ACC ~ James 4 v5

THE SPIRIT DRAWS US TOWARD GOD. SEVERIAN OF GABALA: What this means is that the Spirit in us tends toward fellowship with God. He turns us away from the love of the world and gives us ever more grace. CATENA.

WHETHER THIS IS THE HUMAN SPIRIT. BEDE: Some think that this refers to God’s Spirit, which does battle inside us against envy and tries to rid us of it. Others, however, think that it refers to the human spirit and is a warning to us not to desire or to attach ourselves to the lusts of this world, because as long as the spirit of our mind desires earthly things it does so with envy, because it envies the fact that others have what it wants to obtain. CONCERNING THE EPISTLE OF ST. JAMES.

USE WISDOM RIGHTLY. OECUMENIUS: James is here using an abbreviated form of speech in order to convey his meaning. What he is saying is this: “I have thus far been warning you in my own words to make the right and proper use of your wisdom that you might not abuse it in your pride by corrupting it or misinterpreting it by your overly clever preaching.” COMMENTARY ON JAMES.

Jas