Focus on the Word Another Angle on Anger


by Harvey E. Schultz


“In your anger do not sin.” “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” Do the passages quoted above (Ephesians 4:26-27) teach that


it is okay to be angry providing we do not sin and that we “cool down” before the day ends? I fear that such an interpretation might cause us to fail to understand what the Holy Spirit (through the Apostle Paul) is really teaching us about anger. It ignores the fact that in Greek, as in English, several words are used to refer to anger. Let’s take a closer look at these. Tumos refers to the boiling agitation of feelings which leads


to sudden outbursts of anger. Orgé, another Greek word, is more akin to deep indignation


rather than to a passing emotion. It is more of an abiding, settled habit of the mind. Parorgismos refers to anger that is manifested by irritation,


exasperation and embitterment. Before reaching any conclusion, it is good to discover which


Greek words are used in the passages above and what conclusions we should draw from that. Let’s take them one at a time. Both quotations above are from the New International Version


(NIV), which clearly opts for being angry but cautions us against allowing ourselves to sin when angry, providing we get rid of our anger by the end of the day. But is that the right application? Tose of us who are of a more spirited disposition see in these


verses authorization to be angry under certain conditions while those of us who are of a milder disposition would like to see in these verses an outright condemnation of all kinds of anger. Actually, I believe that these verses support neither of the above positions. Tumos, eruptions of violent anger, is forbidden in Scripture.


Paul calls it a “work of the flesh” in Galatians 5:20 where it is translated “fits of rage.” In Ephesians 4:31 we read that we are to get rid of all “rage” (i.e., thumos). Scripture leaves no room for outbursts of violent anger in the life of a follower of Jesus Christ. What about other forms of anger? Ephesians 4:26 actually uses two different words for anger. “In your anger (orgé) do not sin: do not let the sun go down while you


are still angry (parorgismos).” Paul links the two together and seems to suggest that there are times when abiding indignation is legit- imate, but that it can lead us a step further — into sin; into deep irritation or exasperation — if we are not careful. Terefore, he is saying, in reality, “Put a check on your indignation. Don’t let it smolder and give rise to deep irritation or exasperation.” Such anger should be checked at once. It is not appropriate for a child of God to express himself in this way. It is not part of the fruit of the Spirit which speaks of patience, kindness, gentleness and forgiveness. What about the word orgé, which, as we have seen, is not


merely a passing emotion but a deep, abiding indignation? On the one hand Scripture declares that the believers must “get rid of all … anger (orgé)” (v. 31). Yet, on the other hand, it would appear that v. 26 recognizes it is legitimate to experience orgé (i.e., indignation) because it doesn’t say “never give way to anger (orgé) so that you will not sin.” It says “in your anger (orgé) do not sin.” How are we to understand this apparent contradiction? Tis tension is resolved when we keep both of these verses in


mind. It would seem that Paul recognizes that at times, the be- liever will become indignant about sin and injustice around him. Indeed, to remain indifferent or apathetic in the face of injustice is a sign of moral deficiency. Jesus Himself showed such indignation. But the believer is to be careful not to allow such indignation to be accompanied by sinful human passions such as exasperation, irritation and embitterment. By allowing the Holy Spirit to purify him of such sinful reactions, he is enabled to act and react to sin with what is rightly called righteousness indignation (see also James 1:19-20). Terefore, I conclude that the follower of Christ must renounce


all violent outbursts of anger, all manifestations of exasperation, ir- ritation and bitterness which so easily poison our relationships with others. However, indignation in the face of sin and injustice is legit- imate. In fact, it is a sign of moral and spiritual health. Apathy and indifference to sin are wrong. By the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the believer is to be vigilant lest that indignation express itself in sinful ways. “In your anger do not sin.”


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Fellowship Focus, March/April 2017


FellowshipForward.org


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