Sunday, September 4, 2016

What the New Testament actually says about anger

Enough of Christians praising what they dangerously label "holy anger" in themselves or other Christians!

Please listen to what the New Testament actually says:

(1) Christians are to put away all anger / wrath—in Ancient Greek, "orge" (Ephesians 4:31).

(2) The anger / wrath ("orge") of human beings does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:20).

(3) Fits of passion, akin to wrath—in Ancient Greek, "thumoi"—are among "the works of the flesh" that prevent a person from inheriting the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21).

(4) Christ Jesus is not described as being angry—that is, with the words "orge" or "thumoi", except once, when Christ is described as having looked with anger at people who refused to deal with basic questions of justice and compassion (Mark 3:5). But even in that single instance, Christ did not act towards those with whom He was angry!   

(5) Christ was greatly irritated—the verb "aganakteo" referred firstly to physical effects, such as of cold on the human body (see LSJ)—when the disciples censured people bringing their children to Jesus (Mark 10:14). Unfortunately, many Bible translations misleadingly describe Christ as "angry".

(6) Paul instructs Timothy and Titus to rebuke ("elegcho") elders who are sinning and false teachers (respectively).

(7) It appears fair to conclude from these NT texts, then, that Christians are required to use reason, for example when powerfully irritated or when confronting misbehavior, and naturally this cannot be done when in anger / wrath / fits of passion.

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