Managing Anger in the Christian Life and Temperament

Anger, as an emotion, is an inherent susceptibility of human nature, akin to love, and is not inherently sinful ^[1]. However, it can become sinful if it is causeless, excessive, or prolonged ^[1]. The Bible frequently addresses the management of anger, distinguishing between righteous indignation and destructive wrath.

Scripture warns against anger that leads to sin. Psalm 37:8 advises, "Abstain from anger and cease from fury; also do not inflame yourself to do evil" ^[5]. Similarly, Ecclesiastes 7:9 states, "Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools" ^[6]. Torrey's Topical Textbook lists anger as a characteristic of fools, connecting it with pride, cruelty, clamor, evil-speaking, malice, blasphemy, strife, and contention ^[2]. It also notes that anger brings its own punishment ^[2]. Proverbs 15:1 offers a practical approach to de-escalating anger, stating, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" ^[4].

The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 4:26, writes, "Be ye angry, and sin not." This verse suggests that there is a form of anger that is permissible for Christians. John Gill, in his commentary on Ephesians, explains that anger is not sinful when it arises from a true zeal for God and religion, is directed against sins rather than persons, and is aimed at the good of others ^[11]. This includes being displeased with one's own sins, the sins of others, idolatry, and false doctrine ^[11]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary on Ephesians 4:26 suggests that if circumstances call for anger, it should be like Christ's anger, without sin ^[12]. This implies that natural feelings are not wrong when directed to legitimate objects and kept within due bounds ^[12]. Justifiable anger, in this view, is indignation at dishonor done to God and wrong done to humanity ^[12].

However, the line between righteous anger and sinful anger is often blurred. Matthew Henry, commenting on Colossians 3:8, emphasizes the need to "put off all these, anger, wrath, malice" ^[9]. one tradition argues that these passions are contrary to the gospel's design and, though they represent "more spiritual wickedness," possess significant malignity ^[9]. Henry suggests that the gospel introduces a change in the higher powers of the soul, supporting the dominion of reason and conscience over appetite and passion ^[9]. He also notes that anger and wrath are bad, but malice is worse because it is more deeply rooted ^[9].

The management of anger is also linked to other Christian virtues. Meekness, for instance, is described as being "slow to anger," not easily provoked, and taking time to consider before passion erupts ^[13]. This involves having control over one's own spirit, particularly one's passions and anger ^[13]. John Chrysostom, an early Church Father, emphasizes the importance of gaining mastery over anger, viewing victory not as retaliating but as meekly enduring ill-treatment ^[8]. He advises against persisting in thoughts of revenge when angry ^[8]. Chrysostom also highlights the role of self-control in managing anger, suggesting that loud speaking fuels passion and that by binding the "horse" (passion), one can subdue the "rider" (the self) ^[10]. He describes wrath as a fierce fire that devours all things, harming the body and destroying the soul, and therefore requires constant vigilance against its entrance ^[10].

The Bible also speaks of God's anger, which is distinct from human sinful anger. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines God's anger as merely denoting His displeasure with sin and sinners ^[1]. Torrey's Topical Textbook describes God's anger as righteous ^[3]. It is not vindictive or bad-tempered, but rather a response to human evil, rebellion against God, and the doing of evil to one another ^[14]. God's anger is manifested in His justice in dealing with sin and evil ^[14]. However, God's anger is also characterized by slowness ^[3]. John Gill, in his commentary on Psalm 30:5, explains that anger is not properly in God as a simple, uncompounded, immovable, and unchangeable being, nor is it ever truly directed towards His people in reality ^[7]. Instead, it is often in their apprehension, as God's actions (like turning away or chastising) are perceived as anger ^[7]. God's anger can be averted through Christ, through belief, and through confession of sin and repentance ^[3].

Sources

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).”
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”
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”
Proverbs “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. -- Proverbs 15:1”
Psalms “Psalms 37:8 (LITV) — Abstain from anger and cease from fury; also do not inflame yourself to do evil.”
King James Version “[KJV] Ecclesiastes 7:9 — Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.”
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”
CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: none reproves us, and do not many feelings of repentance come over us, both for what we have said and done; but when we gain the mastery, then are we not proud, and exult as conquerors? For victory in the case of anger is, not the requiting evil with the like, (that is utter defeat,) but the bearing meekly to be ill treated and ill spoken of. To get the better is not to inflict but to suffer evil. Therefore when angry do not say, “certainly I will retaliate,” “certainly I will be revenged”; do not persist in saying to those who exhort you to gain a ”
Colossians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Colossians 3:8: As we are to mortify inordinate appetites, so we are to mortify inordinate passions (Col 3:8): But now you also put off all these, anger wrath, malice; for these are contrary to the design of the gospel, as well as grosser impurities; and, though they are more spiritual wickedness, have not less malignity in them. The gospel religion introduces a change of the higher as well as the lower powers of the soul, and supports the dominion of right reason and conscience over appetite and passion. Anger and wrath are bad, but malice is worse, because it is more rooted ”
CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: speaking 692 692 lit. “shouting.” for loud speaking is the fuel of passion. Let us then bind 693 693 lit. “tie the feet of.” the horse, that we may subdue the rider; let us clip the wings of our wrath, so the evil shall no more rise to a height. A keen passion is anger, keen, and skillful to steal our souls; therefore we must on all sides guard against its entrance. It were strange that we should be able to tame wild beasts, and yet should neglect our own savage minds. Wrath is a fierce fire, it devours all things; it harms the body, it destroys the”
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 (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”
Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 16:32: This recommends the grace of meekness to us, which will well become us all, particularly the hoary head, Pro 16:31. Observe, 1. The nature of it. it is to be slow to anger, not easily put into a passion, nor apt to resent provocation, taking time to consider before we suffer our passion to break out, that it may not transgress due bounds, so slow in our motions towards anger that we may be quickly stopped and pacified. It is to have the rule of our own spirits, our appetites and affections, and all our inclinations, but particularly our passions, our anger, kee”
2 Kings (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Kings 17:11: 17:11 arousing the Lord’s anger: When God becomes angry, he is not vindictive or bad tempered. Instead, human evil angers him because people have rebelled against God and done evil to one another. God responds to human evil with his justice in dealing with sin and evil (see also 13:3; 17:17-18; 21:6; 22:13, 17; 23:26-27; 24:20; Rom 3:23; 6:23; 14:10; 2 Cor 5:10; Col 3:6; 1 Jn 1:8-10).”

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