What Does The Bible Say Concerning Anger?

The dictionary defines "anger" as, "a strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence aroused by a wrong; wrath; ire." Anger is an important thing to handle correctly. Anger has led to the death of many, the degrading of relationships and friendships, wars, it has incited wrath, and other such things. But at the same time, it can be used for correction, if properly utilized. It has been said that anger is sin, and therefore Jesus sinned when He was angry in the Temple at Jerusalem. Is there any credence to this claim, or is it simply a misunderstanding of anger? In this entry, we seek how to properly handle anger.[1, "anger." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 03 May. 2011.] (Photo credit: Kaavs Virtual World)

Understand that everyone, in some way, struggles with anger. You are not alone. By His grace, God has given us guidelines and principles to help us to overcome sinful anger, and to keep ourselves under control. Anger is not always a sin, as some believe. The Bible approves of what we call "righteous anger." When Jesus entered into the Temple and saw that it was a market-place, He became angry and "made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables." Jesus was exhibiting "righteous anger," that is, the defense of others, not of oneself.

According to James 1:20, "...our anger does not produce righteousness that God desires." In other words, when it is selfishly motivated, that is when anger turns into sin. Anger also turns to sin when God's goal is ignored, and when we allow anger to linger and build up. (see Ephesians 4:26-27) Ephesians 4:29 conveys, "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." This includes degrading others in your anger, yelling at them in an incorrect approach, slandering, swearing at them, and cursing.

Romans 3:13-14 says, "'Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.' 'The poison of vipers is on their lips.'" (Quoting Psalm 5:9; 140:3) Poisonous speech is a characteristic every fallen person has. Proverbs 29:11 says, "Fools give full vent of their anger, but the wise bring calm in the end." When we allow our anger to take control of us, we lose sensibility and our actions can have disastrous consequences. We must keep ourselves in check.

How then can anger be dealt with? Proverbs 28:13, "Those who conceal their sins do not prosper, but those who confess and renounce them find mercy." First, confess your sins to God, and realize that it is your own doing, do not shift the blame to others. Anger can be handled in a biblical manner. James 1:2-4 conveys, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." We all go through difficult and stressful times, but this develops perseverance.

Likewise, such experiences and challenges help to shape and define you, as well as refine you. If you choose to reject the lessons you have learned, you are bound to learn them again, and the next time it may not be learned as easily. Take the experiences you have had, the challenges you have faced, accept them, and face life head-on. Trust in God, (Proverbs 3:5-6) and He will direct your paths. In all this, do no worry. "Can any one of you by worrying add even a single hour to your life?" (Matthew 6:27)

Understanding that God is in control can radically change our perspective on life. When we begin to understand and believe this, we start to see God's hand in the trials and tribulations we face. Biblically speaking, allow room for God's wrath, not your own. God seeks justice and will have justice, because he is a just and faithful God. (1st John 1:9) Romans 12:21 says, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Your heart can be altered by your actions, and it is better to do so in a positive manner, therefore, do not return evil with evil, but return evil with good.

Ephesians 4:15 reads, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is, Christ." Verses 25-28 say, "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 'In your anger do not sin': Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Those who have been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need." Verses 30-32 conclude, "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, 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."

Speak candidly, be open and honest, when communicating to solve an issue. Also, do not allow whatever may be bothering you build up until it boils over like tea in a kettle - share and deal with the issue before it gets to that point. As Ephesians 4:29 and 31 succinctly point out, we are not to attack the person, but the problem itself. We must also act decisively and not react in an angry fashion. Think before you act. Understand and know that you cannot control how others act or even react, however, you can control how you act.

It is true that a temper will not go away simply overnight. It is something that takes prayer, regular reading of God's Word, trusting in God, and accepting responsibility, "facing the music." Sinful anger can become a bit of a habit in our day-to-day lives, yet if we begin to respond in godly anger, if we get rid of anger, malice, rage, bitterness, brawling and slander, perhaps we will habitually begin to be compassionate toward one another, as well as kind. Also note that, according to Scripture, we ought not raise our voices. As Proverbs 15:1 so adequately points out, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." 

If you react to a situation by raising your voice, reacting in anger without first knowing why, or taking the time to consider the godly thing to do, we can cause a lot of strife, grief, fear, and consequently broken relationships and friendships may ensue. Proverbs 13:10 says, "Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice." 

 

Troy Hillman

How Did Jesus Die?

The statement "Jesus died on the cross" may seem simple and straightforward, but the historical realities surrounding crucifixion in the Roman world—and the details preserved in the canonical Gospels—point to a far more complex and brutal process leading to Jesus' death.

We begin in the Garden of Gethsemane, where the Gospel of Luke records that Jesus, in deep distress, experienced a phenomenon described as sweating blood: “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44, NIV). While there is scholarly debate about the textual authenticity of this verse (as some early manuscripts omit it), the description has often been linked to a rare but documented medical condition called "hematohidrosis," in which extreme stress causes capillaries to rupture in the sweat glands, producing a bloody sweat. As one Christian apologetic work conveys, "What this did was set up the skin to be extremely fragile so that when Jesus was flogged by the Roman soldier the next day, his skin would be very, very sensitive."[1] By this time, Jesus may have likely been in danger of going into shock, and could die unless given fluids, which he clearly was not. 

Following his arrest, Jesus was subjected to physical abuse both by members of the Jewish leadership and by Roman soldiers (Mark 14:65; Matthew 26:67–68; John 19:1–3). The Roman flogging (Latin flagellatio) was particularly brutal. The typical instrument was a flagrum—a short whip with multiple leather thongs, often embedded with bits of bone or metal designed to tear flesh.[2] Roman scourging was intended to weaken the victim to the point of near-death prior to crucifixion, with no legal limit to the number of lashes administered. Historical records such as those from Josephus and Seneca the Younger attest to the brutality of Roman floggings and their capacity to cause massive blood loss, shock, and sometimes death even before crucifixion.[3]

Jesus was also mocked with a crown of thorns (Matthew 27:29; Mark 15:17; John 19:2), a gesture with both physical and symbolic cruelty. Scholars have suggested that the plant used could have been the Ziziphus spina-christi (nabk), common in the area around Jerusalem and known for its long, sharp thorns.[4] The Gospel narratives note that after these abuses, Jesus was forced to carry his own cross—or more likely, the horizontal beam (patibulum)—to the execution site at Golgotha, before being assisted by Simon of Cyrene (Mark 15:21; Matthew 27:32; Luke 23:26).

Crucifixion itself was a method designed for maximum pain and public humiliation. It was reserved primarily for slaves, rebels, and criminals who posed a threat to Roman order. Victims were typically stripped naked, affixed to the cross with ropes or nails, and left to die slowly over hours or even days. Archaeological evidence—such as the remains of a first-century crucified man named Yehohanan found near Jerusalem—confirms the historical practice of nailing victims through the wrists or forearms and the feet.[5]

The Gospels describe Jesus' crucifixion in terms consistent with known Roman practices: he was nailed to the cross, mocked by passersby, and offered sour wine to drink (Mark 15:23, 36; Matthew 27:34, 48; John 19:28–30). The physical cause of death in crucifixion is still a matter of some medical debate. Suggested mechanisms include asphyxiation due to impaired respiration, hypovolemic shock from blood loss, cardiac arrhythmia, or heart failure brought on by physical trauma and exhaustion.[6] John’s Gospel adds a detail of post-mortem piercing with a spear, with blood and water flowing from the wound (John 19:34). This has been interpreted variously—both in ancient and modern sources—as potential evidence for cardiac rupture or fluid buildup in the pleural cavity (pericardial effusion).[7]

Roman authorities were known to leave crucifixion victims on display for days as a deterrent, as famously happened to the followers of Spartacus along the Appian Way in 71 BCE.[8] The Gospels, however, record that Jesus’ body was removed the same day, in accordance with Jewish burial customs and laws concerning the defilement of the land (Deuteronomy 21:22–23; John 19:31).

Historically, what can be said with relative certainty—based on both Roman historical practice and the canonical texts—is that Jesus of Nazareth was executed by crucifixion under the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate, at the instigation of local authorities in Jerusalem. This is corroborated not only by the Gospels but also by early non-Christian sources like Tacitus (Annals 15.44) and Josephus (Antiquities 18.3.3), making the crucifixion one of the most firmly established events in the life of Jesus from a historical standpoint.[9]

Notes
[1] Alexander Metherell, M.D., Ph.D., in Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998), 195. See also William D. Edwards et al., “On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ,” JAMA 255, no. 11 (1986): 1455–1463.
[2] John P. Mattingly, Crucifixion: Its Origin and Application to Christ (Unpublished Th.M. Thesis, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1961).
[3] Josephus, Jewish War 6.5.3; Seneca the Younger, De Consolatione ad Marciam, 20.3.
[4] J.H. Bernard, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel According to St. John, ICC (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1928), 2:629.
[5] Vassilios Tzaferis, “Crucifixion—The Archaeological Evidence,” Biblical Archaeology Review 11, no. 1 (1985): 44–53.
[6] Edwards et al., “On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ,” JAMA (1986).
[7] James Thompson, cited in Paul S. Taylor, "How Did Jesus Christ Die?," Christian Answers Network, 2003; Samuel Houghton, “What Was the Physical Cause of the Death of Jesus?” British Medical Journal (1903): 556–557.
[8] Appian, Civil Wars 1.120.
[9] Tacitus, Annals 15.44; Josephus, Antiquities 18.3.3.

The Power of Forgiveness

Here is a scenario: you and a friend are walking along a trail, and you drop your cell phone. Not a moment later, that friend, too quick to react, accidentally steps on - and breaks - your cell phone. Your friend apologizes and asks for forgiveness. You essentially have two choices: you can either react in anger toward them, perhaps attempt to break their phone, or: you could forgive them, a cell is replaceable. How would you feel, if you were the friend?

Everyone wants forgiveness. Perhaps you've broken a friend's cell phone, perhaps you've broken someone's heart. Perhaps you want forgiveness for the actions you have taken in life. Or perhaps you want forgiveness for something you have said. The possibilities go on and on. Perhaps you are dating someone, and a friend of yours will not forgive you regarding the person you are dating. Don't we all need forgiveness for something?

It was ca.4 BC, in Bethlehem in Judea. A young couple, to be married, were in Bethlehem for a Census. While they were staying in Bethlehem, the time came for the woman's baby to be born. After centuries of prophecies concerning a Savior for mankind, a Messiah, the seed promised to Adam and Eve and dreaded by Satan (Genesis 3:15), was finally born. His mother, Mary, named Him what the angel Gabriel had told her to call Him: Jesus, which means "The Lord saves." (Matthew 1:21)

The Creator loved His creation, and knew that without a plan of salvation, without forgiveness, there would be no hope for any of us. So The Creator entered into His creation, and "He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:8b) Jesus gave up His spirit, after several torturous hours, through lashes, carrying a cross, intense stress, and having been hung on a cross. God the Son have up His spirit, and at that moment, ca.30-33 AD, God's plan for mankind's salvation came to fruition.

In marriage, in dating, in friendship, in many aspects of life, we need forgiveness. In regard to marriage and relationships, understand that you may not find the "perfect one," however, you may find the "right one." Each of us have some kind of a past, but if we are willing to forgive, it may not make us truly liberated, however, it is difficult to be in a relationship without forgiveness. By putting faith in Christ, and asking for forgiveness, we are forgiven. In the same way, we are to forgive others.

Ephesians 4:32 conveys, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave you." That was not a suggestion, but a direct command. We are to forgive, for forgiveness brings hope, it brings relief, it brings love. Just as Colossians 3:13 says, "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Forgiveness is powerful. We know that words have power: by the command of the Creator, the universe came into being. "For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm." (Psalms 33:9) Bear in mind that when God forgives us of our sins, and all have sinned, (Romans 3:23) and are in need of forgiveness, the sins removed "as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12)

Isaiah tells us in Isaiah 38:17 that God has "put all [our sins] behind [His] back." Forgiveness is important, without forgiveness we cannot truly push forward in life. Try as we might, unforgiveness holds us back to a great extent. As for God, "[He] will again have compassion on us; [He] will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:19) God is not lacking keeping His promises. Everything He promises comes to pass.

If we ask God for forgiveness, we need to leave it there, and count it settled. God the Spirit tells us in Hebrews 10:17, "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." It is not that He has forgotten and does not know everything in the Universe, it is that he has chosen not to remember our sins, because He has forgiven us of them. During His ministry, Jesus made a statement about forgiveness that we need to keep in mind in all situations.

He says in Matthew 6:14-15, "For if you forgive others when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." This statement is hard for some to accept and put into practice. Some simply refuse to forgive a friend, a relative, a brother or sister, a neighbor, what have you, in certain situations. However, God has conveyed that if we do not forgive others, He will not forgive us - and this is certainly an eternally serious consequence. Unforgiveness can also affect your health, according to medical practitioners. Be sure to forgive others.

In Genesis 37-50 we read the account of Joseph son of Jacob. Joseph was one of twelve brothers, and the favorite of their Father. His brothers sold him, and he was consequently sold in Egypt to Potiphar. He was given charge of the household as slave, a high privilege, yet Potiphar's wife tried to seduce Joseph. When he continually refused, eventually she falsely accused him to Potiphar, and Joseph was thrown in prison. For several years Joseph was in prison, and in one instance, he interpreted Pharaoh's Baker and Cupbearer's dreams. Both came true: the Baker was executed, and the Cupbearer was restored to his position.

The Cupbearer never told Pharaoh about Joseph until one day, Pharaoh had two dreams that none could interpret, and Joseph was remembered and called upon. God revealed through Joseph that there would be seven years of good harvest followed by seven years of famine. Joseph was given charge of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh, and was called by a new name. During the famine, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt seeking grain, and after a serious of events, Joseph revealed himself as their brother, and had all of his family, including his father, who had thought for years that Joseph was dead, move to Egypt.

If Joseph was never sold into slavery, none of us may be alive today. Reason being: the famine was not just in Egypt, people came from all over for grain. Had no one prepared for the seven-year famine, at least many of us would not be here today, because our ancestors would not have survived. After the death of their father, Joseph's brothers were worried that he would take revenge on them, but instead he said to them, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20) Joseph had forgiven his brothers.

Likewise, forgive others, and do unto other as you would have done unto you. What you put into your spirit affects what comes out. To exert a spirit of forgiveness, ask God for forgiveness, forgive yourself, and forgive others. Do not hold a grudge, it will lead ruin. Forgive everybody of their offenses against you. Forgiveness is powerful, it is not simply something we read about and then do not act upon, it is a force, it has substance. This is true with God, this is true in relationships, and this is true in marriage.

Troy Hillman