THE ACTION OF ANGER

Hosea 4:1 & 6 says: "Listen to the word of the LORD.
... My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."

Jesus said: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16 NASB).

THE ACTION OF ANGER

Chapter II

THE BIBLICAL SOLUTION

An author for Readers Digest described how he studied the Amish people in preparation for an article on them. In his observation at the school yard, he noted that the children never screamed or yelled. This amazed him. He spoke to the schoolmaster. He remarked how he had not once heard an Amish child yell, and asked why the schoolmaster thought that was so. The schoolmaster replied, "Well, have you ever heard an Amish adult Yell?" ¹

Ephesians 6:4 (NASB) says: "And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

A lady once came to Billy Sunday and tried to rationalize her angry outbursts. She said: "There's nothing wrong with losing my temper, I blow up, and then it's all over." "So does a shotgun," Sunday replied, "and look at the damage it leaves Behind!" ²

If we are angry, we are not obeying the teachings of Christ. What, then, will be the outcome for those who do not obey the teachings of Christ? After forbidding anger in Matthew 5:21-22 (NASB), Jesus immediately said in verses 26 and 27: "And every one who hears these words of Mine and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall."

The "biblical" commandment to get rid of anger is also very clearly expressed in Colossians 3:8 in the Greek text and in all of the following translations of the text. (See the footnote for the Greek text). ³

Colossians 3:8. New American Standard Bible (NASB):
"But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth." (© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation.)

Colossians 3:8. King James Version (KJV):

"But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth." (Public Domain 1611, 1769.)

Colossians 3:8. New King James Version (NKJV):

Colossians 3:8. New Living Translation (NLT):

Colossians 3:8. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV):

Colossians 3:8. Revised Standard Version (RSV):

Colossians 3:8. New International Version (NIV):

Maurice E. Wagner, Th.M., Ph.D., 1914-2005, ⁴ in the "Introduction" to his book entitled Anger's Fire Extinguisher - What Anger Is And How To Get Rid Of It, said: "The Bible gives very specific instruction about the emotion of anger, its source, its destructive effects, and how it needs to be managed. The Bible is not commonly viewed as a resource book for psychological insight, but our God who created and redeemed us has not left us to guess about such an important emotion as anger. The Bible contradicts the usual teachings about anger and speaks specifically about getting rid of the emotion as soon as possible. It explains that our anger is under the control of our will, that we are not victims of our feelings, as we may think. Anger is both a physical problem and a spiritual problem."

And, Dr. Wagner said: "Anger is the most treacherous emotion we have. It does much damage to our own disposition, to our relationship with others, and to our spiritual walk with the Lord. Anger may give us a sense of momentary power, but it deadens many of our sensitivities. Anger, by its very nature, creates a self-deception that blights our intelligence and causes us to do strange things we would not otherwise do. Anger is the killer of our conscience, [our conscience is] the unconscious organ of the mind that God uses to speak to our Hearts." ⁵

The commandment to "put off from yourselves" in Colossians 3:8 translates the Greek verb apoqesqe; the English transliteration is apothesthe. ⁶ It is defined by Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon as follows: "New Testament middle voice: to put off from one's self." ⁷ The word all, in them all as the New American Standard Bible translates the Greek text, clearly refers to all, not some (see footnote for Greek lexicon references). And the word all, in all these as the King James Version translates the Greek text, refers to all, not some. It can not be any plainer than that.

The English word anger, mentioned in Colossians 3:8, is a noun (previously defined in Greek and English) that translates the Greek word orghn; the English transliteration is orgen. ⁸ orghn, translated anger, is the direct object of the verb apoqesqe; the English transliteration is apothesthe, and in addition to the other sins listed, is to be put off from one's self.

Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament says: "Put ye also away (apothesthe kai humeis). Second aorist middle imperative of old verb apotithe>mi, to put away, lay aside like old clothes. . . . All these (ta panta). The whole bunch of filthy rags (anger orge>n, wrath thumon, malice kakian, railing blasphe>mian, shameful speaking aisehrologian)." ⁹

Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible, Commentary on Colossians, Chapter 3, says: "I. The apostle exhorts us to set our hearts upon heaven and take them off from this world (v. 1-4). II. He exhorts to the mortification of sin, in the various instances of it. . . . Those who do not obey the precepts of the law incur the penalties of it. The sins he mentions were their sins in their heathen and idolatrous state, and they were then especially the children of disobedience; and yet these sins brought judgments upon them, and exposed them to the wrath of God. We should mortify these sins because they have lived in us: In which you also walked some time, when you lived in them, v. 7. Observe, the consideration that we have formerly lived in sin is a good argument why we should now forsake it. Col 3:8-11: As we are to mortify inordinate appetites, so we are to mortify inordinate passions (v. 8): But now you also put off all these, anger, wrath, malice; for these are contrary to the design of the gospel, as well as grosser impurities; and, though they are more spiritual wickedness, have not less malignity in them. The gospel religion introduces a change of the higher as well as the lower powers of the soul, and supports the dominion of right reason and conscience over appetite and passion. Anger and wrath are bad, but malice is worse, because it is more rooted and deliberate; it is anger heightened and settled. And, as the corrupt principles in the heart must be cut off, so the product of them in the tongue; as blasphemy. . . . Lying makes us like the devil (who is the father of lies), and is a prime part of the devil's image upon our souls; and therefore we are cautioned against this sin by this general reason: Seeing you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, v. 10. The consideration that we have by profession put away sin and espoused the cause and interest of Christ, that we have renounced all sin and stand engaged to Christ, should fortify us against this sin of lying. Those who have put off the old man have put it off with its deeds; and those who have put on the new man must put on all its deeds -- not only espouse good principles but act them in a good conversation." ¹⁰

The People's New Testament by Barton W. Johnson, Colossians: Chapter III - The New Life in Christ says: "5-8. Mortify therefore your members. The Greek word is stronger. It means, "Put to death." Since you died to the world and the flesh, slay also the earthly lusts and passions which belong to the flesh. They belong to the old nature, not to the new creature. Uncleanness. Every kind of impure act. Inordinate affection. Lustful passion. Covetousness. See note on Eph. 5:5. 6. For which things' sake. Because these things are practiced by those who live in disobedience, God's wrath is coming upon them. 7. In the which ye also walked. They had been Gentile heathen, and among them licentiousness was at that time universal. . . . 8. Also put off all these. The sins that follow as well as those named above. Anger, wrath, malice. A climax, full of evil to other men." ¹¹

It has been said that anger is as a stone cast into a wasp's nest.

The Biblical Conception of Sin by Thomas Whitelaw says: "Most men know that sin is in themselves a fact of consciousness they cannot deny, and in others a fact of observation they cannot overlook. As Chesterton expresses it, the fact of sin any one may see in the street: the Bible assumes that any man will discover it who looks into his own heart."

"The Nature of Sin. It scarcely requires stating that modern ideas about sin receive no countenance from Scripture, which never speaks about sin as 'good in the making,' as 'the shadow cast by man's immaturity,' as 'a necessity determined by heredity and environment,' as 'a stage in the upward development of a finite being,' as a 'taint adhering to man's corporeal frame,' as a 'physical disease,' 'a mental infirmity,' 'a constitutional weakness,' and least of all 'as a figment of the imperfectly enlightened, or theologically perverted, imagination,' but always as the free act of an intelligent, moral and responsible being asserting himself against the will of his Maker, the supreme Ruler of the universe. That will the Bible takes for granted every person may learn, either from the law written on his own heart (Romans 1:15); or from the revelation furnished by God to mankind, first to the Hebrew Church in the Old Testament Scriptures, and afterwards to the Christian Church and through it to the whole world in the New Testament Gospels and Epistles. Hence, sin is usually described in the Sacred Volume by terms that indicate with perfect clearness its relation to the Divine will or law, and leaves no uncertainty as to its essential character." ¹² To ignore the sins described in the Bible, as some do, is absolute lunacy. The Standard Bible Commentary On Thessalonians, Corinthians, Galatians and Romans by J. W. McGarvey, LL.D., and Philip Y. Pendleton, A. M. says: "Verily all professing Christians would do well to take heed to what the Bible designates as sins, and not trust too much to their own fallible sentiment and judgment in such matters." ¹³

The "biblical" solution requires the removal of the sensual sins: immorality, impurity, passion, and evil desire. And, the "biblical" solution requires the removal of the social sins: the sins of the emotions: anger, wrath, and malice. And, the "biblical" solution requires the removal of the sins of the tongue: slander, abusive speech out of the mouth. How can it be any plainer than that?

Colossians 3:9-11 (NASB). "Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him, -- 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."

The importance of the message contained in the 3rd chapter of Colossians is clearly seen as we consider the fact that the first two chapters deal with the need to be established in the faith of Jesus Christ, and the 3rd chapter offers a detailed description of "The Christian Solution." Mark Copeland in his "Study Guide on Colossians" ¹⁴ points out that in chapters 1-2, the Apostle Paul has maintained that Christ is "all-sufficient" in matters of salvation and overcoming sin. Beginning in chapter 3, the text gives basic and practical admonitions that pertain to living a life in Christ. The 4th chapter is an exhortation to the Colossians to walk in unity and in a manner worthy of their calling.

The "biblical" solution says in Colossians 3:12-14 (NASB): "And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against any one; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity."

And, the "biblical" solution says in Colossians 3:15-17 (NASB): "And let the peace of Christ rule ¹⁵ in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell ¹⁶ within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God; And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." Proverbs 21:23 (NASB): "He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles."

Origen (A.D. 185-254), the early Christian writer said: "The scripture, which tells us not to be angry at all, and which says in the thirty-seventh Psalm, 'Cease from anger, and forsake wrath,' and which commands us by the mouth of Paul to 'put off all these, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication,' would not involve God in the same passion from which it would have us to be altogether Free." ¹⁷

It has been rightly said that our perceptions and judgments should be guided by wise discernment, not by deluded passions. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NASB) says: "For God has not destined us for wrath [orgh orge>; anger], but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ."

But what about God's territory? Christians have been taught, very clearly, not to venture into the territory reserved exclusively to God. Romans 12:19 (NASB): "Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath [anger] of God for it is written, VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY, SAYS THE LORD." The English word wrath in this passage translates the Greek noun orgh that is transliterated orge; the topic, theme or fact of anger. From this passage we understand that God alone claims the right to anger and vengeance, perhaps, because we are not qualified, and because we cannot "get all worked up" without injury to ourselves, or handle it without injury to ourselves and to others.

"The Biblical Solution." There are many verses in the Bible warning about human anger, and there is a "biblical" solution for human anger. It is clearly commanded in the Scriptures to "put off from yourselves all these: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another . . . put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, . . . and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." Let's do it.

THE BIBLICAL SOLUTION

CHAPTER II - FOOTNOTES:

¹Counter Attack, Jay Carty, Multnomah Press, 1988, p. 41ff.^{²Maggie Scarg in New York Times Magazine.}³The Greek text of Colossians chapter 3 and verse 8, with an interlinear English translation, reads as follows:
Nuni de       apoqesqe           kai umeiV   ta panta, orghn,

Now    but   put off from yourselves also you       wholly all;    anger,

qumon, kakian, blasfhmian, aiscrologian, ek tou stomatoV umwn.
wrath,     malice,         slander,          abusive speech   out of the     mouth      your.

⁴^{From 1940 to 1950, Maurice E. Wagner studied and he received Th.B., B.S., B.D. and Th.M. degrees. In 1956, he became a part-time chaplain at the Downey, Va. Mental Hospital where he served for over four years. He took special notice of how the Bible speaks to the emotional needs of people. In 1961, he accepted the challenge of becoming the first counselor at the Narramore Christian Foundation, then in Pasadena, now in Rosemead, California. Coincident with his full-time counseling position, he studied and received the degree of Ph.D. in 1969 from Southern California Institute of Psychology in Beverly Hills. In 1979, Dr. Wagner moved to Atascadero, California where he began the Mid-Coast Counseling Service. In 1989, he retired from counseling to devote his time to writing; preparing practical studies which apply to the emotional needs of people. He said that he had been eager to write the book: Anger's Fire Extinguisher for nearly two decades, but the Lord had a few lessons for him to learn about his own emotion of anger before attempting to put anything into print.}^{⁵^{Anger's Fire Extinguisher by Maurice E. Wagner, Th.M., Ph.D. (Atascadero, CA: Christian Growth Publishers, Inc., 1992), page 1 of Introduction.}}⁶^{The Greek verb apoqesqe - English transliteration, apothesthe is the 2nd person, plural, aorist 2 tense, imperative mood, middle voice of apotiqhmi, transliterated apotithemi. The aorist tense means: simple occurrence without regard to time. The imperative mood means: a command or instruction given to the hearer, charging the hearer to carry out or perform a certain action. The middle voice shows the subject acting in his/or her own behalf, or participating in the results of the verbal action. So, get rid of, or put them all off from one's self is the clear command.}

The English word all translates the Greek word panta--transliterated panta and translated: all and is the accusative case, plural, neuter of pas (paV) preceded by the article ta (ta) which means according to Bauer, Arndt, and Gingrich's A GREEK-ENGLISH LEXICON of the New Testament, page 638: "-As acc. of specification, almost like an adv.: ta panta in all respects - As a summation of what precedes all this 2 Cor 4:15; Phil 3:8b; Col 3:8." Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon, page 493 says: "accusative panta, wholly, altogether, in all ways, in all things, in all respects." The Analytical Lexicon, page 311 says: "panta, in all respects."

⁷^{Joseph Henry Thayer, D.D., GREEK-ENGLISH LEXICON of the NEW TESTAMENT (Grand Rapids, Michigan: ZONDERVAN PUBLISHING HOUSE, First Zondervan printing 1962, Fifth printing 1966), a)po/qesqe - middle voice of a)poti/qhmi, page 69}^{^{8 The Greek word orghn--transliterated orge>n is the accusative case of the noun orgh. The accusative case is the case of the direct object, receiving the action of the verb.}}^{9 Word Pictures in the New Testament, Volume VI by A. T. Robertson (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1931), page 501.}^{¹⁰^{Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Blue Letter Bible. 01 Mar 1996).}}¹¹^{The People's New Testament by Barton W. Johnson (St. Louis, MO: Christian Publishing Company, 1891. These files are public domain and are a derivative of an electronic edition that is available on the Christian Classics Ethereal Library website, www.ccel.org.}^{¹²^{The Biblical Conception of Sin by Thomas Whitelaw, M.A., D.D., (Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland in The Fundamentals Ed. by R.A. Torrey. Blue Letter Bible. 6 Oct 2003).}}¹³^{Commentary On Thessalonians, Corinthians, Galatians and Romans by J. W. McGarvey, LL.D., and Philip Y. Pendleton, A. M. (Cincinnati, OH: Standard Publishing Company, Public Domain), page 283.}^{¹⁴^{Mark Copeland's web site: (www.executableoutlines.com).}}¹⁵^{Let rule - the Greek verb is: brabeuetw--transliteration is brabeueto>; 3rd person, singular, present tense, imperative mood. Translation is: let preside or rule. So, let the peace of Christ continue to rule in your hearts, this is a command}^{¹⁶^{Let dwell - the Greek verb is: enoikeitw--transliteration is enoikeito>; 3rd person, singular, present tense, imperative mood. Translation is: let dwell. So, let the word of Christ continue to dwell in you richly; this is a command.}}¹⁷^{The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Origen Against Celsus, Book IV, Chap. LXXII, Vol. IV (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1976), page 529.}

　

　
Chapter II

THE BIBLICAL SOLUTION

Questions for Discussion

1. Explore the role "anger learned in childhood" plays in the personal and social lives of those who do not obey the "Biblical" command to get rid of all anger. What should the "Amish" example say to us.

2. Ephesians 6:4 (NASB) says: "And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." Parents, by the manifestation of anger and the provoking of their children to anger, cause anger triggers to be embedded in their children's brain cells with the result that their children can become angry caused by the embedded anger triggers. Agree? Disagree?

3. How were you taught as a child to deal with anger? Were you taught that it was all right to be angry?

4. Or, were you taught as a child to identify your anger triggers and to defuse them? Do you consider it difficult to accept the teaching of Christ concerning anger because of what you were taught as a child?

5. What do you think that Jesus means when He forbids anger in Matthew 5:21-22 and what do you think that Jesus means in verses 26-27 when He says: "And every one who hears these words of Mine and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall."

6. What do you believe the outcome will be for those who do not obey the commandments and teachings of Christ?

7. Is it essential that we consider this subject regarding anger in the light of what the New Testament writers said in the original language? Do you believe that the words of the Bible contain all the ideas in it, and in order that the ideas may be perceived, the words of the Bible need to be rightly understood?

8. Does the Bible contradict the usual teachings about anger and does it speak specifically about getting rid of the emotion? Explain.

9. What do you think of Matthew Henry's understanding of Colossians 3:1-11; and what do you think of Barton W. Johnson's understanding of Colossians 3:5-8?

Do you accept the fact that Colossians 3:1-11 lists anger as a sin among the sins inconsistent with the new life in Christ? Why would one feel at liberty to mortify only some sensual sins; some sins of the emotions; and some sins of the tongue?

10. What do you think of Thomas Whitelow's The Biblical Conception of Sin?

11. Can peace and "the action of anger" rule the same heart? "Satan is the oldest liar in the records of eternity." His influence is seen everywhere this subject is written about, discussed or treated. Many are under the influence of his erroneous views and principles regarding anger and being angry without ever perceiving, designing or intending it. Anger has been a problem for human beings since Cain killed Abel. We must not let Satan's erroneous views and principles regarding anger and being angry influence our thinking and our actions. Agree? Disagree?

THE BIBLICAL SOLUTION!

It is the Word of God!

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The Bible Tells Us To Get Rid Of All Anger!

FOCUS ON THE SCRIPTURES.ORG

THE ACTION OF ANGER

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER I

CHAPTER II

CHAPTER III

CHAPTER IV

CHAPTER V

CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER VII

CHAPTER VIII

CHAPTER IX

CHAPTER X

CHAPTER XI

CHAPTER XII

ENDNOTES

THE ACTION OF ANGER