---
title: "Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles"
author: "John Calvin"
translator: "John Owen"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 101 of 107
url: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentaries-on-the-catholic-epistles/101/
cite: "John Calvin, tr. John Owen, Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles, section 101. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentaries-on-the-catholic-epistles/101/"
---

# Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles

*John Calvin, tr. John Owen*

Calvin on James, Peter, John and Jude.

## 101. Chapter 3

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentaries-on-the-catholic-epistles/101/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentaries-on-the-catholic-epistles/101/#p-N

[¶0] 1 Be not many masters, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment:

[¶1] 2 For in many things we all offend. If any one offend not in word, he is a perfect man, as one who can bridle also the whole body.

[¶2] 3 Behold, we put bridles in horses’ months, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.

[¶3] 4 Behold also the ships, however large they may be and driven by fierce winds, yet they are turned about by a very small helm wherever the will of the pilot wishes.

[¶4] 5 So also the tongue is a very small member and boasts great things.

[¶5] 6 Behold, a little fire, what quantity of wood it burns! And the tongue is a fire, and a world of iniquity. So is the tongue among our members; it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the whole course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell.

[¶6] 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind:

[¶7] 8 But the tongue no man can tame, an unrestrainable evil, full of deadly poison.

[¶8] 9 By it we bless God, even the Father; and by it we curse men made after his likeness!

[¶9] 10 From the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing! These things, my brethren, ought not to be so.

[¶10] 11 Does a fountain from the same opening send forth the sweet and the bitter?

[¶11] 12 Can a fig-tree, my brethren, bear olive-berries; or a vine, figs? so no fountain can bring forth briny and sweet water.

[¶12] 13 Who is wise and intelligent among you? Let him shew by a good conduct his works with meekness of wisdom.

[¶13] 14 But if ye have bitter emulation and contention in your heart, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

[¶14] 15 This is not the wisdom which comes from above, but earthly, animal, demoniacal:

[¶15] 16 For where emulation and contention are, there is confusion and every evil work.

[¶16] 17 But the wisdom which is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, humane, tractable, full of mercy and of good works, not officiously prying, not dissembling:

[¶17] 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.