1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
1 From whence G4159 come wars G4171 and G2532 fightings G3163 among G1722 you? G5213 come they not G3756 hence, G1782 even of G1537 your G5216 lusts G2237 that war G4754 in G1722 your G5216 members? G3196
2 Ye lust, G1937 and G2532 have G2192 not: G3756 ye kill, G5407 and G2532 desire to have, G2206 and G2532 cannot G3756 G1410 obtain: G2013 ye fight G3164 and G2532 war, G4170 yet G1161 ye have G2192 not, G3756 because G1223 ye G5209 ask G154 not. G3361
3 Ye ask, G154 and G2532 receive G2983 not, G3756 because G1360 ye ask G154 amiss, G2560 that G2443 ye may consume G1159 it upon G1722 your G5216 lusts. G2237
4 Ye adulterers G3432 and G2532 adulteresses, G3428 know ye G1492 not G3756 that G3754 the friendship G5373 of the world G2889 is G2076 enmity G2189 with God? G2316 whosoever G3739 G302 therefore G3767 will be G1511 G1014 a friend G5384 of the world G2889 is G2525 the enemy G2190 of God. G2316
5 G2228 Do ye think G1380 that G3754 the scripture G1124 saith G3004 in vain, G2761 The spirit G4151 that G3739 dwelleth G2730 in G1722 us G2254 lusteth G1971 to G4314 envy? G5355
6 But G1161 he giveth G1325 more G3187 grace. G5485 Wherefore G1352 he saith, G3004 God G2316 resisteth G498 the proud, G5244 but G1161 giveth G1325 grace G5485 unto the humble. G5011
7 Submit yourselves G5293 therefore G3767 to God. G2316 Resist G436 the devil, G1228 and G2532 he will flee G5343 from G575 you. G5216
8 Draw nigh G1448 to God, G2316 and G2532 he will draw nigh G1448 to you. G5213 Cleanse G2511 your hands, G5495 ye sinners; G268 and G2532 purify G48 your hearts, G2588 ye double minded. G1374
9 Be afflicted, G5003 and G2532 mourn, G3996 and G2532 weep: G2799 let your G5216 laughter G1071 be turned G3344 to G1519 mourning, G3997 and G2532 your joy G5479 to G1519 heaviness. G2726
10 Humble yourselves G5013 in the sight G1799 of the Lord, G2962 and G2532 he shall lift G5312 you G5209 up. G5312
11 Speak G2635 not G3361 evil G2635 one of another, G240 brethren. G80 He that speaketh evil G2635 of his brother, G80 and G2532 judgeth G2919 his G846 brother, G80 speaketh evil G2635 of the law, G3551 and G2532 judgeth G2919 the law: G3551 but G1161 if G1487 thou judge G2919 the law, G3551 thou art G1488 not G3756 a doer G4163 of the law, G3551 but G235 a judge. G2923
12 There is G2076 one G1520 lawgiver, G3550 who G3588 is able G1410 to save G4982 and G2532 to destroy: G622 who G5101 art G1488 thou G4771 that G3739 judgest G2919 another? G2087
13 Go to G33 now, G3568 ye that say, G3004 To day G4594 or G2532 to morrow G839 we will go G4198 into G1519 such G3592 a city, G4172 and G2532 continue G4160 G4160 there G1563 a G1520 year, G1763 and G2532 buy and sell, G1710 G1710 and G2532 get gain: G2770 G2770
14 Whereas G3748 ye know G1987 not G3756 what G3588 shall be on the morrow. G839 For G1063 what G4169 is your G5216 life? G2222 It is G2076 even G1063 a vapour, G822 that G4314 appeareth for G5316 a little time, G3641 and G1161 then G1899 vanisheth away. G853
15 For that G473 ye G5209 ought to say, G3004 If G1437 the Lord G2962 will, G2309 G2532 we shall live, G2198 G2198 and G2532 do G4160 G4160 this, G5124 or G2228 that. G1565
16 But G1161 now G3568 ye rejoice G2744 in G1722 your G5216 boastings: G212 all G3956 such G5108 rejoicing G2746 is G2076 evil. G4190
17 Therefore G3767 to him that knoweth G1492 to do G4160 good, G2570 and G2532 doeth G4160 it not, G3361 to him G846 it is G2076 sin. G266
1 Whence `come' wars and whence `come' fightings among you? `come they' not hence, `even' of your pleasures that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend `it' in your pleasures.
4 Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.
5 Or think ye that the scripture speaketh in vain? Doth the spirit which he made to dwell in us long unto envying?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore `the scripture' saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.
7 Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you.
11 Speak not one against another, brethren. He that speaketh against a brother, or judgeth his brother, speaketh against the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judgest the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 One `only' is the lawgiver and judge, `even' he who is able to save and to destroy: but who art thou that judgest thy neighbor?
13 Come now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain:
14 whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that.
16 But now ye glory in your vauntings: all such glorying is evil.
17 To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
1 Whence `are' wars and fightings among you? not thence -- out of your passions, that are as soldiers in your members?
2 ye desire, and ye have not; ye murder, and are zealous, and are not able to attain; ye fight and war, and ye have not, because of your not asking;
3 ye ask, and ye receive not, because evilly ye ask, that in your pleasures ye may spend `it'.
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! have ye not known that friendship of the world is enmity with God? whoever, then, may counsel to be a friend of the world, an enemy of God he is set.
5 Do ye think that emptily the Writing saith, `To envy earnestly desireth the spirit that did dwell in us,'
6 and greater grace he doth give, wherefore he saith, `God against proud ones doth set Himself up, and to lowly ones He doth give grace?'
7 be subject, then, to God; stand up against the devil, and he will flee from you;
8 draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you; cleanse hands, ye sinners! and purify hearts, ye two-souled!
9 be exceeding afflicted, and mourn, and weep, let your laughter to mourning be turned, and the joy to heaviness;
10 be made low before the Lord, and He shall exalt you.
11 Speak not one against another, brethren; he who is speaking against a brother, and is judging his brother, doth speak against law, and doth judge law, and if law thou dost judge, thou art not a doer of law but a judge;
12 one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy; thou -- who art thou that dost judge the other?
13 Go, now, ye who are saying, `To-day and to-morrow we will go on to such a city, and will pass there one year, and traffic, and make gain;'
14 who do not know the thing of the morrow; for what is your life? for it is a vapour that is appearing for a little, and then is vanishing;
15 instead of your saying, `If the Lord may will, we shall live, and do this or that;'
16 and now ye glory in your pride; all such glorying is evil;
17 to him, then, knowing to do good, and not doing, sin it is to him.
1 Whence [come] wars and whence fightings among you? [Is it] not thence, -- from your pleasures, which war in your members?
2 Ye lust and have not: ye kill and are full of envy, and cannot obtain; ye fight and war; ye have not because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask evilly, that ye may consume [it] in your pleasures.
4 Adulteresses, know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore is minded to be [the] friend of the world is constituted enemy of God.
5 Think ye that the scripture speaks in vain? Does the Spirit which has taken his abode in us desire enviously?
6 But he gives more grace. Wherefore he says, God sets himself against [the] proud, but gives grace to [the] lowly.
7 Subject yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse [your] hands, sinners, and purify [your] hearts, ye double-minded.
9 Be wretched, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and [your] joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves before [the] Lord, and he shall exalt you.
11 Speak not against one another, brethren. He that speaks against [his] brother, or judges his brother, speaks against [the] law and judges [the] law. But if thou judgest [the] law, thou art not doer of [the] law, but judge.
12 One is the lawgiver and judge, who is able to save and to destroy: but who art *thou* who judgest thy neighbour?
13 Go to now, ye who say, To-day or to-morrow will we go into such a city and spend a year there, and traffic and make gain,
14 ye who do not know what will be on the morrow, ([for] what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, appearing for a little while, and then disappearing,)
15 instead of your saying, If the Lord should [so] will and we should live, we will also do this or that.
16 But now ye glory in your vauntings: all such glorying is evil.
17 To him therefore who knows how to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.
1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your pleasures that war in your members?
2 You lust, and don't have. You kill, covet, and can't obtain. You fight and make war. You don't have, because you don't ask.
3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.
4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously"?
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
7 Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.
11 Don't speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another?
13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow let's go into this city, and spend a year there, trade, and make a profit."
14 Whereas you don't know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.
15 For you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that."
16 But now you glory in your boasting. All such boasting is evil.
17 To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin.
1 What is the cause of wars and fighting among you? is it not in your desires which are at war in your bodies?
2 You are burning with desire, and have not your desire, so you put men to death; you are full of envy, and you are not able to get your desire, so you are fighting and making war; you have not your desire, because you do not make request for it.
3 You make your request but you do not get it, because your request has been wrongly made, desiring the thing only so that you may make use of it for your pleasure.
4 O you who are false to God, do you not see that the friends of this world are not God's friends? Every man desiring to be a friend of this world makes himself a hater of God.
5 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?
6 But he gives more grace. So that the Writings say, God is against the men of pride, but he gives grace to those who make themselves low before him.
7 For this cause be ruled by God; but make war on the Evil One and he will be put to flight before you.
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Make your hands clean, you evil-doers; put away deceit from your hearts, you false in mind.
9 Be troubled, with sorrow and weeping; let your laughing be turned to sorrow and your joy to grief.
10 Make yourselves low in the eyes of the Lord and you will be lifted up by him.
11 Do not say evil against one another, my brothers. He who says evil against his brother or makes himself his brother's judge, says evil against the law and is judging the law: and in judging the law you become, not a doer of the law but a judge.
12 There is only one judge and law-giver, even he who has the power of salvation and of destruction; but who are you to be your neighbour's judge?
13 How foolish it is to say, Today or tomorrow we will go into this town, and be there for a year and do business there and get wealth:
14 When you are not certain what will take place tomorrow. What is your life? It is a mist, which is seen for a little time and then is gone.
15 But the right thing to say would be, If it is the Lord's pleasure and if we are still living, we will do this and that.
16 But now you go on glorying in your pride: and all such glorying is evil.
17 The man who has knowledge of how to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on James 4
Commentary on James 4 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 4
Jas 4:1-17. Against Fightings and Their Source; Worldly Lusts; Uncharitable Judgments, and Presumptuous Reckoning on the Future.
1. whence—The cause of quarrels is often sought in external circumstances, whereas internal lusts are the true origin.
wars, &c.—contrasted with the "peace" of heavenly wisdom. "Fightings" are the active carrying on of "wars." The best authorities have a second "whence" before "fightings." Tumults marked the era before the destruction of Jerusalem when James wrote. He indirectly alludes to these. The members are the first seat of war; thence it passes to conflict between man and man, nation and nation.
come they not, &c.—an appeal to their consciences.
lusts—literally, "pleasures," that is, the lusts which prompt you to "desire" (see on Jas 4:2) pleasures; whence you seek self at the cost of your neighbor, and hence flow "fightings."
that war—"campaign, as an army of soldiers encamped within" [Alford] the soul; tumultuously war against the interests of your fellow men, while lusting to advance self. But while warring thus against others they (without his knowledge) war against the soul of the man himself, and against the Spirit; therefore they must be "mortified" by the Christian.
2. Ye lust—A different Greek word from that in Jas 4:1. "Ye desire"; literally, "ye set your mind (or heart) on" an object.
have not—The lust of desire does not ensure the actual possession. Hence "ye kill" (not as Margin, without any old authority, "envy") to ensure possession. Not probably in the case of professing Christians of that day in a literal sense, but "kill and envy" (as the Greek for "desire to have" should be translated), that is, harass and oppress through envy [Drusius]. Compare Zec 11:5, "slay"; through envy, hate, and desire to get out of your way, and so are "murderers" in God's eyes [Estius]. If literal murder [Alford] were meant, I do not think it would occur so early in the series; nor had Christians then as yet reached so open criminality. In the Spirit's application of the passage to all ages, literal killing is included, flowing from the desire to possess so David and Ahab. There is a climax: "Ye desire," the individual lust for an object; "ye kill and envy," the feeling and action of individuals against individuals; "ye fight and war," the action of many against many.
ye have not, because ye ask not—God promises to those who pray, not to those who fight. The petition of the lustful, murderous, and contentious is not recognized by God as prayer. If ye prayed, there would be no "wars and fightings." Thus this last clause is an answer to the question, Jas 4:1, "Whence come wars and fightings?"
3. Some of them are supposed to say in objection, But we do "ask" (pray); compare Jas 4:2. James replies, It is not enough to ask for good things, but we must ask with a good spirit and intention. "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. Contrast Jas 1:5 with Mt 6:31, 32. If ye prayed aright, all your proper wants would be supplied; the improper cravings which produce "wars and fightings" would then cease. Even believers' prayers are often best answered when their desires are most opposed.
4. The oldest manuscripts omit "adulterers and," and read simply, "Ye adulteresses." God is the rightful husband; the men of the world are regarded collectively as one adulteress, and individually as adulteresses.
the world—in so far as the men of it and their motives and acts are aliens to God, for example, its selfish "lusts" (Jas 4:3), and covetous and ambitious "wars and fightings" (Jas 4:1).
enmity—not merely "inimical"; a state of enmity, and that enmity itself. Compare 1Jo 2:15, "love … the world … the love of the Father."
whosoever … will be—The Greek is emphatic, "shall be resolved to be." Whether he succeed or not, if his wish be to be the friend of the world, he renders himself, becomes (so the Greek for "is") by the very fact, "the enemy of God." Contrast "Abraham the friend of God."
5. in vain—No word of Scripture can be so. The quotation here, as in Eph 5:14, seems to be not so much from a particular passage as one gathered by James under inspiration from the general tenor of such passages in both the Old and New Testaments, as Nu 14:29; Pr 21:20; Ga 5:17.
spirit that dwelleth in us—Other manuscripts read, "that God hath made to dwell in us" (namely, at Pentecost). If so translated, "Does the (Holy) Spirit that God hath placed in us lust to (towards) envy" (namely, as ye do in your worldly "wars and fightings")? Certainly not; ye are therefore walking in the flesh, not in the Spirit, while ye thus lust towards, that is, with envy against one another. The friendship of the world tends to breed envy; the Spirit produces very different fruit. Alford attributes the epithet "with envy," in the unwarrantable sense of jealously, to the Holy Spirit: "The Spirit jealously desires us for His own." In English Version the sense is, "the (natural) spirit that hath its dwelling in us lusts with (literally, 'to,' or 'towards') envy." Ye lust, and because ye have not what ye lust after (Jas 4:1, 2), ye envy your neighbor who has, and so the spirit of envy leads you on to "fight." James also here refers to Jas 3:14, 16.
6. But—"Nay, rather."
he—God.
giveth more grace—ever increasing grace; the farther ye depart from "envy" [Bengel].
he saith—The same God who causes His spirit to dwell in believers (Jas 4:5), by the Spirit also speaks in Scripture. The quotation here is probably from Pr 3:34; as probably Pr 21:10 was generally referred to in Jas 4:5. In Hebrew it is "scorneth the scorners," namely, those who think "Scripture speaketh in vain."
resisteth—literally, "setteth Himself in array against"; even as they, like Pharaoh, set themselves against Him. God repays sinners in their own coin. "Pride" is the mother of "envy" (Jas 4:5); it is peculiarly satanic, for by it Satan fell.
the proud—The Greek means in derivation one who shows himself above his fellows, and so lifts himself against God.
the humble—the unenvious, uncovetous, and unambitious as to the world. Contrast Jas 4:4.
7. Submit to … God—so ye shall be among "the humble," Jas 4:6; also Jas 4:10; 1Pe 5:6.
Resist … devil—Under his banner pride and envy are enlisted in the world; resist his temptations to these. Faith, humble prayers, and heavenly wisdom, are the weapons of resistance. The language is taken from warfare. "Submit" as a good soldier puts himself in complete subjection to his captain. "Resist," stand bravely against.
he will flee—Translate, "he shall flee." For it is a promise of God, not a mere assurance from man to man [Alford]. He shall flee worsted as he did from Christ.
8. Draw nigh to God—So "cleave unto Him," De 30:20, namely, by prayerfully (Jas 4:2, 3) "resisting Satan," who would oppose our access to God.
he will draw nigh—propitious.
Cleanse … hands—the outward instruments of action. None but the clean-handed can ascend into the hill of the Lord (justified through Christ, who alone was perfectly so, and as such "ascended" thither).
purify … hearts—literally "make chaste" of your spiritual adultery (Jas 4:4, that is, worldliness) "your hearts": the inward source of all impurity.
double-minded—divided between God and the world. The "double-minded" is at fault in heart; the sinner in his hands likewise.
9. Be afflicted—literally, "Endure misery," that is, mourn over your wretchedness through sin. Repent with deep sorrow instead of your present laughter. A blessed mourning. Contrast Isa 22:12, 13; Lu 6:25. James does not add here, as in Jas 5:1, "howl," where he foretells the doom of the impenitent at the coming destruction of Jerusalem.
heaviness—literally, "falling of the countenance," casting down of the eyes.
10. in the sight of the Lord—as continually in the presence of Him who alone is worthy to be exalted: recognizing His presence in all your ways, the truest incentive to humility. The tree, to grow upwards, must strike its roots deep downwards; so man, to be exalted, must have his mind deep-rooted in humility. In 1Pe 5:6, it is, Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, namely, in His dealings of Providence: a distinct thought from that here.
lift you up—in part in this world, fully in the world to come.
11. Having mentioned sins of the tongue (Jas 3:5-12), he shows here that evil-speaking flows from the same spirit of exalting self at the expense of one's neighbor as caused the "fightings" reprobated in this chapter (Jas 4:1).
Speak not evil—literally, "Speak not against" one another.
brethren—implying the inconsistency of such depreciatory speaking of one another in brethren.
speaketh evil of the law—for the law in commanding, "Love thy neighbor as thyself" (Jas 2:8), virtually condemns evil-speaking and judging [Estius]. Those who superciliously condemn the acts and words of others which do not please themselves, thus aiming at the reputation of sanctity, put their own moroseness in the place of the law, and claim to themselves a power of censuring above the law of God, condemning what the law permits [Calvin]. Such a one acts as though the law could not perform its own office of judging, but he must fly upon the office [Bengel]. This is the last mention of the law in the New Testament. Alford rightly takes the "law" to be the old moral law applied in its comprehensive spiritual fulness by Christ: "the law of liberty."
if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer … but a judge—Setting aside the Christian brotherhood as all alike called to be doers of the law, in subjection to it, such a one arrogates the office of a judge.
12. There is one lawgiver—The best authorities read in addition, "and judge." Translate, "There is One (alone) who is (at once) Lawgiver and Judge, (namely) He who is able to save and destroy." Implying, God alone is Lawgiver and therefore Judge, since it is He alone who can execute His judgments; our inability in this respect shows our presumption in trying to act as judges, as though we were God.
who art thou, &c.—The order in the Greek is emphatic, "But (inserted in oldest manuscripts) thou, who art thou that judgest another?" How rashly arrogant in judging thy fellows, and wresting from God the office which belongs to Him over thee and THEM alike!
another—The oldest authorities read, "thy neighbor."
13. Go to now—"Come now"; said to excite attention.
ye that say—boasting of the morrow.
To-day or to-morrow—as if ye had the free choice of either day as a certainty. Others read, "To-day and to-morrow."
such a city—literally, "this the city" (namely, the one present to the mind of the speaker). This city here.
continue … a year—rather, "spend one year." Their language implies that when this one year is out, they purpose similarly settling plans for to come [Bengel].
buy and sell—Their plans for the future are all worldly.
14. what—literally, "of what nature" is your life? that is, how evanescent it is.
It is even—Some oldest authorities read, "For ye are." Bengel, with other old authorities, reads, "For it shall be," the future referring to the "morrow" (Jas 4:13-15). The former expresses, "Ye yourselves are transitory"; so everything of yours, even your life, must partake of the same transitoriness. Received text has no old authority.
and then vanisheth away—"afterwards vanishing as it came"; literally, "afterwards (as it appeared), so vanishing" [Alford].
15. Literally, "instead of your saying," &c. This refers to "ye that say" (Jas 4:13).
we shall live—The best manuscripts read, "We shall both live and do," &c. The boasters spoke as if life, action, and the particular kind of action were in their power, whereas all three depend entirely on the will of the Lord.
16. now—as it is.
rejoice in … boastings—"ye boast in arrogant presumptions," namely, vain confident fancies that the future is certain to you (Jas 4:13).
rejoicing—boasting [Bengel].
17. The general principle illustrated by the particular example just discussed is here stated: knowledge without practice is imputed to a man as great and presumptuous sin. James reverts to the principle with which he started. Nothing more injures the soul than wasted impressions. Feelings exhaust themselves and evaporate, if not embodied in practice. As we will not act except we feel, so if we will not act out our feelings, we shall soon cease to feel.