James 4

This is the fourth of the five chapters of the Epistle of James. James 3 closes with a discussion of taming the tongue and of "the wisdom that is from above," which makes peace. Chapter 4 opens by turning to the opposite condition, asking where the wars and fightings within the community come from.

Outline

• Verses 1–3 Wars and fightings arise from the lusts that war in one's members. People do not have because they do not ask, and when they ask, they do not receive because they ask amiss, intending to spend what they receive on their lusts.
• Verses 4–6 Friendship with the world is enmity with God. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
• Verses 7–10 Readers are commanded to submit to God and resist the devil. They are urged to draw near to God, cleanse their hands, put away double-mindedness, mourn, and humble themselves before the Lord.
• Verses 11–12 Readers are told not to speak evil of or judge a brother, because there is only one Lawgiver and Judge.
• Verses 13–17 James rebukes those who confidently declare that they will trade for a year and make a profit. Life is a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes, so one ought to say, "If the Lord will." The chapter concludes that knowing to do good and not doing it is sin.

Key Verses

• James 4:7–8 "Resist the devil … Draw nigh to God" — the central exhortation of the chapter, which brings together submission, resistance, and drawing near.
• James 4:14–15 "It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away" — expresses the transience of life and an attitude of entrusting oneself to the will of God.
• James 4:17 "To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" — a concise statement that what one leaves undone can also be sin.

People and Places

No person or place is named. God, the Holy Spirit, and the devil are mentioned. The destination of the traders in verse 13 is described only as "such a city."

Points for Reflection

• Interpretation of verse 5: The original text is difficult, and translations render it differently. The questions at issue are whether "spirit" refers to the Holy Spirit or to the spirit God breathed into human beings, and whether the one who yearns jealously is God or that spirit. Interpreters also discuss the fact that the words introduced as what "the scripture saith" do not appear verbatim in the Old Testament.
• The quotation in verse 6: This cites Proverbs 3:34 in a form close to the Septuagint. The same verse is also quoted in 1 Peter 5:5. The exhortations in James 4:7 and 4:10 to submit, to resist, and to be lifted up likewise have close parallels in 1 Peter 5:8–9 and the verses preceding it.
• "Adulteresses" in verse 4 (KJV: "Ye adulterers and adulteresses"): The expression is read as continuing the tradition of Hosea and other Old Testament prophets, who likened turning away from God to harlotry.
• Verses 2–3 are frequently cited in discussions of why prayer goes unanswered. The phrase "If the Lord will" in verse 15 became widespread in the Western church through the Latin expression Deo volente.