James 4:15

“For that ye ought to say, etc.] Instead of saying we will go to such and such a place, and do this, and that, and the other thing, it should be said, if the Lord will, and we shall live, and do this and that; the last “and” is left out in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions; and the passage rendered thus, “if the Lord will, and we shall live, we will do this”: so that here are two conditions of doing anything; the one is, if it should be agreeable to the determining will and purpose of God, by which everything in the world comes to pass, and into which the wills of men should be resolved, and resigned; and the other is, if we should live, since life is so very uncertain…”

“Literally, "instead of your saying," &c. This refers to "ye that say" (Jam 4:13). we shall live--The best manuscripts read, "We shall both live and do," &c. The boasters spoke as if life, action, and the particular kind of action were in their power, whereas all three depend entirely on the will of the Lord.”

“For that ye ought to say - Instead of what you do say, “we will go into such a city,” you ought rather to recognise your absolute dependence on God, and feel that life and success are subject to his will. The meaning is not that we ought always to be saying that in so many words, for this might become a mere ostentatious form, offensive by constant unmeaning repetition; but we are, in the proper way, to recognise our dependence on him, and to form all our plans with reference to his will. If the Lord will ... - This is proper, because we are wholly dependent on him for life, and as dependent on him for success. He alone can keep us, and he only can make our plans prosperous. In a thousand…”

“Instead of your saying - That is, whereas ye ought to say. James 4:17”

“4:15 The Lord has authority over life and death (Deut 32:39; 1 Sam 2:6; Matt 10:28).”

“If: Sa2 15:25, Sa2 15:26; Pro 19:21; Lam 3:37; Act 18:21; Rom 1:10, Rom 15:32; Co1 4:19; Co1 16:7; Heb 6:3 James 4:16”