Anger(temper, wrath)
Summary
A strong emotion of displeasure at perceived injury or wrongdoing, which Scripture recognizes can be either sinful when selfish and uncontrolled, or righteous when directed at genuine evil.
☩Sinful Anger
Anger becomes sinful when it arises too quickly without reflection, when the perceived injury was unintentional or imagined, when it is disproportionate to the offense, when it is transferred from the guilty to the innocent, or when it is harbored until it becomes hatred and desire for revenge. The New Testament consistently warns against such anger: it is listed among the works of the flesh, must be put away from believers, and does not produce the righteousness of God. Scripture provides numerous examples of sinful anger, including Cain's murderous rage against Abel, Saul's jealous fury toward David, and Jonah's petulant anger at God's mercy.
☩Teaching of Jesus
Jesus intensified the prohibition against sinful anger in the Sermon on the Mount, teaching that whoever is angry with his brother without cause is in danger of judgment, and that contemptuous speech—calling a brother 'Raca' or 'fool'—brings increasing culpability. This teaching does not condemn all anger but specifically targets the spirit that despises and seeks to injure a brother. Jesus Himself displayed anger on multiple occasions: He looked with anger at those whose hardened hearts prioritized Sabbath rules over human need, was indignant when disciples hindered children from coming to Him, and forcefully cleansed the Temple of those who had turned His Father's house into a marketplace.
☩Righteous Anger
Anger is not inherently evil; it was designed by the Creator for self-defense and the protection of the weak. Those faithful to God should be angry at sin, whether rebellion against God or wrongdoing against others. The early apostles did not suppress their indignation at those who murdered Jesus, and Paul expressed strong displeasure against the sorcerer Elymas and those who corrupted the gospel. However, even legitimate anger must be controlled: 'Be angry and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath.' The passion must not exceed proper bounds or become an excuse for personal revenge.
☩Divine Anger
When anger, wrath, and fury are ascribed to God, they denote not tumultuous passion but His holy and just displeasure with sin. God's anger differs from human anger in being perfectly righteous, arising from His holy nature, and remaining steady and uniform rather than fluctuating emotionally. The divine anger is actually involved in the divine love: because God is truth and love, He is necessarily a consuming fire to wrong. Scripture reveals that God is slow to anger and abundant in mercy, yet He will by no means clear the guilty.
Related Verses451 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Anger," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Anger," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 3.Don Fleming, "Anger," in Bridgeway Bible Dictionary (Bridgeway Publications, 1990).
- 4.James Hastings (ed.), "Anger," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 5.American Tract Society, "Anger," in American Tract Society Bible Dictionary (American Tract Society, 1859).
- 6.Richard Watson, "Anger," in A Biblical and Theological Dictionary (John Mason, 1831).