James 4:1

4:1

What is the source of quarrels

                                            and

                                       conflicts among you?

Is not the source your pleasures

                                          that wage war in your members?

NOUNS-PRONOUNS-ADJECTIVES

NOMINATIVE	GENITIVE	DATIVE	ACCUSATIVE	VOCATIVE
quarrels - subject fights - subject	your - possessive passions – source your - possession	you - sphere members - place

VERBS – VERBALS - CLAUSES

VERBS	PARTICIPLE/INFINITIVES	CLAUSES
	wage war – art.attr./descry -pres

ESV	NASB	KJV	NIV	NET	GNT
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?	What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?	From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?	What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?	Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside you?	Po,qen po,lemoi kai. po,qen ma,cai evn u`mi/nÈ ouvk evnteu/qen( evk tw/n h`donw/n u`mw/n tw/n strateuome,nwn evn toi/j me,lesin u`mw/nÈ

What is the source of quarrels  and conflicts among you?

Po,qen po,lemoi kai. po,qen ma,cai evn u`mi/nÈ

This is a rhetorical question. The author knows the answer about what is the source of quarrels and conflicts. The next statement will prove that this question is a rhetorical wherein the author is trying to lead his readers to the answer that he wanted them to realize.

What is the source_adv (poqen) Syntax: Interrogative question for place or source

Quarrels and Conflicts _noun  (po,lemoi/ma,cai) -   [nom-fem-pl-polemoV/mach] [subjects]

The words “quarrels” and “conflicts” are in nominative case. Though they are in nominatives, the translation in NASB looks like they are genitives (of quarrels and conflicts). The ESV, KJV, NIV, and NET have better translation (what causes or where do) as far as construction is concerned. However, the translations “what causes” and “where do” are still different. The former is more on the means, while the latter is the source. 

The two nominative nouns (quarrels and conflicts) functions as the subjects, rather, predicate nominatives. This will only be proved if the answer to the question (What causes quarrels and conflicts) is in passive voice (Quarrels and conflicts are caused by. . . .).

you_pron (umin) – [dat-2^nd-pl-su] [dative of sphere]

The syntax of pronoun “you” is dative of sphere, rather, dative of place. It is more likely talking about the congregation or the assembly of the believers. The quarrel and fights happen within the sphere of the assembly of believers to whom the letter is addressed.

Is not the source your pleasures

ouvk evnteu/qen( evk tw/n h`donw/n u`mw/n

  

In this clause, the author reveals what he is trying to point out; the source of their quarrels and conflicts is their pleasures. This interrogative clause does not mean that the author is not sure whether the source of quarrels and conflicts is their pleasures. Rather, the author is so sure in his claim about the source of their quarrels and conflicts.

your _pron (u`mw/n) – [genitive 2nd person plural from su,] [genitive of possession]

While this epistle is addressed to the twelve tribes (Jewish Christians) in diaspora, still there is a sense of particularity by which the letter is addressed. A certain issue is being addressed to a particular group within a larger group. This is common in this epistle. Later on the author will address one issue only to those who are rich and other to the poor. Thus, the word “your”

pleasures _noun (h`donw/n) – [genitive feminine plural from h`donh,] [genitive of source/means]

Many translators vary on the syntax of this word; whether it is the source or the cause of the quarrels and conflicts. Translations in favor of genitive of source (ESV and NIV) consider the meaning of the words po,qen and evnteu/qen convey the same idea  “from where and from here.” On the other hand, those translations  in favor of genitive of means (KJV, NASB, NET) consider the construction for means, which is ek  followed by a genitive.

The possible answers of the question, considering the cases and syntaxes of the nouns, are the following:

Quarrels and conflicts come from your pleasures (source)

Quarrels and conflicts is caused by pleasures (means)

that wage war in your members?

tw/n strateuome,nwn evn toi/j me,lesin u`mw/nÈ

The presence of article “tw/n” indicates that the whole clause is adjectival. It describes the word “pleasure” since their articles are both in genitive. Aside from pointing out the cause of quarrels and conflicts, which is the their pleasure, the author wants to give a description of it in order that his audience may be aware of it, and cease to quarrel against one another.

wage war _part (strateuome,nwn) – [present middle genitive feminine plural from strateu,w] [adjectival]

[tense:descriptive present – voice: causative middle]

This participle is in a present middle participle. In terms of its tense, it is descriptive present. The author is describing the ongoing action of their pleasures that cause quarrels and conflicts among them. In addition the action is causative middle in terms of its voice. It shows that that the “pleasure” as the cause of war.       

The word wage war (strateuome,nwn) functions as adjectival participle, describing the word “pleasure.” They both have the same articles “tw/n” and they are similar in case, gender and number. This participle describes a certain behavior of these pleasures. The question here is to which the pleasures are waging war. The key to this question is the plurality of the word. This suggests that this is a war of pleasures.

your _pron (u`mw/n) – [dative 2nd person plural from su,] [genitive of possession]

              

               The word “your” refers to the audience of this epistle. It is a genitive of possession owning their own body.

members _n (me,lesin) – [dative neuter plural from me,loj] [dative of place]

               It pertains to the place where the war of pleasures occurs.