Biblical Guidance on Managing and Controlling Anger
Biblical texts offer guidance on managing anger, distinguishing between righteous indignation and sinful wrath. The emotion of anger itself is not inherently sinful, as it is described as an original susceptibility of human nature, similar to love [3]. God himself is depicted as experiencing anger, which denotes his displeasure with sin and sinners [3, 12]. Jesus also displayed anger, as seen in Mark 3:5 [5].
However, anger becomes sinful when it is causeless, excessive, or prolonged [3]. Proverbs 37:8 advises, "Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret, it leads only to evildoing" [1]. Rashi interprets this as a call to desist from wickedness to avoid anger [10]. Similarly, Ecclesiastes 7:9 warns against quick temper, stating that anger resides in the bosom of fools [2]. Proverbs frequently associates anger with foolishness and pride [2].
The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 4:26, instructs, "Be ye angry, and sin not." This verse, which quotes Psalm 4:4, suggests that while anger may arise, it should not lead to sin [5, 7, 8, 9]. John Gill explains that anger is not sinful when it stems from a true zeal for God and religion, is directed against sins rather than persons, and aims to achieve good outcomes [6]. Examples of justifiable anger include indignation at dishonor done to God or wrong done to humanity [5].
Conversely, sinful anger is characterized by passion [5] and can give the devil a "foothold" [7]. It is often connected with cruelty, clamor, evil-speaking, malice, blasphemy, strife, and contention [2]. The Bible emphasizes the importance of quickly resolving anger, advising, "Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry" [7]. This means anger should not be allowed to "stew" [7]. Controlling one's anger is presented as a sign of wisdom [4]. Meekness and wisdom are also suggested as ways to avert anger [2]. The book of Ecclesiastes further advises to "banish anger," which Rashi interprets as banishing anything that causes anger to God [11].
Sources
- Psalms “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret, it leads only to evildoing. -- Psalms 37:8”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Anger — Forbidden -- Ec 7:9; Mt 5:22; Ro 12:19. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. A characteristic of fools -- Pr 12:16; 14:29; 27:3; Ec 7:9. Connected with Pride. -- Pr 21:24. Cruelty. -- Ge 49:7; Pr 27:3,4. Clamour and evil-speaking. -- Eph 4:31. Malice and blasphemy. -- Col 3:8. Strife and contention. -- Pr 21:19; 29:22; 30:33. Brings its own punishment -- Job 5:2; Pr 19:19; 25:28. Grievous words stir up -- Jdj 12:4; 2Sa 19:43; Pr 15:1. Should not betray us into sin -- Ps 37:8; Eph 4:26. In prayer be free from -- 1Ti 2:8. May be averted by wisdom -- Pr 29:8. Meeknes”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Anger — The emotion of instant displeasure on account of something evil that presents itself to our view. In itself it is an original susceptibility of our nature, just as love is, and is not necessarily sinful. It may, however, become sinful when causeless, or excessive, or protracted (Matt. 5:22; Eph. 4:26; Col. 3:8). As ascribed to God, it merely denotes his displeasure with sin and with sinners (Ps. 7:11).”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 15:18: 15:18 Controlling one’s anger is a sign of wisdom (see also Jas 1:19-20).”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 4:26: Be ye angry, and sin not--So the Septuagint, Psa 4:4. Should circumstances arise to call for anger on your part, let it be as Christ's "anger" (Mar 3:5), without sin. Our natural feelings are not wrong when directed to their legitimate object, and when not exceeding due bounds. As in the future literal, so in the present spiritual, resurrection, no essential constituent is annihilated, but all that is a perversion of the original design is removed. Thus indignation at dishonor done to God, and wrong to man, is justifiable anger. Passion is sinful (d”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 4:24: Be ye angry, and sin not,.... There is anger which is not sinful; for anger is fouled in God himself, in Jesus Christ, in the holy angels, and in God's people; and a man may be said to be angry and not sin, when his anger arises from a true zeal for God and religion; when it is kindled not against persons, but sins; when a man is displeased with his own sins, and with the sins of others: with vice and immorality of every kind; with idolatry and idolatrous worship, and with all false doctrine; and also when it is carried on to answer good ends, as the good of those ”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:26: 4:26-27 “don’t sin by letting anger control you” (literally “be angry and do not sin”): This verse quotes Ps 4:4. The literal form of the quotation cannot be used to justify anger, for anger gives a foothold to the devil (cp. Jas 1:20). God’s people are to be gentle and gracious, not harsh or angry (see Eph 4:31-32). • Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry: Anger must quickly be resolved, not allowed to stew.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 4:4: 4:4 Angry feelings are not sinful, but letting anger control you leads to sin (see 37:7-8; cp. Eph 4:26-27, 31-32). • Instead of acting on their emotions, the godly think about their circumstances overnight. They might be disturbed as they sleep, but silence opens their hearts to trust in the Lord (Ps 4:5).”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 4:4: Stand in awe, and sin not,.... That is, stand in awe of God, and his righteous, judgments; be afraid of him, and tremble before him; make him your fear and your dread, and go on no longer and proceed no further in sinning against him. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, render it, "be ye angry, and sin not": which are the words of the apostle, Eph 4:26; referring to this place; and which doubtless is the reason of these versions. There is an anger that is sinful, when it is without a cause, or exceeds due bounds, and is not directed to”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Psalms 37:8: Desist from anger Desist from being wicked so that anger does not come upon you.”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Ecclesiastes 11:10: Therefore banish anger. [Banish] anything that causes anger to the Omnipresent.”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 30:5: For his anger endureth but a moment,.... Anger is not properly in God, he being a simple, uncompounded, immovable, and unchangeable being; nor is it ever towards his people in reality, unless anger is distinguished from wrath, and is considered as consistent with his everlasting and invariable love to them; but only in their apprehension, he doing those things which in some respects are similar to those which men do when they are angry; he turns away from them and hides his face, he chides, chastises, and afflicts, and then they conclude he is angry; and when he retur”