James 4:13-15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 4:15

Verse 15 15If the Lord will. A twofold condition is laid down, “If we shall live so long,” and, “If the Lord will;” because many things may intervene to upset what we may have determined; for we are blind as to all future events. (135) By will he means not that which is expressed in the law, but God’s counsel by which he governs all things. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 4:13

Go to ; ἄγε , properly, the imperative, but here used adverbially, a usage common in Greek prose, and found again in James 5:1 . The Received Text (Stephens) requires some correction in this verse. Read, σήμερον ἢ αὔριον with א , B the futures πορεύσομεθα ποιήσομεν ἐμπορευσόμεθα and κερδήσομεν (B, Latt., Syriac) instead of the subjunctives; and omit ἔνα after ἐνιαυτόν , with a, B, Latt., Coptic. Continue there a year ; rather, spend a year there , ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 4:13-17

DENUNCIATION OF OVER - WEENING CONFIDENCE IN OUR OWN PLANS AND OUR ABILITY TO PERFORM THEM . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 4:13-17

The uncertainty of human plans and schemes. Best illustrated by the parable of the rich fool, boasting of his "much goods" laid up for "many years" on the very night on which his soul was required of him. It is such a spirit as his that St. James denounces so sternly; not the careful forethought and providence which Holy Scripture never condemns, but the forming plans and designs without the slightest reference in word or thought to that overruling will on which all depends. It is not the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 4:13-17

"Man proposes, but God disposes." The subject here is another prevalent manifestation of pride and worldliness; namely, the propensity to indulge in presumptuous self-reliance in relation to the future. I. THE SPIRIT OF VAIN CONFIDENCE WHICH THE APOSTLE REBUKES . ( James 4:13 ) He appeals directly to worldly-minded merchants and money-makers. The Jews, like ourselves, have been a nation of shopkeepers. In these early times many of them carried the products of one... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 4:13-17

"What is your life?" The life of the savage is characterized by an almost total lack of true foresight; no calculations of the future. True civilization, on the contrary, is largely built up on the principle of far-seeing prudence. Yet there may be a false use of a true principle. And so it may come to pass that we manifest an unchristian reliance on the future, and an absorbed engrossment in plans for its direction. It is this which James condemns, He sets forth the false glorying, and,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 4:14

Fortifies the rebuke of James 4:13 by showing the folly of their action; cf. Proverbs 27:1 , "Boast not thyself of tomorrow ( τὰ εἰς αὔριον ), for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." Whereas ye know not ; rather, seeing that , or , inasmuch as ye know not , etc. ( οἵτινες οὐκ ἐπίστασθε ) . The text in this verse again in a somewhat disorganized condition, but the general drift is clear. We should probably read, οἵτινες οὐκ ἐπίστασθε τὸ τῆς... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 4:15

For that ye ought to say ( ἀντὶ τοῦ λέγειν ); literally, instead of your saying ; ἀντὶ τοῦ , with the infinitive, " saepe apud Graecos " (Grimm). This verse follows in thought on James 4:13 , James 4:14 having been parenthetical. "Go to now, ye that say … instead of your saying (as ye ought), If the Lord will," etc. Once more the text requires correction, as the futures ζήσομεν and ποιήσομεν should be read (with א , A, B), instead of the subjunctives of the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 4:13

Go to now - The apostle here introduces a new subject, and refers to another fault which was doubtless prevalent among them, as it is everywhere, that of a presumptuous confidence respecting the future, or of forming plans stretching into the future, without any proper sense of the uncertainty of life, and of our absolute dependence on God. The phrase “go to now,” (ἄγε νῦν age nun,) is a phrase designed to arrest attention, as if there were something that demanded their notice, and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 4:14

Whereas, ye know not what shall be on the morrow - They formed their plans as if they knew; the apostle says it could not be known. They had no means of ascertaining what would occur; whether they would live or die; whether they would be prospered, or would be overwhelmed with adversity. Of the truth of the remark made by the apostle here, no one can doubt; but it is amazing how men act as if it were false. We have no power of penetrating the future so as to be able to determine what will occur... read more

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