appeals to them as fellow family members, objects of his brotherly concern (cf. vv. 2, 16). That prepares the way for the threefold admonition “Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” Each of these subjects is discussed later at greater length: “quick to hear” (1:22–25), “slow to speak” (3:1–12), and “slow to anger” (3:13–18). The appeal is made to “every one.” Each individual Christian, with no exception, struggles with the control of the tongue. The present tenses indicate that it