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Jam_4:7. From the sentiment expressed in the preceding, James infers ( οὖν ) several exhortations expressive of the duty of humility.
ὑποτάγητε οὖν τῷ Θεῷ ] The exhortation is addressed to the ὑπερήφανοι : because God ἀντιτάσσεται them, they are to ὑποτάσσειν to God. In Schneckenburger’s explanation: plena obedientia vos Deo committite, ut sitis δοῦλοι Θεοῦ , obedientia is incorrectly emphasized. Calvin’s is better: subjectio ista, quam commendat, humilitatis est; neque enim generaliter hortatnr, ut pareamus Deo, sed requirit submissionem.[199]
ἀντίστητε δὲ τῷ διαβόλῳ ] This exhortation is closely joined to the preceding; submission to God means resistance to the devil. This requirement was so much the more appropriate, as the readers wished to be the friends of the κόσμος , whose ἄρχων is the devil.
καὶ φεύξεται ἀφʼ ὑμῶν ] comp. Hermas, I. 2, mand. 12 (ed. Hefele, p. 380): δύναται ὁ διάβολος παλαῖσαι , καταπαλαῖσαι δὲ οὐ δύναται . ἐὰν οὖν ἀντίστῃς αὐτῷ , νικηθεὶς φεύξεται ἀπὸ σοῦ κατῃσχυμμένος . Calvin: Quamvis continuos insultus repetat, semper tamen exclusus discedit.
καί after the imperative commencing the apodosis; so also in Mat_7:7 and frequently. 1Pe_5:5-9 is to be compared with this passage, where upon the quotation of the same O. T. passage follow exhortations to humility before God, and to resistance to the devil.
[199] On account of its strangeness, we give here Semler’s remarks on this passage: Jacobus, Paulus, Petrus, Judas, uno quasi ore id confirmant, opus esse, ut Romanis et sic Deo se subjiciant (in which Lange finds no fault were it only said: ut Deo et sic Romanis); and afterwards: τῷ διαβόλῳ , qui per πνεῦμα φθόνου vos suscitat adversus magistratum Romanum; similar also, of course, Lange.