James 4 Study Notes

4:1 While pride and selfishness are natural to fallen humanity and often serve as a basis for advancement in worldly rank, James names them as the source of wars and fights within the congregation. “Wars and fights” indicates conflict among members and/or factions within the congregation. The source of conflict was the passions that wage war within you. “Passions” refers to the pleasures of life, the pursuit of which leads to conflicts.

4:2-3 Two statements distinguished by paired opposites (desire . . . do not have and murder and covet . . . cannot obtain) and two direct assertions (fight and wage war and do not have because you do not ask) describe the problem to which the circumstances had led. Some interpreters believe there were zealous Jewish Christians actually killing others. But perhaps more likely the murder James speaks of refers to their intense anger, given the context of “wars and fights among you” (v. 1). See Mt 5:21-22. Their desires were unappeased because they were asking with wrong motives. The source of conflict was selfish desire and envy run amok (3:13-18).

4:4-5 Adulterous people refers to the congregation’s unfaithfulness to God. This charge was common in the OT of Israel’s relationship to God (Is 54:5-6; Jr 2:20; 3:6-10,20; Ezk 16:38; 23:45; Hs 1:2; 2:5-7). Self-centeredness is cast as diametric opposition (hostility) to God.

4:6 The phrase but he gives greater grace introduces the main point—God’s grace is able to overcome unfaithfulness. The exhortation to repent is backed by a stark reality expressed in Pr 3:34 and quoted here by James: God resists the proud. Resist is a military term used to describe an army arrayed for battle. To remain in sinful pride is to invite God’s battle array against you. In contrast to this, God gives grace to the humble (1:17).

4:7-9 James issued ten commands needed to resolve the conflict within the congregation. The theme is repentance and forgiveness. Submit to God carries the idea of self-humbling; resist the devil suggests an active resistance against temptation. Sinners and double-minded people are parallel ideas that characterize both the teachers and the congregation. “Double-minded” recalls the doubter of 1:8.

4:10 The words humble yourselves . . . and he will exalt you summarize the path to having forgiveness from God as well as reconciliation among members of the congregation.

4:11-12 Criticism is malicious, judgmental speech toward others. It violates the “royal law” (2:8) and by extension the Mosaic law. Since the one who gave the law also judges according to it, there are never grounds for critical speech directed toward another member of the congregation.

4:13-17 In this section the issue is boastful speech that indicates arrogance. It is unclear whether the merchants of v. 17 were all Christians, but v. 15 suggests that some were.

4:13-14 In a hypothetical but realistic scenario, James accused a merchant who had big designs on making a profit of leaving God out of his plans. Neglecting to entrust our hopes and plans to God and his counsel is paramount to arrogance and unbelief. If he is really the Lord of our lives, we see all things as coming from his hands, and we speak of plans and outcomes accordingly.

4:15-16 The phrase you should say and what follows indicate that it is God’s will that conditions the course of life. The merchants did not recognize this; they were boasting, but such boasting is arrogance and evil.

4:17 This was probably a maxim known to James. An example of this verse is found in 5:4.