James 4:4 - Friend of the World

I have just done a very fascinating study on James 4:4 and thought I would share it with all of you. 

James 4:4

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Breaking down of the word definitions, this verse could also read like this:

Ye ungodly and those who relapse into idolatry and play the harlot (traitors), know ye not that the friendship of (with) the ungodly multitude, the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ cause (of) enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a, an associate with the ungodly multitude is the hated of God.

Ye adulterers – 3432

I. an adulterer

II. metaph. one who is faithless toward God, ungodly

 adulteresses, – 3428

I. an adulteress

II. as the intimate alliance of God with the people of Israel was likened to a marriage, those who relapse into idolatry are said to commit adultery or play the harlot

A, fig. equiv. to faithless to God, unclean, apostate (traitor) (runaway)

the friendship – 5373   

I. friendship

of the world – 2889

I. an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government

II. ornament, decoration, adornment, i.e. the arrangement of the stars, 'the heavenly hosts', as the ornament of the heavens. 1 Pet. 3:3

III. the world, the universe

IV. the circle of the earth, the earth

V. the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family

VI. the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ

VII. world affairs, the aggregate of things earthly

A. the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ

VIII. any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort

A. the Gentiles as contrasted to the Jews (Rom. 11:12 etc)

enmity – 2189

I. enmity

II. cause of enmity

a friend – 5384    

I. friend, to be friendly to one, wish him well

A. a friend

B. an associate

C. he who associates familiarly with one, a companion

D. one of the bridegroom's friends who on his behalf asked the hand of the bride and rendered him various services in closing the marriage and celebrating the nuptials

of the world – 2889 – (same as above)

the enemy – 2190    

I. hated, odious, hateful

II. hostile, hating, and opposing another

A. used of men as at enmity with God by their sin

1. opposing (God) in the mind

2. a man that is hostile

3. a certain enemy

4. the hostile one

5. the devil who is the most bitter enemy of the divine government