Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Nature:Anger is an intense emotional response often characterized by feelings of displeasure, irritation, or hostility. In the biblical context, anger can be both a human emotion and an attribute of God, though the nature and expression of divine anger differ significantly from human anger.
Biblical Instances and Teachings:1.
Human Anger: The Bible acknowledges that anger is a common human emotion but warns against its potential to lead to sin. In
Ephesians 4:26-27 , Paul advises, "Be angry, yet do not sin." This suggests that while anger itself is not inherently sinful, it can lead to sinful actions if not controlled.
James 1:19-20 further instructs believers to be "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man's anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires."
2.
Divine Anger: God's anger is depicted as a righteous response to sin and injustice. Unlike human anger, which can be impulsive and self-centered, divine anger is always just and purposeful. In the Old Testament, God's anger is often directed towards idolatry and disobedience, as seen in
Exodus 32:10 , where God expresses anger towards the Israelites for worshiping the golden calf. However, God's anger is also tempered by His mercy and willingness to forgive, as seen in
Psalm 30:5 : "For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime."
3.
Jesus and Anger: Jesus Himself displayed righteous anger, notably in the cleansing of the temple. In
John 2:15-16 , Jesus drives out the money changers, expressing zeal for His Father's house. This incident illustrates that anger, when aligned with God's purposes, can be an appropriate response to wrongdoing.
4.
Warnings Against Sinful Anger: The Bible provides numerous warnings against allowing anger to fester and lead to sin.
Proverbs 29:11 states, "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man holds it back." This highlights the importance of self-control and the dangers of unchecked anger. Additionally,
Colossians 3:8 urges believers to "rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips."
5.
Resolution and Reconciliation: Scripture encourages believers to resolve anger quickly and seek reconciliation.
Matthew 5:23-24 instructs, "Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." This underscores the priority of mending relationships and maintaining peace.
Practical Application:Believers are called to emulate Christ in their response to anger, exercising patience, forgiveness, and love. By relying on the Holy Spirit, Christians can transform anger into a force for good, advocating for justice and righteousness while maintaining a spirit of grace and humility.
Library
And Disputes
... There was nothing to do but wait patiently, which he did at St. Nicholas' Monastery,
Angers, from February to the beginning of March, 1199....
What are the Affirmative Expressions Respecting God, and what the...
... Divine?"what are the Divine forms?"what the Divine appearances, and parts and
organs?"what the Divine places and ornaments?"what theangers?"what the...
The Noviceship
... obeying God. There is in the Jesuit noviciate atAngers a series of paintings
portraying incidents in the life of Stanislaus. In...
Letter ix. To Titus, Hierarch, Asking by Letter what is the House...
... What would any one say concerning theangers, the griefs, the various oaths, the
repentances, the curses, the revenges, the manifold and dubious excuses for...
Argument. --If we Regard the Anger, and Indignation, and Hatred of...
... And thus all those, eitherangers of God or hatreds, or whatever they are of this
kind, being displayed for our medicine,"as the case teaches,"have arisen...
Letter xxxvii (Circa AD 1131) to Magister Geoffrey, of Loretto.
... spoken of to Geoffrey in this Letter as "the wild beast near you." Another derivation
is "L'oratoire," a monastery of the Cistercians in the Diocese ofAngers....
Letter Xl. To Marcella.
... Still, if the showing up of faults alwaysangers you, I will soothe you now with
the words of Persius: "May you be a catch for my lord and lady's daughter!...
To Carthage I Came, Where There Sang all Around Me in My Ears a...
... joy fettered with sorrow-bringing bonds, that I might be scourged with the iron
burning rods of jealousy, and suspicions, and fears, andangers, and quarrels....
Theodulph
... He came to France in the time of Charlemagne, about 781, and was made Bishop of
Orleans in 785. He was imprisoned by Louis I. atAngers in 818....
Epistle Lviii. To Divers Bishops of Gaul.
... in furtherance of which they have been sent. Footnotes: [169] Licinius
(afterwards canonized) was bishop of Andegavum (Angers)....
Thesaurus
Angers (2 Occurrences)...Angers (2 Occurrences). Galatians 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strifes, jealousies,
angers, contentions, disputes, schools of opinion, (DBY).
...Angered (13 Occurrences)
Angle (19 Occurrences)
Disputes (18 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Galatians 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strifes, jealousies,angers,
contentions, disputes, schools of opinion, (DBY NAS)....
Contentions (20 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT). Galatians 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strifes, jealousies,
angers, contentions, disputes, schools of opinion, (DBY)....
Schools (3 Occurrences)
... Jesus. (WEY). Galatians 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strifes, jealousies,
angers, contentions, disputes, schools of opinion, (DBY)....
Opinion (91 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Galatians 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strifes, jealousies,angers,
contentions, disputes, schools of opinion, (DBY). Colossians...
Resources
How can I know for sure that my anger is righteous indignation? | GotQuestions.orgSummary of the Gospel of John - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about a sixth sense / third eye? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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