Complexity of Human Emotions in Scripture and Psychology
The Bible presents human emotions as complex and deeply intertwined with both physical experience and spiritual states, often defying simple categorization. Scripture describes a wide range of human feelings, from profound sorrow to intense joy, and even acknowledges the intricate ways these emotions can coexist or manifest in unexpected forms [5, 9].
One of the most frequently discussed emotions in Scripture is sorrow or grief. The Apostle Paul, for instance, speaks of "great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart" concerning his kinsmen, comparing this pain to that of a woman in travail [9]. This imagery of labor pains is also used in Isaiah to describe the dismay and anguish that will seize people, causing their faces to become like flames [4]. The Psalms frequently express deep emotional distress, with one passage indicating that the severity of God's punishment can bring anguish affecting every part of a person's being [13]. The strong emotion in some Psalms is so intense that sentences are left incomplete, reflecting the depth of feeling [10].
The human experience of emotion is also evident in the life of Jesus Christ. His humanity is demonstrated through his capacity for emotions such as weeping, hungering, thirsting, and weariness [6]. He wept at the tomb of Lazarus [6] and over Jerusalem [6, 12]. This capacity for emotion was essential to his mediatorial office, allowing him to sympathize with human suffering [1, 6]. The author of Hebrews emphasizes that Christ, though great, is not above caring for humanity, and as one who was tempted in every way (sin only excepted), he sympathizes with human temptations [7]. His compassion is shown for the weary, the weak in faith, the tempted, the afflicted, the diseased, the poor, and perishing sinners [1]. This empathetic nature of Christ serves as an encouragement for believers to approach God in prayer [1].
Scripture also addresses the nature of "affections," which are understood as feelings or emotions [2]. The Bible distinguishes between "vile affections" (Romans 1:26) and "inordinate affection" (Colossians 3:5), contrasting these with the exhortation for Christians to set their affections on "things above" (Colossians 3:2) [2]. This suggests a moral dimension to emotions, where certain affections are deemed inappropriate or misdirected, while others are to be cultivated. There is also a distinction made between "natural and spiritual or gracious affections" [2]. The concept of "simplicity" in affection is highlighted in 2 Corinthians, where Paul expresses fear that believers' minds might be corrupted from a "tender singleness of affection" for Christ, much like Eve was swayed by the serpent's subtlety [8]. This "simplicity" implies an undivided devotion and focus on Jesus, free from competing or corrupting influences [8].
The Bible does not offer a theoretical explanation for the mystery of prayer, but it provides directions regarding its time, place, and manner, along with types and examples [3]. The efficacy of prayer, despite the apparent unalterable nature of general laws and human agency, remains a central theme [3]. This suggests that emotional states, such as anguish or desire, often drive individuals to prayer, even when the outcome is uncertain.
The complexity of human emotions is further illustrated by the idea that even in laughter, the heart can be sorrowful, and mirth can end in heaviness [5]. This proverb highlights the potential for mixed emotions or the superficiality of outward expressions that may mask deeper feelings.
The concept of hardening one's heart is also discussed, distinguishing between a natural hardness—where the human heart is described as being like a stone, lacking spiritual life and being unresponsive to grace—and an acquired or voluntary hardness [11]. This acquired hardness develops through a process that includes entertaining sinful thoughts, frequent commission of sin, and the justification or extenuation of sin [11]. This demonstrates how emotional and volitional choices can lead to a state of spiritual insensitivity.
The biblical understanding of emotions, therefore, encompasses a broad spectrum of feelings, their physical manifestations, their moral implications, and their role in spiritual life. It portrays emotions not merely as fleeting sensations but as integral aspects of human experience, deeply connected to one's relationship with God and others.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Compassion and Sympathy of Christ, The — Necessary to his priestly office -- Heb 5:2,7. Manifested for the Weary and heavy-laden. -- Mt 11:28-30. Weak in faith. -- Isa 40:11; 42:3; Mt 12:20. Tempted. -- Heb 2:18. Afflicted. -- Lu 7:13; Joh 11:33,35. Diseased. -- Mt 14:14; Mr 1:41. Poor. -- Mr 8:2. Perishing sinners. -- Mt 9:36; Lu 19:41; Joh 3:16. An encouragement to prayer -- Heb 4:15.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Affection — Feeling or emotion. Mention is made of "vile affections" (Rom. 1:26) and "inordinate affection" (Col. 3:5). Christians are exhorted to set their affections on things above (Col. 3:2). There is a distinction between natural and spiritual or gracious affections (Ezek. 33:32).”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — The object of this article will be to touch briefly on-- + The doctrine of Scripture as to the nature and efficacy of prayer; + Its directions as to time, place and manner of prayer; + Its types and examples of prayer. + Scripture does not give any theoretical explanation of the mystery which attaches to prayer. The difficulty of understanding real efficacy arises chiefly from two sources: from the belief that man lives under general laws, which in all cases must be fulfilled unalterably; and the opposing belief that he is master of his own destiny, and need ”
- Isaiah “They will be dismayed. Pangs and sorrows will seize them. They will be in pain like a woman in labor. They will look in amazement one at another. Their faces will be faces of flame. -- Isaiah 13:8”
- Proverbs “Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness. -- Proverbs 14:13”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Human Nature of Christ, The — Was necessary to his mediatorial office -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 2:17; Ga 4:4,5; 1Co 15:21; Ro 6:15,19. Is proved by his Conception in the Virgin's womb. -- Mt 1:18; Lu 1:31. Birth. -- Mt 1:16,25; 2:2; Lu 2:7,11. Partaking of flesh and blood. -- Joh 1:14; Heb 2:14. Having a human soul. -- Mt 26:38; Lu 23:46; Ac 2:31. Circumcision. -- Lu 2:21. Increase in wisdom and stature. -- Lu 2:52. Weeping. -- Lu 19:41; Joh 11:35. Hungering. -- Mt 4:2; 21:18. Thirsting. -- Joh 4:7; 19:28. Sleeping. -- Mt 8:24; Mr 4:38. Being subject to weariness. -- Joh 4:6. ”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 4:15: For--the motive to "holding our profession" (Heb 4:14), namely the sympathy and help we may expect from our High Priest. Though "great" (Heb 4:14), He is not above caring for us; nay, as being in all points one with us as to manhood, sin only excepted, He sympathizes with us in every temptation. Though exalted to the highest heavens, He has changed His place, not His nature and office in relation to us, His condition, but not His affection. Compare Mat 26:38, "watch with me": showing His desire in the days of His flesh for the sympathy of those whom H”
- 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 11:3: I fear-- (Co2 12:20); not inconsistent with love. His source of fear was their yielding character. subtilty--the utter foe of the "simplicity" which is intent on ONE object, Jesus, and seeks none "other," and no "other" and different Spirit (Co2 11:4); but loves him with tender SINGLENESS OF AFFECTION. Where Eve first gave way, was in mentally harboring for a moment the possibility insinuated by the serpent, of GOD not having her truest interests at heart, and of this "other" professing friend being more concerned for her than God. corrupted”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 9:2: That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. This is the thing he appeals to Christ for the truth of, and calls in his conscience and the Holy Ghost to bear witness to. These two words, "heaviness" and "sorrow", the one signifies grief, which had brought on heaviness on his spirits; and the other such pain as a woman in travail feels: and the trouble of his mind expressed by both, is described by its quantity, "great", it was not a little, but much; by its quality it was internal, it was in his "heart", it did not lie merely in outward show, in a few w”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 27:13: The strong emotion is indicated by the incomplete sentence, for which the English Version supplies a proper clause; or, omitting that, and rendering, "yet I believed," &c., the contrast of his faith and his danger is expressed. to see--is to experience (Psa 22:17).”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 3:8: Harden not you hearts,.... There is a natural hardness of the heart; the heart of man is like a stone, destitute of spiritual life, motion, and activity; it is senseless, stupid, impenitent, stubborn, and inflexible, on which no impressions can be made, but by powerful grace: and there is an acquired, habitual, and voluntary hardness of heart, to which men arrive by various steps; as entertaining pleasing thoughts of sin; an actual commission of it, with frequency, till it becomes customary, and so habitual; an extenuation or justification of it, and so they become ha”
- Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 19:41: when beheld . . . wept--Compare Lam 3:51, "Mine eye affecteth mine heart"; the heart again affecting the eye. Under this sympathetic law of the relation of mind and body, Jesus, in His beautiful, tender humanity, was constituted even as we. What a contrast to the immediately preceding profound joy! He yielded Himself alike freely to both. (See on Mat 23:37.)”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 38:5: 38:5-8 The severity of God’s punishment brings anguish that affects every part of the psalmist’s being.”