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NASB | James 4:5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"? |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | James 4:5 Or do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose that the [human] spirit which He has made to dwell in us lusts with envy? [Gen 6:5] |
Subject: What scripture is James referring to? |
Bible Note: Retxar Maybe the longer form of his explaination found in his commentary on James will help. This verse is difficult to understand, and evangelical scholars do not all agree on its precise meaning. Although the New American Standard Bible begins the quotation with He jealously desires, the word He is not in the Greek text but is supplied by the translators. The capitalization of Spirit is also arbitrary, since the original Greek manuscripts did not capitalize words. In addition to that, there is no Scripture, Old or New Testament, that corresponds to “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us.” Whatever reference James is making to Scripture, he is speaking of its general teaching, not a specific passage. And if he were speaking to unbelievers as he seems to be here he is saying that the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us would not apply to them, because they would not be indwelt by the Holy Spirit. One cannot be dogmatic, but, in context, it seems that the Authorized (King James) rendering is preferable: “The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy.” James would therefore be saying, in effect, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are living proof of the veracity of Scripture, which clearly teaches that the natural man has a spirit of envy?” That interpretation is clearly consistent with James’s emphasis in the larger passage. It is also completely consistent with the teaching of the Old Testament. Beginning in the earliest parts of Genesis, we read of God’s saying to Cain, “Sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it” (Gen. 4:7). A few chapters later we are told that “the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5) and that “the Lord said to Himself, ‘I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (8:21). Because Isaac “had possessions of flocks and herds and a great household, … the Philistines envied him” (26:14), and “when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she became jealous of her sister; and she said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die” (30:1). The writer of Proverbs declares that “the soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes” (21:10). Through Jeremiah the Lord assures us that “the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9). In whatever way the verse is interpreted, however, James seems to be saying that unbelievers, who are in a permanent state of spiritual conflict with God, not only are His enemies but also reflect that hostility by not trusting or obeying His Word. They refuse to acknowledge their natural enmity with and separation from the sovereign God. Again, regardless of what such a person may claim, it is impossible to hold Scripture in genuine high regard as God’s own Word and yet not trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. The Lord Himself says of such people, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that bear witness of Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life” (John 5:39–40). MacArthur, J. (1998). James (electronic ed.). MacArthur New Testament Commentary;Logos Library System (Jas 4:5-6). Chicago: Moody Press. |