Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of James 4:16
But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
16. But now ye rejoice in your boastings ] Better, ye exult in your vain glories. If the words were not too familiar, ye glory in your braggings would, perhaps, be a still nearer equivalent. The noun is found in 1Jn 2:16 (“the pride of life”), and not elsewhere in the New Testament. It is defined by Aristotle ( Eth. Nicom. iv. 13) as the character of the man who lays claim to what will bring him credit when the claim is either altogether false or grossly exaggerated. He contrasts it with the “irony” which deliberately, with good or bad motive, understates its claims. The “now” is more or less emphatic, = “as things are.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But now ye rejoice in your boastings – That is, probably, in your boastings of what you can do; your reliance on your own skill and sagacity. You form your plans for the future as if with consummate wisdom, and are confident of success. You do not anticipate a failure; you do not see how plans so skilfully formed can fail. You form them as if you were certain that you would live; as if secure from the numberless casualties which may defeat your schemes.
All such rejoicing is evil – It is founded on a wrong view of yourselves and of what may occur. It shows a spirit forgetful of our dependence on God; forgetful of the uncertainty of life; forgetful of the many ways by which the best-laid plans may be defeated. We should never boast of any wisdom or skill in regard to the future. A day, an hour may defeat our best-concerted plans, and show us that we have not the slightest power to control coming events.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 16. But now ye rejoice in your boastings] Ye glory in your proud and self-sufficient conduct, exulting that ye are free from the trammels of superstition, and that ye can live independently of God Almighty. All such boasting is wicked, , is impious. In an old English work, entitled, The godly man’s picture drawn by a Scripture pencil, there are these words: “Some of those who despise religion say, Thank God we are not of this holy number! They who thank God for their unholiness had best go ring the bells for joy that they shall never see God.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
But now ye rejoice, or, glory; ye please yourselves with them.
In your boastings; viz. of your carnal projects, and hopes of what you intend to do, and expect to get: q.d. You vainly boast of your designs and successes, without taking notice of Gods providence, under the government of which you and your affairs all are.
All such rejoicing is evil; both as being contrary to the word, which assures us so often that it is vain to promise ourselves long life, or prosperity in our worldly business, without Gods leave and blessing, Psa 127:1; Pro 16:9,33; and likewise as proceeding from pride and security.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16. nowas it is.
rejoice in . . .boastings“ye boast in arrogant presumptions,”namely, vain confident fancies that the future is certain to you (Jas4:13).
rejoicingboasting[BENGEL].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But now ye rejoice in your boastings,…. Of tomorrow, and of the continuance of life, and of going to such a place, and abiding there for such a time, and of trading and trafficking with great success, to the obtaining of much gain and riches; see
Pr 27:1
all such rejoicing is evil; wicked and atheistical, as expressing a neglect of and independence on Providence; arrogating and ascribing too much to themselves, their power and will, as if they had their lives and fortunes in their own hands, and at their own dispose, when all depend upon the will of God. The Syriac version renders it, “all such rejoicing is from evil”; from an evil heart, and from the evil one, Satan.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In your vauntings ( ). Old word for braggart talk (from , to act the empty boaster Ro 1:30), common in Aristophanes, in N.T. only here and 1Jo 2:16.
Glorying (). Act of glorying, late word from , good if for Christ (1Th 2:19), bad if for self as here.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Ye rejoice [] . Rev., glory. See on ch. Jas 2:13.
Boastings [] . Only here and 1Jo 2:16. The kindred word ajlazwn a boaster, is derived from alh, a wandering or roaming; hence, primarily, a vagabond, a quack, a mountebank. From the empty boasts of such concerning the cures and wonders they could perform, the word passed into the sense of boaster. One may boast truthfully; but ajlazoneia, is false and swaggering boasting. Rev. renders vauntings, and rightly, since vaunt is from the Latin vanus, empty, and therefore expresses idle or vain boasting.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
You keep on -gloating, vaunting, bragging with empty boasts, a bad pattern of life. All this (Gr. Kauchasthe) gloating and (alazonliais) vaunting is wicked, Rom 1:30; 1Jn 2:16.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
16 But now ye rejoice, or, glory. We may learn from these words that James condemned something more than a passing speech. Ye rejoice, or, glory, he says, in your empty boastings. Though they robbed God of his government, they yet flattered themselves; not that they openly set themselves up as superior to God, though they were especially inflated with confidence in themselves, but that their minds were inebriated with vanity so as to disregard God. And as warnings of this kind are usually received with contempt by ungodly men — nay, this answer is immediately given, “known to ourselves is what is offered to us, so that there is no need of such a warning;” — he alleges against them this knowledge in which they gloried, and declares that they sinned the more grievously, because they did not sin through ignorance, but through contempt.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(16) But now . . . .How different is the case with you, cries St. James; you actually glory and delight in your own self-confidence and presumption, and every such rejoicing is evil. The word for boastings is the same as that translated the pride of life in 1Jn. 2:16i.e., its braggart boastfulness, not the innocent gladness of living. It is the trust of the ungodly (Psa. 10:6, There shall no harm happen unto me), and the mistaken confidence of even such godly men as Job (Job. 29:18, shall die in my nest), before the Almighty instructs them by trouble, and loss, and pain.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
16. Now As your present habit is.
Rejoice Rather, glory are proud of.
Your boastings Your presumptuous proclaiming what you will do to be cut off, perhaps, by failure and by death.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘But now you glory in your arrogant words. All such glorying is evil.’
But instead of doing that they glory in their arrogant words. They say ‘we will do this and that’ regardless of their mortality, and of God and eternity. But to glory in that way is evil. It is to be casual over what is very important. It is to follow the way of the world, and be a friend of the world. It is to indicate that their minds are not set on things above. It is to live in the light of this world, and not of eternity. It is to be earthly minded and not heavenly minded. It is to overlook the requirements of God, and His concern for their daily lives.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jam 4:16. But now ye rejoice, &c. But you, on the contrary, glory in your boasting projects,(respecting the gain they were to make by their traffic, Jam 4:13.)you take pleasure in this confident and arrogant manner of talking. See 1Jn 2:16.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jas 4:16 expresses the conduct of those addressed in contrast to Jas 4:15 ; and in such a manner that the judgment upon that conduct is also expressed.
] here, as frequently, where the reality in opposition to what is set before a person is emphasized; see 1Co 5:11 ; 1Co 14:6 .
] By is to be understood the arrogant self-reliance on the duration of earthly prosperity; see explanation of 1Jn 2:16 . De Wette inaccurately explains it by bragging; Theile, by arroganter facta, dicta; Schneckenburger, by pertness ; Wiesinger, by “those arrogant expressions affecting complete independence;” Lange, “by vain and arrogant self-exaltation;” and others differently. The plural is used, because such haughtiness manifests itself differently under different circumstances.
] here used differently than in chap. Jas 1:9 : the are not the object, but the reason of the boasting, that from which it proceeds (against Wiesinger), and is designated from the standpoint of James: that haughty and presumptuous language in Jas 4:13 ; comp. Pro 27:1 .
With the following words: . . .] James definitely expresses his reprobation.
] not every boasting in itself (chap. Jas 1:9 ), but every boasting which proceeds from , which is founded in it and connected with it, is wicked.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
Ver. 16. In your boastings ] Of long life and suitable success. God will shoot an arrow at such suddenly, Psa 64:9 , as he did at the rich fool, Nebuchadnezzar, Haman, Herod, Sennacherib, and other braggarts.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
16 .] But (contrast to the spirit of resignation to the divine will just recommended) now (as things now are, see 1Co 5:11 ; 1Co 14:6 ) ye boast in (not, as in ch. Jas 1:9 , “make your boast in:” the indicates the state, as in ch. Jas 3:18 , and Jam 4:3 especially. The is the source, but not the material of the boasting) your vain-gloriousnesses (see note on ref. 1 John. Here is the self-deceived and groundless confidence in the stability of life and health on which the worldly pride themselves. On this, as on its foundation, your boastful speeches, . . ., are built): all such boasting (all boasting so made and so grounded) is wicked .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Jas 4:16 . : “but now,” i.e. , as things are; cf. 1Co 14:6 , , , : those vauntings were, of course, not on account of following out their own will in despite of the divine will, but because of the thoughtlessness which did not take God’s will into account, and therefore boasted of the ability of following one’s own bent. Both are bad, but conscious opposition to the will of God would, of the two, be worse. comes from which is literally a “wanderer,” then it comes to mean one who makes pretensions. Cf. Pro 27:1 , , f1 : the word occurs only here and in 1Jn 2:16 ( ) in the N.T. : boasting of this kind must be evil because it forgets God, and unduly exalts self.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
rejoice = boast. Greek. kauchaomai. See Rom 2:17; Rom 5:2.
boastings. Greek. alazoneia. Only here and 1Jn 2:16. Compare Rom 1:30.
rejoicing = boasting. Greek. kauchesis. See Rom 3:27.
evil. App-128.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
16.] But (contrast to the spirit of resignation to the divine will just recommended) now (as things now are, see 1Co 5:11; 1Co 14:6) ye boast in (not, as in ch. Jam 1:9, make your boast in: the indicates the state, as in ch. Jam 3:18, and Jam 4:3 especially. The is the source, but not the material of the boasting) your vain-gloriousnesses (see note on ref. 1 John. Here is the self-deceived and groundless confidence in the stability of life and health on which the worldly pride themselves. On this, as on its foundation, your boastful speeches, …, are built): all such boasting (all boasting so made and so grounded) is wicked.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Jam 4:16. , ye boast in your arrogant pretensions) Their arrogance is expressed in the words, we will go-we will get gain; their boasting is implied in their presuming upon the time.-, evil) The opposite is good, Jam 4:17.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Jam 3:14, Psa 52:1, Psa 52:7, Pro 25:14, Pro 27:1, Isa 47:7, Isa 47:8, Isa 47:10, 1Co 4:7, 1Co 4:8, 1Co 5:6, Rev 18:7
Reciprocal: Jdg 9:19 – rejoice 1Sa 11:15 – rejoiced greatly Job 20:5 – the joy Psa 10:3 – boasteth Jer 11:15 – thou doest evil Hos 9:1 – Rejoice Amo 6:13 – which Act 8:39 – and he Rom 1:30 – boasters Rom 2:23 – that makest Gal 5:26 – desirous Phi 3:19 – whose glory 2Ti 3:2 – boasters
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jas 4:16. Rejoice in your boastings denotes they first presumed they could do whatever they wished, then used the presumption as a basis of boasting. Such rejoicing is evil because it ignores the truths set forth in verse 14.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jas 4:16. But, in contrast to this spirit of dependence on God; instead of acknowledging God in all your ways.
now, as matters now stand; as is actually the case.ye rejoice, literally ye glory, in your boastings, in your vauntings, in your vainglory. Ye take a pleasure in this arrogant and presumptuous spirit, as if you were your absolute masters. By their boastings is to be understood not so much their vain talking, as their confident and groundless reliance on their own health and life; in short, a presumptuous reliance on themselves. Ye rejoice not in the Lord, as ye ought to do as Christians; but in your own vauntings.
all such rejoicing, or glorying, is evil, is sinful and wrong. It is rebellion against Godcasting off your dependence upon Him. Nothing is so hateful to God as a proud and arrogant spirit.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
The Sin of Boasting of Self-Sufficiency
Clearly, anyone who knows God sustains us should live his life for the Creator. Thus, James describes the intentional sin of omission. Those who knew God existed but acted as if they did not need him and left him out of their plans committed this sin. Jesus said: And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” ( Luk 12:47-48 ).
After teaching his disciples about service, Jesus also said, “If you know these things, happy are you if you do them” ( Joh 13:17 ). Jas 4:17 , combined with these other verses ought to move anyone to action who knows what the Lord asks of him.
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
Jas 4:16-17. Now ye rejoice , ye glory, in your boastings Ye please yourselves in the vain thoughts which you entertain of these worldly projects and successes, and you boast of them. All such rejoicing Or glorying, is evil The delight you take in these expectations argues either a strange want of consideration, or gross stupidity. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not That knows what is right and is his duty, and does not practise it; to him it is sin His knowledge does not prevent but increase his condemnation. As if he had said, Since you cannot but know better, as you have the oracles of God, and profess to believe them, if you do not act answerably thereto, you are guilty of the greater sin. Because this is true with respect to all who act contrary to knowledge and conscience. Beza and Estius consider it as a general conclusion, enforcing the whole of the reproofs given to the Jews for acting contrary to the divine revelation, of which they were the keepers. Macknight.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Verse 16
Rejoice in your boastings; feel confident in your own powers.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.
Some might feel this is speaking of processes of the mind rather than of actual actions. It seems clear to me that James is speaking of literal actions, as in his previous context.
Phillips translates this passage as follows: “Just a moment, now, you who say: “We are going to such-and-such city today or tomorrow. We shall stay there a year doing business and make a profit!” How do you know what will happen even tomorrow? What, after all, is your life? It is like a puff of smoke visible for a little while and then dissolving into thin air. Your remarks should be prefaced with, “If it is the Lord’s will, we shall still be alive and shall do so-and-so. As it is, you get a certain pride in yourself in planning your future with such confidence. That sort of pride is all wrong.”
No matter whether you feel this relates to things of the mind or things of action, know, that if you know what is right to do in your mind and you fail to do it, you are committing a real sin.
When I was just starting out in Bible College, this thought used to really sink home in relation to witnessing. I knew it was right and proper to witness, if given opportunity, but when opportunity knocked, I was not always excited to answer the door. I was quite shy and witnessing was really not in my nature, yet, I knew being quiet was sin – therefore I witnessed. I found early on that it was those first few words that were hard. After I had started to share the Word, the words were simple to find and the time with the person always went well.
One such situation was a very ruff man, he spoke roughly, and he acted roughly, and lived roughly. We got into a delivery van and the first thing out of my mind was you need to witness to this man. The first thing out of his mouth – and the second and the third and the fourth – were exclamations against a Christian man he had just had lunch with. He turned to me and almost hollered, “You aren’t religious, are you?” I sheepishly replied that I tried not to be, with the thought of continuing on to speak of living by faith in Christ, but his mouth took over for me and for several more minutes exclaimed the faults of the man he had eaten with.
All this time, I knew I was going to witness to him, and all this time I knew just how blasted I was going to be when I opened my mouth. I stewed in my fear for all those minutes, but knowing God wanted me to say a word for Him, I found an opportunity to begin talking to the man about his soul. God gave me the ideas and thoughts that caught his attention and interest and was able to share the Gospel with him in a very clear way.
God knows our time here on earth, He has told us what is right and wrong, and we are to do that which is right, not practice wrong to our hearts content as James recipients seemed to have been doing.
Fuente: Mr. D’s Notes on Selected New Testament Books by Stanley Derickson
James rebuked those of his readers who were living with this God-neglecting attitude. They derived joy from feeling that they controlled their own destiny. Here is the picture of the "self-made man" taking credit for what God has given him. Boasting of this kind is unrealistic. It betrays an attitude that puts man in God’s place. For this reason it is evil.
In these verses James presented four arguments that show the foolishness of ignoring God’s will: the complexity of life (Jas 4:13), the uncertainty of life (Jas 4:14 a), the brevity of life (Jas 4:14 b), and the frailty of man (Jas 4:16). [Note: Wiersbe, pp. 130-33.]