Anger
Anger is an emotion that prepares the body physiologically to fight, just as fear is an emotion that prepares the body to flee. Fear can have two responses. The active response is to run, and the passive response is to hide. For anger, the active response is to fight and the passive response is to cower, or exhibit submission. Both anger and fear are primitive emotions encoded deeply in the brain. How do we control our response to anger and fear? What does the scripture say about anger?
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Some points from these scriptures:
1. Anger is not necessarily a sin
2. Anger can be controlled
3. Some people are more prone to anger than others (a hot tempered man...)
4. God gets angry at sin
5. The tongue is the key to stirring up anger or quieting it down.
6. Love can overcome anger
7. Controlling anger is a requirement for leadership in the church.
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Ephesians 4:26
26 BE ANGRY g3710, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger g3950
g3709. ὀργή orgē ; a prim. word; impulse, wrath:--
anger(6), wrath(30).
g3710. ὀργίζω orgizō ; from 3709; to make angry:--
angry(4), enraged(3), moved with anger(1).
g3950. παροργισμός parorgismos ; from 3949; irritation:--
anger(1).
g2372. θυμός thumos ; from the same as 2366; passion:--
angry tempers(1), fierce(2), indignation(1), outbursts of anger(1), passion(2), rage(2), wrath(9).
g2366. θύελλα thuella ; from θύω thuō (to rage, seethe); a whirlwind:--
whirlwind(1).
Colossians 3:8-11
8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger g3709, wrath g2372, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
Proverbs 29:11
11 A fool always loses his temper,
But a wise man holds it back.
Proverbs 12:16
16 A fool’s anger is known at once,
But a prudent man conceals dishonor.
Proverbs 14:29-30
29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.
30 A tranquil heart is life to the body,
But passion is rottenness to the bones.
Proverbs 15:1
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:18
18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
But the slow to anger calms a dispute.
Proverbs 16:32
32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.
Proverbs 19:11-12
11 A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger,
And it is his glory to overlook a transgression.
12 The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like dew on the grass.
Proverbs 19:19-20
19 A man of great anger will bear the penalty,
For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.
20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline,
That you may be wise the rest of your days.
Proverbs 22:24-25
24 Do not associate with a man given to anger;
Or go with a hot-tempered man,
25 Or you will learn his ways
And find a snare for yourself.
Proverbs 27:4-5
4 Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood,
But who can stand before jealousy?
5 Better is open rebuke
Than love that is concealed.
Proverbs 29:8-11
8 Scorners set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away anger.
9 When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man,
The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.
10 Men of bloodshed hate the blameless,
But the upright are concerned for his life.
11 A fool always loses his temper,
But a wise man holds it back.
Proverbs 30:33
33 For the churning of milk produces butter,
And pressing the nose brings forth blood;
So the churning of anger produces strife.
Matthew 5:21-24
21 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. 23 Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
Psalms 37:8
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
Psalms 103:8-10
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
Ecclesiastes 7:9
9 Do not be eager in your heart to be angry,
For anger resides in the bosom of fools.
1 Timothy 2:8
8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.
James 1:19-21
19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
Romans 12:19-20
19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. 20 “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.”
Leviticus 19:17-18
17 ‘You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.
Deuteronomy 29:20
20 The LORD shall never be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the LORD and His jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse which is written in this book will rest on him, and the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven.
2 Corinthians 12:20-21
20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.
Galatians 5:19-24
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Titus 1:7-9
7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.
