James 3:13 calls us those who are wise ‘by their good conduct to show their works in the meekness of wisdom.” This phrase is surprising at first, but I’ve appreciated Douglas Moo’s comments on the concept of “meekness” and wisdom from his commentary on James:
“Humility, or “meekness” was not usually prized by the Greeks. They thought it signaled a servility unworthy of a strong and confident person. But a different picture emerges in the NT. Jesus himself claimed to be “meek” (matt 11:29; 21:25) and blessed those who were meek (Matt 5:5). This Christian meekness, or humility, comes from understanding our position as sinful creatures in relationship to the glorious and majesty God… It recognizes how unable we are in and of ourselves to achieve spiritual fulfillment or to chart our own course in the world. And this humility before God should then translate into humility toward others…” (170)
