Anger: What does every believer need to know about it?
Anger is an important subject because I think we all know of people who did bad things because of their anger. Furthermore, there are many people even in prison today because of things they did when they were angry. Could the anger and what they did have been avoided? Of course! These things happened because of what people were thinking and how they allowed their thinking to be expressed. So, this IS an important subject for us to cover. I don’t believe I know of anyone who hasn’t been angry about something at one time or another.
Exactly how are we then to define our subject? We find that anger is a feeling of extreme displeasure, hostility, indignation or exasperation toward someone or something. Synonyms for anger would include rage, resentment, fury, ire, indignation, and wrath. All these terms represent varying degrees of displeasure. Probably the word anger itself is the most general and most used term of all these. The anger a person comes to have may be long term or short term in duration. Rage and fury are closely related terms and can be destructive. Ire is a poetic term for anger. Wrath tends to involve vengeance—payback. Resentment tends to be a suppressed form of anger and indignation that comes from seeing the mistreatment of someone or something.
It seems that many people believe that any expression of anger is inherently wrong. But is that true? We’ll see in this study that such is not always the case. But as I typically do, we’ll go to the Bible to get the truth we all need to know about all this.
We of course find terms and statements about anger in both the Old and New Testament portions of the Bible because it has always been a problem for man. In the Old Testament Hebrew we have the word APH meaning anger, the word ZAAM meaning indignation, the word CHEMAH meaning fury or heat, and KAAS meaning anger with sadness. In the New Testament Greek, we have ORGE for a disposition of mind that is aroused under certain conditions. It is used in Scripture for both righteous and unrighteous anger. Then we have THUMOS that is normally used for anger in the bad sense. It is a word for emotional and turbulent commotion that can occur. It involves boiling agitation and passionate feelings involved in the expression of anger. It would probably be best to translate this form of anger with the word wrath. Third, we have the Greek word PARORGISMOS. This is the strengthened or intensified form of ORGE. It puts special emphasis on the source of agitation that promotes wrath. It suggests a less continued state of THUMOS. Lastly, we have the word AGANAKTESIS which is only used once in the Bible [2 Corinthians 7:11].
In our Bible study of the Greek words, we’ll begin with ORGE. We’ll not do any more with the Hebrew terms in this study, but we will note the use of all the Greek terms. ORGE is commonly used for turbulent anger or bitterness.
Ephesians 4:31-32
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger [ORGE], and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Then in the next verse we’re given the solution to this sin. In every solution there’s a challenge for us to exercise our volition in a certain way. Such is the case here. Therefore, this is something anyone can CHOOSE to do.
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. [Emphasis added]
If this wasn’t something all of us could do, we wouldn’t all be given the same command to avoid it. This is something all of us can decide to do. Yes, even if we don’t want to, as believers we’re to CHOOSE to treat other people the way our Lord has treated us—graciously. Of course, the way to do this is to study your Bible so you can come to know exactly how our Lord has treated us. When you think about how He COULD have treated you in all your times of foolishness, it should help motivate you to treat others the way He’s done in His treatment of you.
Colossians 3:8
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger [ORGE = mental attitude anger], wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. [Emphasis added]
Again, we simply need to DECIDE to do this as an expression of our love and appreciation for our Lord. This is here likened to taking off dirty clothes, something anyone can do. This is what our Lord told His disciples to do—
John 13:34
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. [Emphasis added]
This is the decision to treat others the way Christ has treated us—lovingly. Just as He’s not treated us with what we truly deserve, we’re to do likewise. We’re to love others the way He’s loved us despite our foolishness and theirs. James also gives us some good advice about this.
James 1:19-20
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath [ORGE = anger]:
20 For the wrath [ORGE = anger] of man worketh not [doesn’t manifest] the righteousness of God. [Emphasis added]
We’re to learn to be imitators of God in this as in other things.
Ephesians 5:1-2
1 Be ye therefore followers [MIMEOMAI = mimickers or imitators] of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in LOVE, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. [Emphasis added]
Can we mimic or imitate God? Obviously, we can in this. Otherwise, Paul wouldn’t exhort us to do it. As difficult as some things may seem to be, God never asks or commands us to do anything we can’t do. I keep mentioning this because anger is to some degree a problem for everyone that needs to be addressed.
This word ORGE is also used in connection with government—
Romans 13:4-5
4 For he [a government authority] is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword [speaking of capital punishment] in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath [ORGE = anger] upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath [ORGE = anger], but also for conscience sake. [Emphasis added]
This tells us people are to live lawfully for fear of punishment but also to maintain a clear conscience.
This same word for anger [ORGE] is also used for the anger of our Lord Jesus Christ. Was He sinning when He expressed this anger? Of course not! This just lets us know that there’s a place for what some have called righteous indignation which is just another term for ANGER. What a perfect illustration we have of this—
Mark 3:1-5
And he [Jesus Christ] entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.
2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.
4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger [ORGE], being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. [Emphasis added]
Anger is certainly something that can contribute to the hardness of one’s heart. For more information about this, please see my article about it—
Heart: What does it mean to have a hardened one?
This same word [ORGE] is used for God’s anger with Israel when He caused them to wander in the wilderness for forty years.
Hebrews 3:11
11 So I sware in my wrath [ORGE], They shall not enter into my rest.) [Emphasis added]
Hebrews 4:3
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, [a quote from Psalm 95:11] As I have sworn in my wrath [ORGE], if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. [Emphasis added]
In this next case we’ll see that ORGE is also used in connection with God’s anger with the Jews today.
Romans 9:22
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath [ORGE], and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath [ORGE] fitted to destruction: [Emphasis added]
Both this one and this next passage should serve as a warning that we shouldn’t do things to cause God to be angry with us.
1 Thessalonians 2:13-16
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath [ORGE] is come upon them to the uttermost. [Emphasis added]
A statement is also made in Scripture about God’s anger toward those who reject what He did to provide them with a way to be saved and completely delivered from His condemnation.
John 3:36
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath [ORGE] of God abideth on him. [Emphasis added]
The apostle Paul tells us the same thing.
Romans 1:18-19
18 For the wrath [ORGE] of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. [Emphasis added]
Also, Romans 2:5, 8
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath [ORGE = ] against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, [Emphasis added]
There are numerous other passages that tell us the same thing. Those who reject the gospel message should certainly fear God’s wrath. Many people declare that God is love and that He surely wouldn’t send someone to a place like hell. All such people have a rude awakening coming! Such thinking just goes to show how little they know about God. But this is such a common argument among unbelievers that I’ve written a whole article about this—
Hell: How can a loving God send people there?
God is angry with anyone who continues in their rejection of His Son as their Savior. They should all accept the salvation He graciously offers them now so they can avoid the expression of His wrath in eternity [Romans 3:5; 5:9; 12:19; Ephesians 2:3; 5:6; Colossians 3:6; I Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9]. As you can see by this list of passages here and throughout this article, ample warning about this has certainly been provided because this is such a common problem for people.
As slaves to the lust of their flesh—their sinful nature, unbelievers are sometimes called children of wrath—
Ephesians 2:2-3
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation [ANASTROPHE = behavior, manner of life] in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath [ORGE], even as others. [Emphasis added]
Again, if believers, God’s people, weren’t capable of such there wouldn’t be a need for such statements. Anything an unbeliever can do is something a believer, a saint or a child of God can do. Never be so foolish as to say that if a person was truly saved, they wouldn’t act like that. All you have to do is read a book like 1 Corinthians in the Bible and you’ll see what believers, saints, are perfectly capable of doing in sin and evil.
Romans 5:6-8
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. [Emphasis added]
Nobody ever gets saved because they’ve somehow given up sin. Instead, certain people are saved because they’ve put their faith in the One who did something about their sins on a cross and through His burial and resurrection. It is rejection of this provision that brings God’s wrath down upon people.
Ephesians 5:6-8
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath [ORGE] of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 BE NOT ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: [Emphasis added]
This tells us every believer has been positionally delivered from the wrath of God.
Romans 5:9
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath [ORGE] through him. [Emphasis added]
Time and time again we’re assured that as believers we have nothing to fear from God. But as believers, we surely have a lot to look forward to enjoying forever! As it was for the Thessalonian believers, we’ll be rewarded for getting the word out on this and other truths to others.
1 Thessalonians 1:8-10
8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath [ORGE = anger] to come. [Emphasis added]
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath [ORGE = anger], but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. [Emphasis added]
What contrast there is between what the believer has waiting for him in Heaven and what the unbeliever has waiting for him!
Colossians 3:5-7
5 Mortify [THANATOO = put to death] therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things’ sake the wrath [ORGE = anger] of God cometh on the children of disobedience [speaking of unbelievers]:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. [Emphasis added]
After all that’s said about this in the Bible it is amazing to think the unbeliever will have any excuses for his unbelief and rejection of God’s offered provision for his salvation. But all this is plainly stated with the hope that he’ll accept the gospel message, and it will have some effect upon suppressing the expressions of his ungodliness and unrighteousness.
Romans 1:18-19
18 For the wrath [ORGE = anger] of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. [Emphasis added]
This is one of those passages that serves to remind us that unbelievers don’t believe because they don’t want to believe and not because there’s any real evidence that somehow justifies their unbelief. Scripture provides the warning that there’s a “day of wrath” coming for all these people who’ve resisted the truth they were given. For information concerning what happens to those in the world who’ve never heard the gospel message, here’s the link to my article about it—
Salvation: What about those who have never heard the gospel?
Romans 2:5
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath [ORGE = anger] against the day of wrath [ORGE = anger] and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; [Emphasis added]
For more information about this as it relates to the people of America, please see my article about it—
America: Do we have a coming doomsday?
When the Rapture occurs there’s a seven-year period that follows that’s called The Tribulation. In a greater way than ever people living then on Earth will see God’s wrath expressed as never seen by anyone before.
Revelation 16:19
19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath [ORGE = anger]. [Emphasis added]
For people who don’t like “fire and brimstone” messages, I suppose this article is one they won’t like. But it is at the Second Coming of Christ to the Earth that God’s wrath will then be seen like never before.
Revelation 6:15-17
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath [ORGE = anger] of the Lamb [Jesus Christ]:
17 For the great day of his wrath [ORGE = anger] is come; and who shall be able to stand? [Emphasis added]
Revelation 11:18
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath [ORGE = anger] is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. [Emphasis added]
Revelation 19:11-15
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he [Jesus Christ] that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. [Emphasis added]
For more information about Christ’s coming and those who’ll be coming with Him at what is called His Second Coming, please see my articles about all this—
Jesus Christ: Is His return soon?
Jesus Christ: Will He return in this generation?
Second Coming: Who will be with Christ when He returns?
Jesus Christ: What will you say to Him when you meet Him?
Now let’s look closely at the subject of anger as it relates to the sinfulness of man. First, it is a mental attitude sin that stems from bad motivation. As history clearly shows, this sin has a multitude of ways to express itself. To study history is to also study warfare because there’s been so much of it. Despite all mankind’s efforts to stop it, the Bible tells us this will continue until Christ returns to stop it. There will be lots of it in the coming period called The Tribulation which occurs after we’ve been resurrected at that which is called The Rapture.
Matthew 24:6-7
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. [Emphasis added]
Fundamentally, people are born spiritually dead. We’re all born that way. Nothing changes on that till the moment we’re saved. It is the sin that emanates from sinful nature that results in warfare.
Ephesians 2:1-7
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation [ANASTROPHE = behavior or manner of life] in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. [Emphasis added]
No peace treaty, no united human effort for world peace will ever succeed in completely bringing an end to anger and warfare. The history of mankind leading up to the return of Christ will end with expressed anger and warfare like the world has never seen before. And that’s not pessimistic thinking; that’s reality! All the words of prophecy in the Bible will be completely fulfilled as stated.
Revelation 19:19
19 And I saw the beast [the one called the antichrist], and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him [Jesus Christ] that sat on the horse, and against his army. [Emphasis added]
Fortunately for us as believers, we won’t be here for any of this. We’ll already be enjoying Heaven then. Meanwhile the only way to keep warfare at bay is to work at avoiding things like the sin of anger. This next verse is a one-verse summary of that situation.
Again, Colossians 3:8
8 But now ye also put off [like a garment] all these; anger [ORGE], wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. [Emphasis added]
We don’t need to be contributing to the problem of anger; we need to be a part of the solution which is personal, not collective. We always need to realize that committing the sin of anger is foolish.
Ecclesiastes 7:9
9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. [Emphasis added]
One of the most damaging things about the sin of anger in a believer is how it hinders his prayer life.
1 Timothy 2:8
8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath [ORGE = anger] and doubting. [Emphasis added]
Therefore, the best position you can be in is to be saved and one who is moving forward in spiritual growth. We all need to take the commands of Scripture that relate to this and so much more personally. Here’s one very important example of that—
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study [SPOUDAZO = Be diligent] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [Emphasis added]
By engaging faithfully in this you’ll gain the knowledge needed to avoid the sin of anger and many others.
Typically, anger is a sin but there are those situations where anger is the correct and appropriate response. In fact, there are those situations where if you’re not angry it is a sin. Perhaps you’ll recall the situation where our Lord entered the temple and became very angry over what He saw.
Matthew 21:12-13
12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. [Emphasis added]
There’s another good example of this sort of thing in our Lord’s earthly ministry—
Mark 3:1-6
1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.
2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.
4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger [ORGE], being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
6 And the Pharisees [the “religious” leaders of the day] went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him. [Emphasis added]
Here we see not only our Lord’s righteous indignation, but the sinfulness of the Pharisees all centered around a situation where both parties involved became angry but for different reasons. One was right and the other was terribly wrong. We all need to work on staying in the right about this as much as possible.
But, again, typically, anger is a sin. It is this that we’re to work hard to avoid.
Conclusion—
- Most of the anger expressed in the world today is considered sinful by God even though there are certain expressions of it that are good.
- One’s sinful nature is the source of most of the anger expressed by people, not the influence of Satan.
- The solution to this sin like others begins with one’s acceptance of God’s provision for one’s salvation—the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
- The day-to-day solution for anger in believers is the application of the principles of truth taught in the Bible rightly divided.
- To understand the principle of right division, please see my articles about it like this one— 4Us2Us: What does this mean?
