Some Scriptures have such a variety of interpretations that one can recognise the confusion in the minds of Bible translators and scholars.
I found one such passage in James 4.
James 4:1-5 NLT
[1] “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? [2] You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. [3] And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. [4] You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. [5] Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.”
The verse in question is verse 5. Every translation I have read gives a different slant to its interpretation. If we don’t take the context into account, the meaning of verse 5 is obscured.
Most Bible scholars seem to understand that James is referring to the Holy Spirit who longs for us to be faithful to Him.
James 4:5 NIV
[5] “Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?”
James 4:5 CEV
[5] “Do you doubt the Scriptures that say, “God truly cares about the Spirit he has put in us”?
James 4:5 KJV
[5]”Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?”
James 4:5 NKJV
[5] “Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
These translators focus on the Holy Spirit who jealously watches over our spirits. However, is that what James is saying? To what spirit is He referring and what is the nature of that spirit?
“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?”
“Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.”
The ‘spirit’ James is describing
is the old nature, driven by evil desires and at war with God’s Spirit in us.
Paul describes the same conflict in us.
Galatians 5:16-17 NLT
[16]”So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. [17] The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.”
The Greek words imply that we think, it seems or appears, in vain, that the Scriptures say or mean that the spirit that inhabits, is in (an established position) me (the word used is ‘ego’, I, me, singular), holding a grudge, spite, jealousy, or ill will, is full of lustful desires.
In this rather clumsy interpretation, is James saying that it is the spirit that is established in me, is spiteful and jealous and that strongly desires what others have that I want. Hence the wars and fights between believers.
This verse is not about the Holy Spirit at all. It’s about the reason for the quarrels between believers. The old sinful nature wants what others have, and fights to get it. James calls this “friendship with the world”. So does John.
1 John 2:15-17 NLT
[15]”Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. [16] For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. [17] And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.”
What is the solution? James continues…
James 4:6-8 NLT
[6]”And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” [7] So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”
GRACE! Only God’s grace, received with humilty, can rescue us from the ravages of our old, sinful nature. This grace comes to us through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, and helps us overcome the evil desires driven by our old nature.
The Greek word James uses to describe God’s treatment of proud people is graphic. He calls in His heavenly troops to set up a strong military resistance. He approaches those who approach Him (through the correct channel, the blood of Jesus – Hebrews 10:19ff). Like the father of the lost son, the Father runs to meet them.
When we accept the position on earth that God has prepared us for, and live and function in it under His authority, with gratitude and humility, we will flourish and be blessed.