Is getting angry a sin:

Odds are if you have ever asked a Christian this question you likely received a simple yes or no answer. If the answer was “no” they probably cited the occasion when Christ became angry at the moneychangers in the temple (Matthew 21:12). If the answer was “yes” they probably cited Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:31: “Get rid of all bitterness rage and anger,”.

As with any controversial issue within Christianity the best answer is not the easiest answer to find. While we do see plenty of examples in Scripture where God or Christ became angry and even act upon their anger, we are also told that we are to avoid anger.

To answer this question we must begin by evaluating the word “anger” within the context of Scripture and then applying what we learn about anger to what we know about the nature of sin. We will begin by reviewing the Hebrew and Greek words for anger:

Hebrew Words for Anger:

There are three different Hebrew words used in Scripture for anger:

‘ap – אף: To contort one’s face in anger (not literally).

A quick-tempered [quick to -'ap - אף] man does foolish things, and a crafty man is hated.

Proverbs 14:17

Ka’as – כעס: To be vexed or incensed (provoked to anger).

Nevertheless, the LORD did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger ['ap - אף], which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to provoke him to anger [ka'as - כעס].

2 Kings 23:26

‘anaq – אנף: To feel angry

The LORD became angry ['anaq - אנף] with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.

1 Kings 11:9

Greek Word for Anger:

Orge - Orgh: The feeling and expression of strong displeasure and hostility.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger [ Orge - Orgh], brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:29-32

If God gets angry can anger be a sin:

Contrary to what you might be inclined to believe, the answer to this question is yes. That is not to say that anger is a sin; only that, just because God gets angry doesn’t mean that anger is not a sin. While this may seem confusing it makes perfect sense when considering the conduct of God in other respects.

To say that: anger cannot be a sin because God gets angry, reveals either a misunderstanding of God or a misunderstanding of sin. To sin is to conduct oneself in a manner which is inconsistent with the will of God. Because God is God he is incapable of conducting himself in a manner which is inconsistent with his own will. Therefore, by definition God is incapable of sin.

However, simply because God does something does not mean that we are permitted to do the same. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of their sinful behavior. If we too were to destroy a town for any reason other than to defend ourselves, then our actions would be considered sinful. Christ walked around forgiving people for their sins. If we were to walk around forgiving people for their sins, again our actions would be considered sinful.

The greatest sin according to Christianity is to believe that one is permitted to conduct themselves as though they were God. Therefore, we must assume that there are certain things God, and only God, is permitted to commit. Wrath and forgiving of sin are only two examples.

Does Scripture condemn anger:

The only clear example of anger, and anger alone, being condemned is found in Ephesians 4:31: “Get rid of all bitterness rage and anger,”. However, it should be noted that Paul does not say here that anger is a sin. Paul only warns us to avoid anger and get rid of anger from our lives. Paul’s message parallels the message of Christ in which Christ tells his disciples to avoid that which causes you to sin:

If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.

Matthew 18:8

In fact shortly before Paul tells us to avoid anger in Ephesians 4:31, Paul, in Ephesians 4:26 quotes a Psalm from David in which anger, in and of itself, is not condemned as a sin:

In your anger do not sin;

Psalm 4:4

Of course, if anger itself is a sin, then David’s Psalm and Paul’s quoting David’s Psalm would be redundant and nonsensical. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume Paul was not condemning anger as a sin. Paul is warning us that anger causes us to sin. And, as Christ commanded, that which causes us to sin must be removed from our lives.

In fact, nowhere in Scripture; neither the 10 Commandments nor any other laws found in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers or Deuteronomy condemn being angry as a sin. Christ never says getting angry is a sin. Christ only warns us that anger can cause us to sin.

A good illustration of this is found in Numbers 20 when Moses draws water from a stone. God instructed Moses to speak to the stone and, by the authority of God, water would pour from the stone. However, due to the Israelites anger, Moses became angry himself and struck the stone with his staff. In doing so, Moses failed to give God credit for this miracle.

In Deuteronomy 32: 51 Moses is told he will not be permitted to enter the promised land because he failed to give God credit for the miracle. Moses’ anger is not referenced as the reason for his punishment, nor is Moses’ anger ever called sin. It is what Moses did out of anger that forbade him from entering the promised land.

Conclusion: Is Getting Angry a Sin

While we are told within Scripture to avoid anger, we are never told that anger is a sin. None of God’s 613 laws condemn anger as a sin. Therefore, we cannot conclude that anger is sinful. According to Scripture, anger, while not in and of itself sinful, can cause us to sin when it controls our conduct. For this reason, we are to eliminate anger from our lives.