BEREAN.AI ← Ask a Question

God's Attitude Towards Unrighteous People in Scripture

God's attitude toward unrighteous people in Scripture is characterized by both wrath and a measure of patience, with the ultimate outcome depending on their response to Him. The Bible clearly states that "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men" [4]. This divine anger is not arbitrary but is a righteous response to sin [8]. God is described as "angry with the evil-doers every day" [3]. He "hates" the "lover of violent acts" [2] and finds the sacrifices of wicked people to be an "abomination" [17].

The character of the wicked is consistently portrayed in Scripture as abominable, alienated from God, blasphemous, blind, boastful, covetous, deceitful, and disobedient [6]. Ingratitude is also identified as a characteristic of the wicked [7]. Disobedience specifically provokes God's anger, forfeits His favor and promised blessings, and brings a curse [10]. God does not approve of injustice and abominates it, hearing the cry of those who suffer from it [5].

Despite this righteous anger, God is also described as "slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion" [1]. He tests both the upright and the sinner [2]. However, He "will by no means leave the guilty unpunished" [1], visiting the iniquity of fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation [1]. The afflictions of the wicked are seen as multiplied, continual, and often sudden, serving as judgments and examples to others [9].

Patristic writers like Augustine emphasize that God's actions, even in punishing, are always righteous, though sometimes His judgment is secret [16]. Augustine also notes that God does not inflict punishment from wrath alone, but for the ends of justice, and that individuals choose their own punishment through their free will [12]. He further states that God can turn the hearts of even wicked men, transforming indignation into gentleness [11].

The concept of God's anger can be averted through Christ, through whom believers are saved from wrath [8]. Confession of sin and repentance can also avert God's anger [8]. John Calvin notes that man's acceptance with God is not based on merit, as humanity is by nature "naked and destitute of all good" [14]. The Heidelberg Catechism affirms that those who do not turn from ungrateful and unrepentant ways cannot be saved, listing various unrighteous acts that prevent inheritance of the kingdom of God [15]. God's mode of dealing with people can change based on their repentance, as seen in the case of Nineveh, demonstrating His consistency in dealing with humanity according to their works and state of heart [13].

Sources

  1. Numbers “Numbers 14:18 (BSB) — ‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, forgiving iniquity and transgression. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.’”
  2. Psalms “Psalms 11:5 (BBE) — The Lord puts the upright and the sinner to the test, but he has hate in his soul for the lover of violent acts.”
  3. Psalms “Psalms 7:11 (BBE) — God is the judge of the upright, and is angry with the evil-doers every day.”
  4. King James Version “[KJV] Romans 1:18 — For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Injustice — Forbidden -- Le 19:15,35; De 16:19. Specially to be avoided towards The poor. -- Ex 23:6; Pr 22:16,22,23. The stranger and fatherless. -- Ex 22:21,22; De 24:17; Jer 22:3. Servants. -- Job 31:13,14; De 24:14; Jer 22:13. Of the least kind, condemned -- Lu 16:10. God Regards. -- Ec 5:8. Approves not of. -- La 3:35,36. Abominates. -- Pr 17:15; 20:10. Hears the cry of those who suffer. -- Jas 5:4. Provoked to avenge. -- Ps 12:5. Brings a curse -- De 27:17,19. A bad example leads to -- Ex 23:2. Intemperance leads to -- Pr 31:5. Covetousness leads to -- Jer 6:13”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Character of the Wicked — Abominable -- Re 21:8. Alienated from God -- Eph 4:18; Col 1:21. Blasphemous -- Lu 22:65; Re 16:9. Blinded -- 2Co 4:4; Eph 4:18. Boastful -- Ps 10:3; 49:6. Conspiring against God's people -- Ne 4:8; 6:2; Ps 38:12. Covetous -- Mic 2:2; Ro 1:29. Deceitful -- Ps 5:6; Ro 3:13. Delighting in the iniquity of others -- Pr 2:14; Ro 1:32. Despising the works of the faithful -- Ne 2:19; 4:2; 2Ti 3:3,4. Destructive -- Isa 59:7. Disobedient -- Ne 9:26; Tit 3:3; 1Pe 2:7. Enticing to evil -- Pr 1:10-14; 2Ti 3:6. Envious -- Ne 2:10; Tit 3:3. Fearful -- Pr ”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Ingratitude — A characteristic of the wicked -- Ps 38:20; 2Ti 3:2. Often exhibited By relations. -- Job 19:14. By servants. -- Job 19:15,16. To benefactors. -- Ps 109:5; Ec 9:15. To friends in distress. -- Ps 38:11. Saints should avoid the guilt of -- Ps 7:4,5. Should be met with Prayers. -- Ps 35:12,13; 109:4. Faithfulness. -- Ge 31:38-42. Persevering love. -- 2Co 12:15. Punishment of -- Pr 17:13; Jer 18:20,21. Exemplified Laban. -- Ge 31:6,7. Chief butler. -- Ge 40:23. Israel. -- Ex 17:4. Men of Keilah. -- 1Sa 23:5,12. Saul. -- 1Sa 24:17. Nabal. -- 1Sa 25:5-11,21. ”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Anger of God, The — Averted by Christ -- Lu 2:11,14; Ro 5:9; 2Co 5:18,19; Eph 2:14,17; Col 1:20; 1Th 1:10. Is averted from them that believe -- Joh 3:14-18; Ro 3:25; 5:1. Is averted upon confession of sin and repentance -- Job 33:27,28; Ps 106:43-45; Jer 3:12,13; 18:7,8; 31:18-20; Joe 2:12-14; Lu 15:18-20. Is slow -- Ps 103:8; Isa 48:9; Jon 4:2; Na 1:3. Is righteous -- Ps 58:10,11; La 1:18; Ro 2:6,8; 3:5,6; Re 16:6,7. The justice of, not to be questioned -- Ro 9:18,20,22. Manifested in terrors -- Ex 14:24; Ps 76:6-8; Jer 10:10; La 2:20-22. Manifested in judgments and”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflictions of the Wicked, The — God is glorified in -- Ex 14:4; Eze 38:22,23. God holds in derision -- Ps 37:13; Pr 1:26,27. Are multiplied -- De 31:17; Job 20:12-18; Ps 32:10. Are continual -- Job 15:20; Ec 2:23; Isa 32:10. Are often sudden -- Ps 73:10; Pr 6:15; Isa 30:13; Re 18:10. Are often judicially sent -- Job 21:17; Ps 107:17; Jer 30:15. Are for examples to others -- Ps 64:7-9; Zep 3:6,7; 1Co 10:5-11; 2Pe 2:6. Are ineffectual of themselves, for their conversion -- Ex 9:30; Isa 9:13; Jer 2:30; Hag 2:17. Their persecution of saints, a cause of -- De 30:7; Ps 55”
  10. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Disobedience to God — Provokes his anger -- Ps 78:10,40; Isa 3:8. Forfeits his favour -- 1Sa 13:14. Forfeits his promised blessings -- Jos 5:6; 1Sa 2:30; Jer 18:10. Brings a curse -- De 11:28; 28:15. A characteristic of the wicked -- Eph 2:2; Tit 1:16; 3:3. The wicked persevere in -- Jer 2:21. Heinousness of, illustrated -- Jer 35:14. Men prone to excuse -- Ge 3:12,13. Shall be punished -- Isa 42:24,25; Heb 2:2. Acknowledge the punishment of, to be just -- Ne 9:32,33; Da 9:10,11,14. Warnings against -- 1Sa 12:15; Jer 12:17. Bitter results of, illustrated -- Jer 9:13,”
  11. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 45 [XXI]--GOD DOES WHATSOEVER HE WILLS IN THE HEARTS OF EVEN WICKED MEN. (part 3): royal presence with- 463 out the king's command, and contrary to her own custom. Now observe what the Scripture says: "He looked at her like a bull in the vehemence of his indignation; and the queen was afraid, and her colour changed as she fainted; and she bowed herself upon the head of her delicate maiden which went before her. But God turned the king, and transformed his indignation into gentleness."[1] The Scripture says in the Proverbs of Solomon, "Even as the ”
  12. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 2: Hermas, Tatian, Theophilus, Athenagoras, Clement of Alexandria — CHAP. VIII.--AGAINST THOSE WHO THINK THAT WHAT IS JUST IS NOT GOOD. (part 5): Scripture. And God does not inflict punishment from wrath, but for the ends of justice; since it is not expedient that justice should be neglected on our account. Each one of us, who sins, with his own free-will chooses punishment, and the blame lies with him who chooses.[8] God is without blame. "But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous, who taketh vengeance? God forbid."[9] He says, ”
  13. Jonah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jonah 3:10: God repented of the evil--When the message was sent to them, they were so ripe for judgment that a purpose of destruction to take effect in forty days was the only word God's righteous abhorrence of sin admitted of as to them. But when they repented, the position in which they stood towards God's righteousness was altered. So God's mode of dealing with them must alter accordingly, if God is not to be inconsistent with His own immutable character of dealing with men according to their works and state of heart, taking vengeance at last on the hardened imp”
  14. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 72: you observe that man’s acceptance with God is twofold. As man is by nature, God finds nothing in him which can incline him to mercy, except merely big wretchedness. If it is clear then that man, when God first interposes for him, is naked and destitute of all good, and, on the other hand, loaded and filled with all kinds of evil,—for what quality, pray, shall we say that he is worthy of the heavenly kingdom? Where God thus clearly displays free mercy, have done with that empty imagination of merit. Another passage in the same book—”
  15. Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed) “Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed, 1563), Q. Can those be saved: Q. Can those be saved who do not turn to God from their ungrateful and unrepentant ways? A. By no means. Scripture tells us that no unchaste person, no idolater, adulterer, thief, no covetous person, no drunkard, slanderer, robber, or the like will inherit the kingdom of God.1 1 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:1-20; 1 John 3:14 Lord’s Day 33 Q & A 88”
  16. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 43.--GOD OPERATES ON MEN'S HEARTS: TO INCLINE THEIR WILLS WHITHERSOEVER HE PLEASES.: From these statements of the inspired word, and from similar passages which it would take too long to quote in full, it is, I think, sufficiently clear that God works in the hearts of men to incline their wills whithersoever He wills, whether to good deeds according to His mercy, or to evil after their own deserts; His own judgment being sometimes manifest, sometimes secret, but always righteous. This ought to be the fixed and immoveable conviction of your heart, ”
  17. Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 15:8: Note, 1. God so hates wicked people, whose hearts are malicious and their lives mischievous, that even their sacrifices are an abomination to him. God has sacrifices brought him even by wicked men, to stop the mouth of conscience and to keep up their reputation in the world, as malefactors come to a sanctuary, not because it is a holy place, but because it shelters them from justice; but their sacrifices, though ever so costly, are not accepted of God, because not offered in sincerity nor from a good principle; they dissemble with God, and in their conversations”
Ask Your Own Question
About Terms Privacy Contact

© 2026 BEREAN.AI. All rights reserved.