verses 16 and 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” The line’s distinctive content terms include peace, fruit, righteousness. Its relationship to verses 17 shows what work it does in this passage.