Contradiction with Galatians 5:17
This verse suggests the flesh and spirit are in conflict with each other, whereas James 4:5 implies an intention for spirit without conflict.
Galatians 5:17: For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Contradiction with Ezekiel 36:27
This verse depicts God placing His spirit to guide obedience, contrasting with James 4:5, which suggests envy.
Ezekiel 36:27: And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them].
Contradiction with Romans 8:9
It states those in the Spirit belong to God, which contrasts James 4:5's implication of jealousy.
Romans 8:9: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Contradiction with 1 Corinthians 3:16
It emphasizes God’s Spirit dwelling in us, without the jealousy mentioned in James 4:5.
1 Corinthians 3:16: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
Contradiction with 1 John 4:13
Indicates that His Spirit assures us of dwelling in God, as opposed to the envy suggested in James 4:5.
1 John 4:13: Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
Paradox #1
One potential contradiction in James 4:5 is the challenge of interpreting what is meant by "the spirit he caused to dwell in us envies intensely" (depending on the translation). This can seem inconsistent because it implies God made the spirit in us to be envious, which seems to conflict with the idea that envy is a sinful or undesirable emotion in other parts of the Bible. However, interpretations vary, and many scholars suggest alternative readings to resolve the apparent conflict.
Paradox #2
James 4:5 can be confusing because the exact wording and meaning differ across Bible translations. Some versions suggest that God yearns jealously for the spirit He placed in us, while others interpret it as the human spirit tending towards envy. This can cause confusion about whether the verse emphasizes God's desire for humans or comments on human nature.
Paradox #3
The contradiction or inconsistency with "James 4:5" is that it references a scripture that doesn't seem to clearly match any known Old Testament passage. This leaves scholars puzzled about what specific scripture it is referring to, as there's no direct quote found in the Hebrew Bible that aligns with it.
Paradox #4
The contradiction or conflict could arise from the interpretation that the verse suggests God is jealous. This may seem inconsistent with the idea of God being perfect and not possessing human flaws like jealousy. Such characteristics can create confusion about the nature of God.