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James 4:1

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

James 4:1

Verse 1 of 17

Scripture focus

From whence [come] wars and fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your lusts that war in your members?

James 4:1 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on James 4:1

Theological / Devotional

Whence. The apostle now takes up the specific evils within the church that are the product of untamed tongues and strife-ridden hearts. The root cause of all division and confusion is self-interest (see on James 3:14).

Wars. Gr. polemoi, “quarrels,” “feuds,” perhaps in contrast with machai (see below), designating feuds involving many persons.

Fightings. Gr. machai, “contentions,” perhaps here describing individual disagreements. Textual evidence favors (cf. p. 10) the reading “whence fightings.”

Among you. These church members were not yet sowing “in peace” (see on James 3:18).

Come they not hence? The Greek implies that an affirmative answer is expected.

Of. Literally, “out of.”

By SdaBc