S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Handling anger is an important life skill. Christian counselors report that 50 percent of people who come in for counseling have problems dealing with anger. Anger can shatter communication and tea...

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July 01 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

Anger in the Old Testament translates the Hebrew word “’aph” -- אַף (“nostril”) which one may picture as an angry man with flared nostrils! It is used 45 times of human anger and 177 times of divine anger. The actual word “anger’ infrequently occurs in the New Testament (Mark 3:5; Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8; and Revelation 14:10). But “wrath” appears more often.

In Proverbs, men are discouraged from becoming angry (Proverbs 15:1; 27:4) and the “slow to become angry” are elevated/praised (Proverbs 15:8; 16:32; 19:11). Christians are ordered to put away vindictive, vengeful anger (Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8) and to harbor no feeling/desire for personal revenge (Ephesians 4:26). 

Someone once said, “Energy spent in getting even is better spend in getting ahead.” Another quote about anger follows: 

“Of the seven deadly sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back--in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you.” - Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking, Transformed by Thorns, p. 117.

“Striking the nose causes bleeding, so stirring up anger causes quarrels” is a Bible verse from Proverbs 30:33. This is a warning against provoking anger, as it can lead to conflict and harm. The verse uses a graphic comparison to illustrate this idea.

Why not choose the path of forgiveness? Did you not receive God's grace at salvation? I did. A coworker told me once,"Man, Jack, you are so quick to forgive!" Yes, I am but only because Jesus was so quick to forgive me; He can't stay angry forever.

February 18 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What does the Bible say about anger?

The Bible teaches that anger itself isn't always sinful. Still, it becomes dangerous and sinful when uncontrolled, lingering, or focused on self rather than sin, urging believers to be slow to anger, quick to listen, and to resolve conflicts quickly with love, as seen in Ephesians 4:26-27 ("Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger") and James 1:19 ("slow to speak, slow to anger"). It encourages forgiveness, patience, and seeking God's help to manage emotions, distinguishing between sinful rage and a righteous zeal for God's justice, like Jesus's cleansing of the temple. 

Ephesians 4:26-27 warns, "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the Devil." Unresolved anger gives "a foothold to the Devil."

"Before the quarrel breaks out, take your leave" (Proverbs 17:14).

The Bible warns that "fits of anger" are works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) and that those who give "full vent" to their spirit are considered fools (Proverbs 29:11). Jesus even taught that nursing anger against others carries the same spiritual weight as murder (Matthew 5:21-22).

Ephesians 4:​26: "Be wrathful, but do not sin."

Meaning: We cannot always prevent ourselves from feeling anger, but we can control how we deal with it.

Because the day ended at sundown, the Law required that certain things be done then. A garment taken in pledge had to be returned to its owner "at the setting of the sun." (Ex 22:26; De 24:13) At that time, too, wages were to be paid to hired laborers (De 24:15), a dead body hanging on a stake had to be removed and buried (De 21:22, 23; Jos 8:29; 10:26, 27), and a person who had been ceremonially unclean had to bathe himself and, following sunset, would be considered clean again (Le 22:6, 7; De 23:11). The fact that sunset closed one day and initiated a new one added meaning to the apostle's exhortation: "Let the sun not set with you in a provoked state."​—Eph 4:26.

When Paul gave that counsel about anger, he apparently had in mind the words of the psalmist who wrote: "Be agitated, but do not sin." (Psalm 4:4) What, though, was the intent of Paul's inspired admonition? He went on to explain: "Put away from yourselves every kind of malicious bitterness, anger, wrath, screaming, and abusive speech, as well as everything injurious." (Ephesians 4:31) 

Paul was, in fact, encouraging Christians to avoid giving vent to anger. 

Interestingly, the American Psychological Association article goes on to say: "Research has found that 'letting it rip' with anger actually escalates anger and aggression and does nothing to help you... resolve the situation."

Let us not remain provoked and give Satan a chance to induce us to do something evil. (Ps. 37:8, 9) One way to resist him is to settle disputes quickly, in harmony with Jesus' counsel.​—Matt. 5:23, 24; 18:15-17.

A person might justifiably become angry on occasion. If this does happen, he should not remain "in a provoked state." Why? Because this could incite him to do something evil, thus allowing "place for the Devil," resulting in God's disapproval.

Do you allow a disagreement between you and your mate to develop into an ongoing source of annoyance or vexation? Do misunderstandings and upsetting situations linger for several days? 

To live up to your vow, when difficulties arise, do not allow a day to go by without making peace with your mate. This means forgiving and forgetting as well as acknowledging your own faults and errors.—Psalm 51:5; Luke 17:3, 4.

"Let the sun not set with you in a provoked state"​—Ephesians 4:26. Let us keep these words in mind at all times so that we can continue to receive God's Blessings.

7 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report