From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Whence. The cause of quarrels is often sought in external circumstances: internal lusts are the true origin.
Wars ... - contrast the "peace" of heavenly wisdom. "Fightings," the active carrying on of wars. 'Aleph (') B C have a second "whence" before "fightings." Tumults marked the era before the destruction of Jerusalem. James alludes to these. The members are the seat of war: thence it passes to conflict between man and man, nation and nation.
Come they not ... - an appeal to their consciences.
Lusts, х heedonon (G2237)] - pleasures which your lust prompt you to "desire" (note, James 4:2) at the cost of your neighbour: hence, flow "fightings."
That war, х strateuomenoon (G4754)] - 'campaign, as soldiers,' against the interests of your fellow-men, while lusting to advance self. But while warring thus against others, they war against the soul of the man himself, and against the Spirit; therefore they must be 'mortified' by the Christian (Colossians 3:5).