The Christian disciple James wrote: “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers.” (Jas. 3:1)

James was directing his words to men who were setting themselves up as teachers of their fellow believers even though they were not appointed or qualified to teach. These unqualified men wanted the prominence and authority that was associated with being teachers, without regard for the qualifications. They must have been like the men whom the apostle Paul described as “wanting to be teachers of law, but not perceiving either the things they are saying or the things about which they are making strong assertions.”​—1 Tim. 1:7.