James 4:1
King James Version (KJV)
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Translations
James 4:1 - Amplified Bible
WHAT LEADS to strife (discord and feuds) {and} how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members?
James 4:1 - American Standard Version
Whence come wars and whence come fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your pleasures that war in your members?
James 4:1 - Bible in Basic English
What is the cause of wars and fighting among you? is it not in your desires which are at war in your bodies?
James 4:1 - Darby Bible
Whence [come] wars and whence fightings among you? [Is it] not thence, -- from your pleasures, which war in your members?
James 4:1 - English Standard Version
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions
James 4:1 - King James Version
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
James 4:1 - La Biblia de las Americas
¿De dònde vienen las guerras y los conflictos entre vosotros? ¿No vienen de vuestras pasiones que combaten en vuestros miembros?
James 4:1 - The Message
Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.
James 4:1 - New American Standard Bible
What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?
James 4:1 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy
¿De dònde vienen las guerras y los conflictos entre ustedes? ¿No vienen de las pasiones que combaten en sus miembros?
James 4:1 - World English Bible
Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don`t they come from your pleasures that war in your members?
James 4:1 - Young's Living Translation
Whence [are] wars and fightings among you? not thence -- out of your passions, that are as soldiers in your members?
James 4:1 - Additional Comments
Verses 1-4 describe some wrong attitudes and the source of them. Verse 6 tells us the attitude we are to have, that covers all. As you go through this passage, compare the ways of the world to the ways of God. As you look at each one, see how much the ways of the world draw you versus the ways of God. It concludes with verse 17 - make your choice, and reap the consequences.
The wars and fights were among who? Among the Christians that James was writing to. James was not written to a particular church, but was a letter to be circulated among the Christian churches. James here is referring to behavior that could be found in any of the churches, i.e. anywhere.
What are these wars and fights? These are any contentions between 2 people or groups of people. You might find these contentions at church, in the store, at work, in your neighborhoods, and in your family - basically, anywhere people interact.
What do you see when you see these wars and fights? Anger, harsh words, insecurities, jealousies, violence, purposely not speaking, loud speech, etc.
But these are merely symptoms of the real problem - selfish desires, i.e. pride. Try to name a sin that is not caused from selfishness. You have a choice to make, whether to serve self or to serve God.
"Members" in Greek means a limb or part of the body. Interesting that these selfish desires first cause a war inside you, then that war finds its way out against others. Whenever you see contentions, know that the turmoil had already been brewing inside the person. Check it out - what storm has been brewing in you? This chapter tells how to shrink it.
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