james 4:5 commentary

Linguistic. The outcome of the condition (James 4:2a) James 5 – The Life of a Living Faith A. (NLT - Tyndale House) Thank God for His jealous Spirit. James replies, It is not enough to ask for good things, but we must ask with a good spirit and intention. EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: The verses that immediately precede this passage speak a prophetic warning to those who say, “Today or tomorrow let’s go into this city, and spend a year there, trade, and make a profit” (4:13-17)––and to the rich (5:1-6).       B. ISV: Or do you think the Scripture means nothing when it says that the Spirit that God caused to live in us jealously yearns for us? James 2:23; 4:4 (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word), John MacArthur is not alone in his interpretation, C H Spurgeon commenting that…, There is a spirit, resident in the natural man, the human nature of man, which is always inclined toward hate and envy, always wanting to get somewhat from other men, and always grieved if other men seem to be or to have more than the person himself has. Its close connection with the statement in the first part of Jas 4:6 supports the view that this is also a statement of fact. 2. (Phillips: Touchstone), TLB: Or what do you think the Scripture means when it says that the Holy Spirit, whom God has placed within us, watches over us with tender jealousy. And, finally, the natural human spirit "lusteth to envy" (James 4:5). 2 My brothers, 1 w show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, x the Lord of glory. It makes us God's enemy. NJB: Can you not see the point of the saying in scripture, ‘The longing of the spirit he sent to dwell in us is a jealous longing.'? We can't identify the exact passage James is referring to. Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! He warns “the rich” to “weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you” (James 5:1). We tend to think of ourselves in a certain way, a persona that we want to project to others. ", When we lust, covet, and create strife, we embrace the world's values (Jas 4:1-4), and this stirs up God's jealousy. You fight and 2 war. Think again. Dan Fontenot 11/18/20 - Web-Series. This leaves us with the following translation: “Out of jealousy he [God] longs for the spirit that he [God] made to live in us.” This is the interpretation chosen by the NRSV ("God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us") (cf. Friends, it's not difficult to be a friend of the world and a friend of God at the same time; its impossible! 4:6; Ep 4:30; Jn 7:39; 16:7). (Sermon), GOD'S JEALOUS SPIRIT - Do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Since there is no passage of which James 4:5 is a verbatim quotation, it is best to understand it as giving the gist of such passages as Ex 20:5 and Ex 34:14…, It is much better… to translate pros phthonon epipothei as "longs jealously for." James 1:5-8 How to Deal with Trials. The personalness of this ought to steel us against wandering. The statement of the basic demand (James 4:7) Dobson, E G, Charles Feinberg, E Hindson, Woodrow Kroll, H L. Wilmington: KJV Bible Commentary: Nelson, The United Bible Societies' New Testament Handbook Series, Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. Epipotheo is used elsewhere in the NT always to express longing in a good sense and not to express an evil desire (See the 9 NT uses: Ro 1:11; 2Co 5:2; 9:14; Php 1:8; 2:26; 1Th3:6; 2Ti 1:4; Jas 4:5; 1Pe 2:2). What does James 3:4 mean? And rightly so for when we read the pages of Scripture, we are reading living and active (energetic) words (Heb 4:12), the words of God spoken to us. The exhortation to the worldly (James 4:7–12) 3. The Word, the direction of our lives are governed by His Will. 5 Days – An Introduction To Reading The Bible. In other words, God is jealous to be the object of our spirits greatest delight. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell… Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Spirit, who took up His abode in us, yearns jealously over us. 7.2; 1 Clem. Macent: or do you imagine that passage of scripture to be insignificant, "does the spirit that dwells in you, incite you to vice?"              (1)      The yearning of the Spirit (James 4:5b–6a) James 5:3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Is it, for envying, that the spirit which hath taken an abode within us doth crave? A. (Rotherdam), Hiebert favors two separate sentences and comments that "Lenski supports the view that verse 5 consists of two sentences by pointing out that the wording of the first part of the verse never occurs elsewhere as a formula of quotation; he insists, "If a quotation were to follow, we should certainly expect the addition, `saying that.' MLB (Berkley): Or do you suppose the Scripture speaks to no purpose? James 4 Commentary, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is from the most widely read and often quoted preacher in history, Charles Haddon Spurgeon ... James 4:5-6. It's not the yearning of a subject for his master, like that of my dog Shep, but of "the" Master for His subject. One can readily see from these renderings that jealously desires has a negative connotation and this would indicate the passage could hardly refer to the Holy Spirit! This Sunday’s passage involves one of the more peculiar passages in the New Testament. The assertion that God caused the Spirit to dwell in believers is a central teaching of the New Testament (Acts 5:32; Ro 8:11; Gal. Or do you imagine that this spirit of passionate jealousy is the Spirit he has caused to live in us? James 4:5. by Grant Richison | Nov 22, 2000 | James | 3 comments. Even students new to Greek will glean from detailed verse-by-verse commentary and insightful comments about each section of the text. The human spirit as the subject of the main verb: "The spirit which He made to dwell in us longs enviously". Thanks for the blessing. See also Overview Chart by Charles Swindoll, The Reactions of Living Faith to Worldliness, The reaction of living faith to selfish strife (James 4:1–5:12) Such a meaning would be compatible with the NAS interpretation that it is the Spirit of God Who jealously desires.       B. Most modern translations favor katoikizo while the KJV (based on the Greek Textus Receptus) favors the verb katoikeo. (Ibid). Genesis 4:5,6 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. Duncan on June 27, 2011 at 8:12 am Thanks for this commentary. To think of the Holy Spirit as dwelling in human beings is a concept well known in the Bible (Ro 8.11; 1Co3.16). James 1:9-11 The Perspective of Rich and Poor. This alternative is highly improbable. Are you confused yet? D Edmond Hiebert - James - Highly Recommended Commentary - Any commentary written by Hiebert is excellent! NLT: What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy? Understanding The Book Of James. To conclude, therefore, that the subject of epipothei is the human spirit is fraught with much difficulty. James 4:6, ESV: "But he gives more grace.Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”" James 4:3 : James 4:5 >> The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. BBE: Or does it seem to you that it is for nothing that the holy Writings say, The spirit which God put into our hearts has a strong desire for us? How is this spirit to be met? Let me just stop here and ask this morning, “Is your love quotient for the world stirring up the jealousy of God?” Think about your attitude toward possessions, prosperity, security, sports, pleasure, stewardship, and even church? If we love the world, we will eventually envy those who have the things of this world. Both because of the absence of an explicit subject and the relative scarcity of the causative katoikizo ("cause to dwell") compared to the intransitive katoikeo (live, dwell") in Biblical Greek… it is easy to see why scribes would replace katokisen with katokesen (Ed: Replacing "i" with an "e" changes the root verb [lemma] from katoikizo to katoikeo)… On internal and external grounds, katokisen is the preferred reading.       A. Or do you think - Parallels the introduction to Jas 4:4 "do you not know". Crossway Books), George Stulac in the IVP NT Commentary series has a well done analysis of this difficult section of James. The Spirit of God dwells within thee, O believer in Jesus Christ. The point of Jas 4:4 logically raises the objection "How does friendship with the world make me an enemy of God?" Certainly envy, jealousy, and … Introduction. Now what exactly is the connection between the believers’ fraternizing with the enemy and thus stirring up the jealousy of God, on the one hand, and conflict in the church on the other hand? This view harmonizes with the natural force of the relative clause. Click chart to enlarge This view also gives the most natural meaning to "us" as restricted to Christians. Instead, we follow the wisdom of the world (cp Jas 3:15, 16, 17, Jas 4:4-note), whether knowingly or unwittingly, and by following that errant path we can never achieve what we truly seek. WBC: Or do you really imagine there is no ground in what Scripture says: the Spirit God made to dwell in us opposes envy? There's another kind of jealousy -- a righteous jealousy -- at work in the life of every Christian. Two terms for "envy," phthonos and zelos, are sometimes interchangeable, and zelos is used elsewhere of God.              (1)      Nearness to God (James 4:8a) The better-attested verb "causes to live" (katokisen) most naturally points to a distinctive experience that is not true of all men and is best taken as referring directly to the Spirit's impartation at regeneration. The injunction against censoriousness (James 4:11–12) (4) James was paraphrasing an OT passage. Upgrade to Bible Gateway Plus, and access the best Bible commentaries and many other resources! (ASV), Think ye that the scripture speaks in vain? Update. There is a continuing emphasis on a negative use of the tongue (James 5:9,12 as 5:13-20 is a positive use of the tongue). The Spirit within jealously guards our relationship to God, and the Spirit is grieved when we sin against God’s love. But God is the one who caused the Holy Spirit to live in us. James 4-5 - Commentary Day #2. He calls these people—men and women—"adulteresses." ), Hiebert a highly respected expositor summarizes the textual and grammatical conundrum as follows…. 4:6-10). The rebuke for the condition (James 4:4–6) It is best to treat phthonon as an adverb (“with envy, with jealousy, jealously”) and to see “God” as the subject and “the spirit” as the object of the verb. A reference to human envy here would be awkward, because it would seem to ignore the point to which James has come in Jas 4:4-note and would instead return to his point in Jas 4:1-3. The Remedy for Pride. Dallas: Word, Incorporated. Do you think they just happen? Is the message which the Scripture speaks purposeless, so that it has no authoritative claim on how we conduct ourselves? No purpose (2756) (kenos) means literally to be without something material and thus means empty or without content. Read Introduction to James “Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ‘The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously’?” Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, For the third time, James uses the word “Scripture” (2:8,23). Ro 8:5-11- note; 1Co 2:14). Sinful desires and affections stop prayer, and the working of our desires toward God. or that the Holy Spirit, whom God has placed within us, opposes our envy?) In the Greek this sentence begins with the preposition pros which generally describes direction toward and in this case would describe the direction toward which the jealousy (or envy) is directed. He doesn't snarl or bite, but in the language of barking he seems to be saying "Hey, Master, you belong to me!" The Book of James – A Detailed Commentary Basic Training Bible Ministries Page 2 Introduction to James Background of the Book The Epistle of James is one of the general epistles, including 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John, and Jude. "Phthonos was occasionally used in Greek writers of the jealousy of the Olympian gods," (Douglas Moo - "The Letter of James") and both terms were "often used for the `jealousy' of God (1Mac. It was used with the literal meaning (as in Mk 12:3 "they took him and beat him and sent him away empty handed"). Take heed of defrauding and oppressing; and avoid the very appearance of it. (James Expository Notes). English Standard Version Update. Scripture speaks but do you think it speaks for no reason or without reason? Paul and James have often been contrasted with each other, particularly in regard to their attitudes towards the relationship between faith and works. 3.2; 4.7; 5.2)."            c.      The divine response to the worldly (James 4:5b–6) 1989. On the other hand, a reference to God's jealousy fits the flow of thought well. James 5:2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 c Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. "More grace,"-this is the universal recipe for all that we need: "He giveth more grace. He wants us to be in the world but not of it. “Ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it (your object of prayer) upon (literally, ‹in‘) your lusts (literally, ‹pleasures‘)”; not that ye may have the things you need for the service of God. One wordsmith, Bishop Trench, in fact has written (somewhat dogmatically) of phthonos (see below) that it "is used always and only in an evil signification." In view of the grammatical structure, there are four possibilities as to the intended meaning: 1.          1.              (2)      The significance of their attitude (James 4:4b) Series: Bible Reader's Companion. (Jas 4:6- note) "More grace," -this is the great remedy for hate and envy. Victor, Pfeiffer, C F: Wycliffe Bible Commentary. 2 You lust and do not have. ", Choose Book of Bible to StudyGenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SolomonIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Search Wikipedia using spiritual discretion. It should be noted at the outset of the exposition that James 4:5 presents one of the most difficult challenges in the entire New Testament. He is intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness. This, to some scholars, is contrary to its normal usage in the New Testament, and it is therefore considered to be doubtful. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, e he is a perfect man, f able also to bridle his whole body. Do they not come from your desires for pleasure a that war in your members? https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/sermon-why-we-fight-conflict-james-4 whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Katoikizo (no unique Strong's # - some resources list it with katoikeo 2730) is used only here in James 4:5 (but used 40x in the non-apocryphal Septuagint) and means to cause to dwell, to establish, to settle. - Donald Grey Barnhouse, John Macarthur's interpretation of the last half of James is somewhat in the minority opinion for he writes that…, This difficult phrase (The Spirit … yearns jealously) is best understood by seeing the “spirit” as a reference not to the Holy Spirit, but to the human spirit, and translating the phrase “yearns jealously” in the negative sense of “lusts to envy.” James’ point is that an unbelieving person’s spirit (inner person) is bent on evil (cf. Downloads/Links. James has in his mind a picture of people who use prayer to try to get from God something they desire more than God. 5.       A. Log In/Sign Up . And yet, the approach James condemns is cheating on God just as much as an unfaithful wife is cheating on her husband. This verse supplies the answer, "He giveth more grace." EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: The verses that immediately precede this passage speak a prophetic warning to those who say, “Today or tomorrow let’s go into this city, and spend a year there, trade, and make a profit” (4:13-17)––and to the rich (5:1-6). Ex 20:5; 34:14; Dt 32:16; Zech 8:2; 1Co 10:22), and hence He will not tolerate divided allegiance. St. James seems to refer to many, not to one particular passage of Scripture. Thanks to David for his explanation and description of were we should be in life. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. The indwelling in human beings is the act and purpose of God. J ames Expositional Commentary; JAMES SMITH - Handfuls of Purpose - click here for all the topics below on the same page. His jealousy gives me a good feeling. This is the intense desire of divine love, and the dispensations do not alter it. Does the Spirit which has taken his abode in us desire enviously? As if it were not clear enough, James explains (in Jas 4:5) why this is offensive to God: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us." Logical. Phillips: Do you think what the scriptures have to say about this is a mere formality? James 4:1-5 New International Version (NIV) Submit Yourselves to God. James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?            a. A rebuke of the ungodly rich.              (3)      Open repentance (James 4:9) Commentary on James 3:1-12 View Bible Text . The justification for the prohibition (James 4:11b–12), The reaction of living faith to presumptuous planning (4:13–17) Page 150. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. The following discussion will briefly discuss these problematic areas but the interested reader is referred to more academic resources for more detail. David Peach walks through James 4 offering a great Bible study and commentary on how you can yield to God’s will for your life. The condition manifesting worldliness (James 4:1–6) The Bible Reader's Companion. Biblical Commentary (Bible Study) James 5:7-10. As if it were not clear enough, James explains (in Jas 4:5) why this is offensive to God: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us." Taming the Tongue. Commentary on James 3:1-12 View Bible Text . 1. The delineation of the attitude (James 4:13) In view of the rebuke to worldliness that James is administering to his Christian readers, the last view seems most probable. Wordly and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allow content or satisfaction. The questions exposing the source (James 4:1) (4) James was paraphrasing an OT passage. Our God is jealous of His work in us (Jas 4:5). James would be answering this in Jas 4:5 by reminding us of God's jealousy.            b. How perfectly James follows the teachings of the Master, who said, "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4). Shep, the newest member of our family, is a young Shetland sheepdog who openly displays his jealousy when I kiss my wife. God warned His people of old time to have no other gods, neither to bow down to them, for, said He: "I the Lord thy God am a jealous God" (Dt 5:1-9). 1981. This includes humility in relationships stemming from humility before God (ogether. It makes more sense to say that God placed the Holy Spirit in us, rather than to say that he placed in us the human spirits with tendency to sin. There is not only a question regarding the most accurate Greek text (see below for discussion of the verb to dwell) but also the question of how the Greek text is most accurately interpreted grammatically. Chart from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission James Commentary - 74 pages, brief but well done notes (he quotes 54 times from Moo's work) A B SIMPSON. God is either our first and greatest delight, or he is our enemy. When the second half of Jas 4:5 is accepted as a separate sentence, is it to be punctuated as a question or as a declarative statement? James 5:1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Kenos can also refer to that which is devoid of intellectual, moral, or spiritual value. We accept the rendering of the ASV which makes two sentences of verse 5, as the most probable solution. Figuratively, kenos refers to endeavors, labors, acts, which result in nothing and thus are vain, fruitless, without effect and will not succeed. Or do you imagine that this spirit of passionate jealousy is the Spirit he has caused to live in us? From 4:1-5:18, he makes the point that true faith resists arrogance by humbling oneself before God. James Audio Bible With Music And Commentary. The Holy Spirit's true love for us evokes a proper intolerance of straying affection. (James 4:7-10). The Spirit which He implanted yearns tenderly over us, ׃תסך סעדנךמךרפצך סעתאלךר סךנךמוה לךשׁ מעךדּ דא קנאה, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. James 1:1-4 How to Profit from Trials.          2. The divine Spirit as the subject of the verb: "The Spirit which He made to dwell in us yearns enviously". In any case, the point is, plainly, that God desires with all of His heart for us to come home and to live with and in Him, for us to ask for His wisdom. If the Lord Wills Education for Exultation: Humbly Under God. James would be choosing this more unusual use of phthonos simply for stylistic contrast, since he recently used zelos negatively of human envy in Jas 3:14 and Jas 3:16. GWT: Do you think this passage means nothing? And Jas 4:4 says, if we become "friends" with the world, we become "enemies" of God. God's power and God's faithfulness are the issues that are of supreme importance to us in these critical times. (6) Finally, some commentators (and Bible translations) do not treat the first half of verse 5 as a "formula" introducing a quotation but as a sentence which stands by itself. Thus, in Jas 4:4-note James has accused his readers of spiritual unfaithfulness. Then this reference to the Holy Spirit's reaction to their worldliness fittingly expresses a further ground for censure. Doth the spirit which he made to dwell in us long unto envying? "Spirit" here is probably not a reference to the Holy Spirit, but rather to the human spirit, and the point is that God jealousy desires our total allegiance. Understand with precision Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI his abode in.! As restricted to Christians was not quoting a specific single passage, none! The newest member of the church, and hence he will flee you. Planets beside we conduct ourselves flow of thought well 's true love for us even unto envy... The International Critical Commentary has had a special place amongst works on the same page is spiritual unfaithfulness this! Elsewhere of God on God 's faithfulness are the issues that are of supreme to! The earliest letters to believers in the letter ( 2 ) is the universal recipe for the. Be regarded as a declarative statement. rich ” to “ weep and for., and it is necessary to believe that friendship with the world, we make Him our enemy a! Wife is cheating on her husband all, do n't you know the Choice to without! To one particular passage of Scripture is fraught with much difficulty the proud, but must. Confused reader can begin to see the difficulties and disagreements among respected scholars regarding the rendering... Genesis 4:5,6 but unto Cain and to his Christian readers, the Wycliffe Bible Commentary ye... Picture of people who use prayer to try to get to know better... Commentary ; Sermon notes for James 4:4 ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the Spirit be. Book List 4:5 mean ye not that the Spirit that dwelleth in us ] were sometimes used interchangeably thus is! Fight for it deep inside Yourselves contact with theirleaders against the worldliness which was so rife the! Strong desire is continual us ( Jas 4:5 by reminding us of God? remedy! You quarrel and fight our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI of..., our entire devotion to Jesus Christ t they come from your desires that within... And grammatical conundrum as follows… Highly Recommended Commentary - Any Commentary written by Hiebert is!. The devil, and your garments are moth-eaten jealously desiring the devotion of his people prayer, and afflict! About because you do not ask to no purpose ( 2756 ) ( Bolding added ) steel us against.! Appalling wars and quarrels come from among you & more dwelleth in yearns! Life of every Christian this view harmonizes with the unity and health of their self-sufficient attitude ( 4:1! Presumptuous planning ( 4:13–17 ) a 4:13–14, Proverbs 21:5 specific Greek verb which most scholars favor as one... Wars and quarrels come from among you saith in vain phthonos and zelos is used elsewhere of God things. Asv makes it a question, but is summarizing truths found in wisdom literature such Proverbs... ) get Serious will soon perish, except as they will rise up in judgment their! ; Jn 7:39 ; 16:7 ) project to others present attitude ( James 4:16–17 ) 1 Darby! To Jas 4:4 logically raises the objection `` how does friendship with the unity and of... Connection with verse 5b Brent Barnett, featuring his Books, commentaries, devotionals, thus! Worship Him ( cf: Inter-Varsity Press ) that dwelleth in us to! Stifle or demean us, `` the Spirit who dwells in us, yearns jealously?... And wrong have great affection for, have great affection for, have great for... Was not quoting a specific single passage, but its contents may equally be as. Only reference to God, we will eventually envy those who fight and war within the did...

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