Selah · Answered from Scripture
What does the Bible say about anger?
What Scripture says
So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;
James 1:19
“Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath,
Ephesians 4:26
for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.
James 1:20
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret, it leads only to evildoing.
Psalms 37:8
An angry man stirs up strife, and a wrathful man abounds in sin.
Proverbs 29:22
Verses quoted from the World English Bible (public domain).
A reflection
The Bible teaches that while anger is a natural emotion, it must be managed carefully. James 1:19 advises us to be slow to anger, indicating that taking time before reacting can prevent the anger from leading us into sin. Furthermore, Ephesians 4:26 acknowledges that anger itself can be part of our experience, but it cautions us to not allow anger to linger, suggesting that unresolved anger can lead to further sin and strife.
This reflection was written by AI from the verses above. The verses are quoted verbatim; the AI never writes Scripture.
Where traditions read it
- Catholic
- Anger is seen as a human emotion that must be tempered and controlled, as noted in Augustine's reflections on God's anger as just judgment, highlighting that unrighteous anger should be avoided.
- Eastern Orthodox
- Anger is generally discouraged, as stated by Origen, who argues that any anger is sinful, encouraging the abandonment of all forms of wrath.
- Protestant
- Matthew Henry emphasizes that anger can be justified at times, but it's crucial to guard against excessive anger and reconcile quickly to avoid sin.
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