But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
First pure, х hagnee (G53)] - 'clean' from all that is "earthly, sensual (animal), devilish" (James 3:15). This is 'first of all' before "peaceable," because there is an unholy peace with the world, which makes no distinction between clean and unclean. Compare "undefiled" and "unspotted from the world," James 1:27; James 4:4; James 4:8; 1 Peter 1:22, "purified your souls" х heegnikotes (G48)]. Ministers must not preach before a purifying change of heart, "Peace (Ezekiel 13:10; Ezekiel 13:19). Seven (the perfect number) characteristics of true wisdom are enumerated. Purity (sanctity) is put first, because it has respect both to God and ourselves: the six that follow regard our fellowmen. Our first concern is to have in ourselves sanctity; our second, to be at peace with men.
Gentle, х epieikes (G1933)] - 'forbearing:' making allowance for others: lenient as to the DUTIES they owe us.
Easy to be entreated, х eupeithees (G2138)] - easily persuaded; not harsh as to a neighbour's FAULTS.
Full of mercy - as to a neighbour's MISERIES.
Full of mercy and good fruits - contrasted with "every evil work" (James 3:16).
Without partiality - recurring to the warning against "respect to persons" (James 2:1; James 2:4, Greek, James 2:9). Alford translates х adiakritos (G87): cf. Greek, James 1:6], 'without doubting.' But thus there would be an epithet referring to one's self amidst those referring to one's conduct toward others.
Without hypocrisy. Not as Alford, from James 1:22; James 1:26, 'Without deceiving yourselves' with the name without the reality of religion. For it must refer, like the other six epithets, to our relations to others: our peaceableness and mercy must be 'without dissimulation.'