James 4:1 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Whence come wars and fightings among you?— Dr. Benson is of opinion, that St. James could here intend no reference to the unbelieving Jews at this time in theirdispersions; but that what he condemned was the quarrels and contentions which too frequently happened among the Jewish Christians, and which are very unbecomingthe meek and pacific religion that they had embraced. What may confirm this is, that in the verses which immediately precede, the apostle had mentioned the wisdom from above, which brought forth nothing but peace and harmony; and upon that he inquires, "Whence then must your quarrels and contentions proceed, as the wisdom from above brings forth such different fruits?" To which he himself replies, "Not from the Spiritof God, but from your lusts;" the very principle which, ch. James 3:15 he had called the wisdom from beneath, which was sensual, or proceeding from the criminal indulgence of the lower appetites. If the apostle's sense had been carried on without any division into Chapter s and verses, this connection would more clearly have appeared. The words rendered wars and fightings, are very often used for strife and contention.