What the Bible Says About Anger

Ephesians 4: 26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.

• Is it a sin to be angry?
• Are you more likely to sin when you are angry? What can you do to avoid sinning while angry?
• Why shouldn’t the sun go down on our anger? What does this show you about the purpose of anger?

Ephesians 4: 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

• If it isn’t a sin to be angry, why does Paul tell us to get rid of all anger?

James 1:19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

• Why does God want us to be slow to anger?
• What beliefs would make you easily angered?
• What beliefs would make you slow to anger?

Matthew 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

• Why does Jesus treat our anger (and things we may say while angry) as such a serious issue?

1 Corinthians 13: 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

• Why is love not easily angered?

The Old Testament says that God is slow to anger. Some people think that the Old Testament presents a God of anger. The Old Testament has four major parts:

Pentateuch – (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)

Historical Books – (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First Samuel, Second Samuel, First Kings, Second Kings, First Chronicles, Second Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther)

Poetic books- (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon)

Prophetic books- (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi)

All four parts describe God as slow to anger (Exodus 34:6, Numbers 14:18, Nehemiah 9:17, Psalm 86:15, Psalm 103:8, Psalm 145:8, Joel 2:13, Jonah 4:2, Nahum 1:3). Here is an example:
Psalm 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.