But he gives greater grace. That is why he says: God resists the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.
4:6 — “But he gives greater grace.” If interpretation (a) of the above verse is correct, the pronoun “he” in the above phrase refers to God. The human spirit tends to yearn even to covet, but to help the Christian God gives grace, which is greater than the harm of the Christian’s sin. Compare Romans 5:20. see also 2Co 12:9; Eph 3:19; Eph 4:7. Greed and grace are contrasted. James thus encourages his readers, reminding them that God offers us plenty of grace to help us in our struggles with the devil. — “This is why he says.” The subject of the sentence is not given; it is assumed. That is why some versions (for example, the Modern Version) add the phrase “the Scripture”, since verse 5 has just been expressed that way. — “God resists… the humble.” see Pro 3:34. If the Christian, making friends with the world, gets involved in its pleasures, God resists him, but if he is humble, denying himself and trying to do God’s will, God helps him with his favor (grace), forgiving his sins and promising him eternal life (Tue 10:29-30). Everyone chooses God’s reaction, and there is no neutral state (Mat 12:30).
Source: Commentary on the New Testament by Partain
God resists the proud. Exo 10:3, Exo 10:4; Exo 15:9, Exo 15:10; Exo 18:11; 1Sa 2:3; Job 22:29; Job 40:10-12; Ps 138:6; Pro 3:34; Pro 6:16, Pro 6:17; Pro 29:23; Isaiah 2:11, Isaiah 2:12, Isaiah 2:17; Isaiah 10:8-14; Isaiah 16:6, Isaiah 16:7; Dan 4:37; Dan 5:20-23; Matt 23:12; Luke 1:52; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14; 1Pe 5:5.
and gives grace to the humble. 2Ch 32:26; 2Ch 33:12, 2Ch 33:19, 2Ch 33:23; 2Ch 34:27; Job 22:29; Ps 9:12; pro 15:33; Pro 18:12; Pro 22:4; Isaiah 57:15.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
God resists the proud: James quote from (Pro 3:34) to prove your argument. Those who submit to divine wisdom will receive Grace necessary from God to put into practice the kind of life that James describes (Jas 3:13-18). On the other hand, those who exalt themselves will face a huge enemy (v. Jas 4:4). God himself will fight against his plans because they are not on his side.
Source: New Illustrated Caribbean Bible Commentary
GOD RESISTS THE PROUD. The believer must take into account the intensity with which God abhors arrogance -pride-, which makes God not accept prayers, nor manifest his presence nor grant his grace. He who is puffed up or seeks the honor and esteem of others in order to satisfy his pride deprives himself of God’s help. On the other hand, to the one who humbly submits to God and approaches him, He gives abundant grace, has mercy on him and helps him in any situation of life (see Phil 2:3note; Hebrews 4:16; Hebrews 7:25).
Source: Full Life Study Bible
greater grace. The only ray of hope in man’s spiritual darkness is the sovereign grace of God, the only one that can rescue man from his propensity to desire bad things. The fact that God provides “greater grace” shows that his grace is greater than the power of sin, the flesh, the world, and Satan (cf. Romans 5:20). The OT quote (in Pro 3:34; zip 1Pe 5:5) reveals who gets God’s grace: The humble and not the proud enemies of God. The word “humble” does not define a special class of Christians, but rather encompasses all believers (cf. Isaiah 57:15; Isaiah 66:2; Matt 18:3-4).
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
4:6 — “But he gives greater grace.” If interpretation (a) of the above verse is correct, the pronoun “he” in the above phrase refers to God. The human spirit tends to yearn even to covet, but to help the Christian God gives grace, which is greater than the harm of the Christian’s sin. Compare Rom 5:20. See also 2Co 12:9; Eph 3:19; Eph 4:7. Greed and grace are contrasted. James thus encourages his readers, reminding them that God offers us plenty of grace to help us in our struggles with the devil.
–“That is why it says”. The subject of the sentence is not given; it is assumed. That is why some versions (for example, the Modern Version) add the phrase “the Scripture”, since verse 5 has just been expressed that way.
– “God resists… the humble”. See Pro 3:34. If the Christian, making friends with the world, gets involved in its pleasures, God resists him, but if he is humble, denying himself and trying to do God’s will, God helps him with his favor (grace), forgiving his sins and promising him eternal life (Mar 10:29-30). Each one chooses God’s reaction, and there is no neutral state (Mat 12:30).
Source: Reeves-Partain Notes
Pro 3:34 (according to the Greek version of the LXX); Jas 4:10; Job 5:11; Job 22:29; Matt 23:12; Luke 1:52; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14; 1Pe 5:5-6.
Source: Hispano-American Interdenominational Translation
CROSS-REFERENCES
m 158 Joh 1:16
n159 Ps 138:6; Isaiah 2:11
ñ 160 Pro 3:34; 1Pe 5:5
Source: New World Translation
greater grace. Despite man’s rebellion and infidelity, God’s grace always abounds (Ro 5:20; 1 Tim 1:14).
Source: The Bible of the Americas
6 (1) It refers to the Scripture, mentioned in him v.5.
6 (two) A quote from Pro_3:34 taken from the Septuagint.
6 (3) According to the context, it refers to being proud before God, which causes Him to resist us. Being humble is also an attitude before God, and makes Him give us grace, which is what He desires from Him.
Source: New Testament Commentary Recovery Version
The is inserted, in the two opportunities in which it appears, to supply ellipses of the original; da… That is, God → Pro 3:34.
Source: Textual Bible IV Edition
g Pro 3:34.
4.6 That is, God gives greater grace.