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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE LETTER OF JAMES

CHAPTER FOUR:
“How to Stop Devilish Fights”

[“Stop Fighting”]
Theme Verse: 11

James 4:1-3 – The Source of Fights

JA4:1 From where comes conflict, and from where comes fights, among you? 129 Is it not from this here – from your own desire that creates conflict among your membership? 130

129

From where comes conflict, and from where comes fights, among you: Or, KJV: wars and fightings; PME: feuds and struggles; TCN: fighting and quarreling; MOF: conflicts… wrangles. Who does James mean by “you”? At least he means, “the twelve tribes scattered about.” It is also possible he means the “teachers” of the previous chapter. Wars and fight among teachers is nothing new. It is almost to be expected by the very nature of things. What is the root cause of these conflicts among elders?

130

Your own desire that creates conflict among your membership: Or, KJV: lusts. It seems likely the word “members” is as Paul uses it in 1 Corinthians 12:14, 18 – the individual members of the Church, or Body of Christ. The base reason for these conflicts and contentions is personal selfishness – ambition! Some may interpret this was internal passions within body organs and limbs.

JA4:2 You are greedy and want more and yet you do not have. 131 You envy and destroy, yet you are still unable to attain. 132 You fight and you battle and yet you do not possess 133 because you fail to ask. 134

131

You are greedy and want more and yet you do not have: Or, TCN: you crave, yet do not obtain. What do “teachers” crave or desire? Honor, glory, and personal gain? Desire is at the root of sin. [See notes on James 1:14, 15.] Desire is the basis for personal disappointment. The person who does not desire is never disappointed.

132

You envy and destroy, yet you are still unable to attain: Or, KJV: kill and desire; TCN: murder and rage. This killing or murder is likely of a slanderous kind spawned by jealousy of others. Note this problem earlier in James 3:14. [See notes on 1 John 3:15.] The murdering of a reputation may be worse than an actual murder. What is it they want to possess or have?

133

You fight and you battle and yet you do not possess: Or, KJV: fight and war; MOF: wrangle and fight; TCN: quarrel and fight; BAR: fight and feud. [See notes on James 3:16.] These are struggles among elders and teachers for position rooted in ambition. No ambitious teacher will ever obtain what he craves, for it will all shatter in the end.

134	You fail to ask: How can one ask God out of jealous ambition?

JA4:3 You ask and yet you do not receive because you ask for the wrong reason 135 – that you may expend it on your own greed. 136

135	You ask for the wrong reason: Or, KJV: ye ask amiss; GDS: wrong motives; KNX: with ill intent. God will not ever answer prayers out of jealous ambition. Most often such men do not pray privately unless they are greatly deceived. Their public prayers are a deception.

136	You may expend it on your own greed: Prayers for selfish reasons are doomed to failure – particularly those driven by ambition.

James 4:4-6 – Envy and Humility

JA4:4 Adulteresses, 137 do you not realize that worldly friendship means enmity with The God? 138 Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world-order of humanity becomes an enemy of The God. 139

137

Adulteresses: Or: ye adulterer ad adulteresses; TCN: unfaithful people; WMS: you faithless wives; BAR: you have broken all your vows. Some render the feminine of this word in various ways. It seems James has generally condemned rich Christians and teachers. Perhaps the feminine “adulteresses” is a put down of these. Ancient apostates of Israel were likened to adulteresses.

138

Worldly friendship means enmity with The God: If James still has the ambitious teachers as his focus the warning is directed to that worldly attitude characterized by wisdom that is earthly, animal, demonic. Christians were to remain no part of the world. [John 15:19; 17:14] See notes elsewhere in Nazarene Commentary 2000© for a discussion on the world and what friendship with it constitutes. Worldly teachers would tend to curry favor and prestige with the world. And certainly the rich must have more than normal contact with it.

139

A friend of the world-order of humanity becomes an enemy of The God: A friend is an associate, a companion, generally loathing to be critical and thus compromising the Gospel, tolerating blaspheme of God, and sharing in questionable business and social contacts. [Luke 6:26; Galatians 1:10] The world – or that social order among humankind – is composed of three main elements: religion, politics, and commercialism. All can spell disaster to the Christian.

JA4:5 Or, do you think the Scripture says in vain: 140 “The pneuma dwelling within us desires us jealously”? 141

140	The Scripture says in vain: James is to quote a “Scripture” which cannot be easily identified. Some think James is paraphrasing a conflate composed of two or more verses. There is also a problem with the Greek renderings. See next footnote.

141

The pneuma dwelling within us desires us jealously: Or, With jealousy the Pneuma He caused to dwell in us, desires us. There are two general views: a) humankind’s fallen condition produces a disposition or inclination that tends to jealousy. [Genesis 6:5; 8:21] This seems in line with the general context as jealousy as been mention previously; b) the Holy Spirit which resides in the Church has a singular jealously for it as its own. [Deuteronomy 4:24ff] The phrase is variously rendered: KJV: the spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy; BAS: the spirit which God has put in our heart has a strong desire for us; NEB: the spirit which God implanted in man turns towards envious desires. Barclay paraphrases this: “God yearns jealously for the loving devotion of the spirit he implanted in us.” He gives an alternate in a footnote: “The spirit which God implanted in us is envious in its desires.” The context is dealing with being a friend of the world and such would be opposed to being “God’s friend.” [James 2:23] Like a married man who is rightly jealous of his adulterous wife – insisting on her exclusive devotion – God’s Pneuma demands exclusivity of devotion and friendship.

JA4:6 However, He gives a far greater unmerited favor! 142 Therefore, it says, “The God opposes the proud and He gives the humble unmerited favor.” 143 [Proverbs 3:34]

142	He gives a far greater unmerited favor: This exclamation may point to the first view proposed above: the human spirit tends to jealous envy and desire.

143

The God opposes the proud and He gives the humble unmerited favor: The first phrase may refer back to that inclination of jealous desire in humanity. It surely has the rich and ambitious teachers in mind. Paul quotes Proverbs 3:34. Again the context may have a bias toward the teachers mentioned before. It is they, and the rich, who tend to be proud. The humble may be the poor whom God chose as stated earlier.

James 4:7-10 – God’s Nearness and Humility

JA4:7 Therefore, be in subjection to The God, 144 but oppose the Devil and he will flee from you. 145

144	Be in subjection to The God: Or, KJV: submit yourselves; RHM: range yourselves therefore under God. [Romans 10:3; Hebrews 12:9; 1 Peter 2:17] It means to be ready to do the will of God and not resist His spirit.

145

Oppose the Devil and he will flee from you: Or, KJV: resist; KNX: stand firm against; NEB: stand up to the devil and he will turn and run. An important principle is that Satan is the ruler and god of this world. [2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19] A friend of the world is also a friend of the Devil. Opposing the Devil includes refusing to let sin be the master and avoid the works of the flesh. [Galatians 5:19-21] Ephesians 4:27 counsels not to allow room for the Devil. Ephesians 6:11-17 exhorts to be dressed for battle with the Devil. Note the Devil’s departure from Jesus following his temptation, “until another convenient time.” [Luke 4:13] The Devil works his strategy based on emotion and deceit. His primary tools always remain: fear or cowardice, desire or greed, pride and ambition, doubt and mistrust, selfishness and egotism.

JA4:8 Draw near to The God and He will draw near to you. 146 You sinners, cleanse your hands, 147 and sanctify your hearts, you double-minded persons. 148

146	Draw near to The God and He will draw near to you: Or, KNX: come close. Surely this is done in prayers and Biblical meditations which manifest the doing of His will? [Isaiah 55:6] Compare Acts 17:27 where Paul urges seeking, groping, for God though he is not far away.

147	You sinners, cleanse your hands: Or, GDS: wash your hands; TCN: make your hands clean. [Isaiah 1:16] The sinner must cleanse what his hands have touched and done. Only then will God draw close. These sinners would be at least the rich and the teachers mentioned before.

148

Sanctify your hearts, you double-minded persons: Literally, two-souled. Or, KJV: purify your hearts, ye double-minded; NEB: that your motives are pure. The Greek for “double-minded” is actually DIPSUCHOI, or “indecisive.” These have been mentioned back in James 1:8 where the same word is used. It is likely this person of two minds is the one who is the rich friend of the world trying to serve God and Riches. [Matthew 6:24]

JA4:9 Lament and mourn and weep! 149 Your laughter will be changed into mourning, 150 and your joy into gloom.

149	Lament and mourn and weep: Later this is directed to the rich. [James 5:1] The phrase may be a way to exhort repentance. [Joel 2:12]

150	Your laughter will be changed into mourning: Or, TAY: let there be sadness instead of laughter. Note the sorrow of godly repentance. [2 Corinthians 7:10, 11] The rich laugh considerably more than the poor.

JA4:10 “Be humbled before YHWH and He will exalt you.” 151 [Proverbs 29:23]

151	Be humbled before YHWH and He will exalt you: Or, RHM: be made low in presence of the Lord. This may be an allusion to Proverbs 29:23. In the Greek the article is lacking before LORD and so it is possible the Tetragram originally appeared here.

James 4:11-12 – Quit Speaking against Brothers

JA4:11 Brothers, do not speak against one another. 152 Anyone who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against law and judges law. 153 Now, if you judge law you are not a doer of law but a judge. 154

152

Do not speak against one another: Or, KJV: speak not evil one of another; BER: do not malign one another; TCN: not disparage; WMS: stop talking against. James moves now to his main point of counsel to the rich (and possibly the teachers). For a commentary on this portion read Romans chapter 14. [Leviticus 19:16; Proverbs 17:9] To speak against another is to criticize them and most likely to slander them. Such is motivated by jealousy and egotism. Find a slanderer and you will finder a person filled with jealousy.

153	Judges his brother, speaks against law and judges law: One who judges or criticizes another has become a self-righteous judge of what law is according to his standards. These judgmental and overly critical persons are ignoring the Nazarene. [Matthew 7:1, 2; Luke 6:37]

154

A judge: The self-righteous person who is a critic or censor of others based on personal opinions and standards sets self up as a judge who determines what law is. The rich and false teachers tend to be judgmental of the poor. In a broad sense the person with opinions is a person who judges or discriminates matters. This can be either good or bad. But, for sure, the opinionated person [the judge] thinks his or her view the only right one. Such a person is very self-absorbed and fails to look in that mirror James mentioned earlier.

JA4:12 One is the Lawgiver and Judge 155 [Isaiah 33:22] – the One able to either save or destroy. 156 But, who are you to be judging your neighbor? 157

155	One is the Lawgiver and Judge: Compare Isaiah 33:22. Only One can determine standards and then judge them.

156

The One able to either save or destroy: The true judge must be able to sanction a violation of law leading to either being saved or destroyed. Only God can do this in the unqualified sense. Personal critics cannot punish or sanction those they criticize. [Matthew 10:28] The self-righteous judgmental person – whether realizing it or not – sets themselves up as the final judge to either save or destroy a person. Religion is filled with such people.

157

Who are you to be judging your neighbor: Compare Matthew 7:1 and Romans 14:4. It is simply something that should be stopped. The self-righteous, judgmental person is merely an egocentric and self-absorbed individual who feels his/her opinions ascend above all. Such persons must see the urgency of controlling such attitudes. God is aware of even private unspoken critiques. Jesus taught that words spoke in secret would be proclaimed from the rooftops. Nothing spoken in secrecy will remain undiscovered, for the ear of angels listen and report to the One who is The Judge.

James 4:13-17 – Prideful Profits are Wicked

JA4:13 Come now, those saying, 158 “Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that city and we will do merchandising there a year and will make profits.” 159

158	Come now, those saying: Like this would seem to be the rich in their commercial ventures.

159

We will do merchandising there a year and will make profits: Or, KJV: buy and sell; ASV: trade; WMS: business and make money; KNX: make profit by trading; NW: commercial business. The Greek for “merchandising” EMPOREUSOMETHA from which comes the English “emporium.” James does not condemn business for profit; he condemns doing so without God. As Paul writes, “That which is without faith is sin.” Compare 1 Timothy 6:17-19 and 2 Timothy 2:4.

JA4:14 Do you not realize you do not know what tomorrow will be, 160 [Proverbs 27:1] or what your life will be? For you are but a faint mist 161 appearing for a moment and then vanishing.

160	You do not know what tomorrow will be: Compare Proverbs 27:1 and Luke 12:18. [Read Ecclesiastes chapter 2.] [Ecclesiastes 6:12]

161

You are but a faint mist: Or, KJV: a vapour… and then vanisheth away; PME: visible for a little while and then dissolving into thin air. Considering Genesis 2:7 and Genesis 3:19, the human being as a soul appears for a short time on earth and then disappears into unconscious sleep. [Job 14:12-15] Compare Psalm 102:3. The figure of speech that humans are but an “exhalation” is seen in Job 7:16 [NEB: vapour]; Psalm 39:5 [NEB: puff of wind]; Psalm 62:9 [MOF: breath of air]; Psalm 78:33 [DEW: vanish as a breath]; Psalm 94:11; 144:4.

JA4:15 Instead of this, you ought to say, “If the Sovereign LORD wills,” 162 we will live, and also, we will do this or that.

162

You ought to say, “If the Sovereign LORD wills”: Or, ha’ADOHN. Paul says this regarding his missionary tours, so it would certainly seem to be in order regarding a business move – try to discern God’s will. [1 Corinthians 4:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Hebrews 6:3] In the Greek LORD has the article [“the Lord”] so there is no reason to suspect the Tetragram was originally here.

JA4:16 However, now you boast in your pretentiousness. 163 All such boasting is evil. 164

163	Now you boast in your pretentiousness: Or, KJV: boastings; GDS: pretensions; TCN: constantly boasting presumptuously; RSV: arrogance; MON: insolent boastings; NW: self-assuming brags. This may be a reference back to the rich, [Psalm 52:7] and what is full of selfishness. [Isaiah 7:10]

164	All such boasting is evil: Or, KJV: all such rejoicing is evil; GDS: all such pride is wrong; TCN: all such boasting is wicked.

JA4:17 Therefore, the one knowing how to do good and yet not doing it – it is a sin. 165

165	The one knowing how to do good and yet not doing it – it is a sin: The sin of omission: failure to do what one knows is right and good. Compare the goats of Matthew 24:31-46. [Luke 12:47; John 9:41]

Review Questions on Chapter Four

Summary of Chapter Four

James chapter four is about the cause of in-fighting within the Church. The blame is put upon self-centered greed or desire. Likely with the rich in mind, James warns about friendship with the world and condemns the judgmental. Those who are business-minded without considering God end up sinning.