Tag: anger

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Colossians 3:8e – Doom Loop

Hand holding a lighted wooden match with a dark woods in the background.

[… rid yourselves of] … slander …

Summary: By following each step in Paul’s thinking, we discover that he has something very specific in mind. 

Let’s go back and review the whole verse so far: 

“But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander …” 

Paul is painting a portrait of a slave to SELF. When we put our self-interest above God and others, we will always find things that offend us. The rest of the world is only interested in pleasing themselves, so since my SELF is most important (to me), it is very irritating when other people do not share my concern for my own happiness. 

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Colossians 3:8c – Wrath, Rage, and Bugs

Picture of a cartoon bug holding a sign that reads "The End is Near!"

[… rid yourselves of] … rage …

Summary: Seeing ourselves from God’s point of view is a challenge. Especially when trying to understand what it means to be under God’s wrath. 

The word Paul used in this sentence is not always translated as “rage.” In fact, about two-thirds of available English translations of the Bible use the word “wrath” instead. Is there a difference? 

From a human point of view, there may not be much difference. From God’s point of view, there is a difference. 

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Colossians 3:8b – Anger Management

[… rid yourselves of] … anger …

Summary: Anger has been around for a long time. In most cases, human anger is the result of putting ourselves before God. When that happens, frustration and anger are not far behind. 

The kingdom of heaven doesn’t just happen by itself. The King’s people need to stand up and be counted for the kingdom to exist on earth. 

One way we are counted as People of God is by mastering our anger. God’s people don’t get angry. Well, not like ordinary people, anyway. 

So what is anger, anyway? 

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The Patience of God – James 1: 20

…because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

I find it interesting that James says we should be “slow to become angry” instead of telling us not to get angry. Why? Is James saying it is okay to be angry if it is the slow kind? In today’s verse, James sheds a bit more light on what he meant by “angry.”

James distinguishes “human anger” and “slow anger.” So what is the difference? What is it about human anger that James doesn’t like? This is a situation where it helps to look at the underlying Greek to better understand what was meant.

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Spiritual Gemstones – James 1: 19 Part III

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…

Once more we return to this amazing passage of scripture. It looks like a simple sentence on the surface, but as we dive into the text we find that every word is a gemstone in its own right. The value of these gems is magnified by the fact that they were written by the half brother of Jesus. A man who grew up knowing Jesus as his older brother and who did not believe in him or appreciate him until after Jesus rose from the dead and spoke with him.

Because of this life experience, James has special insight. He spent all his time living with the Son of God being slow to listen and quick to speak. Now he knows better. Besides, he knows one more thing: Be slow to become angry…

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