Early Christian Beliefs About Anger and Wrath

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

... dwells, he will serve God with gladness, having great peace within himself. But if any outburst of anger happens, the Holy Spirit, who is gentle, is immediately cramped, because he does not have a pure place, and he seeks to depart. For he is choked by the vile spirit and cannot serve the Lord as he wishes, because anger pollutes him. For the Lord dwells in long-suffering, but the devil in anger. So when the two spirits dwell in the same house, they are in conflict with each other, and they trouble the person in whom they dwell. For if a very small piece of wormwood is taken and put into a jar of honey, is not the honey completely spoiled? And does not that very small piece of wormwood completely take away the sweetness of the honey, so that it no longer gives pleasure to its owner, but has become bitter and lost its use? But if the wormwood is not put into the honey, then the honey remains sweet and is useful to its owner. You see, then, that patience is sweeter than honey and useful to God, and the Lord dwells in it. But anger is bitter and useless. Now if anger is mixed with patience, the patience is polluted, and then its prayer is not useful to God." "I would like to know,

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness

Wherefore do you depart from that most wicked spirit anger, and put on patience, and resist anger and bitterness, and you will be found in company with the purity which is loved by the Lord.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching

...ith his hands, so that he may have something to give to the one who is in need. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, shouting, and evil-speaking be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be wise, following God as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also has loved us. Let wives be subject to their own husbands, as to the Lord. And let husbands love their wives, just as Christ also has loved the Church. Let those who are joined together love one another as their own bodies. Children, obey your parents. Parents, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Servants, obey those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, with sincere hearts, as to Christ, serving with good will from the soul. And you masters, treat your servants well, and stop threatening them, knowing that both their Lord and your Lord is in heaven, and with Him there is no partiality.

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

Ephesians 4:30-31 For if the Christian have departed from rage and carnal contention as if from the hurricanes of the sea, and have already begun to be tranquil and meek in the harbour of Christ, he ought to admit neither anger nor discord within his breast, since he must neither return evil for evil, nor bear hatred.

Ephesians 4:31 Direct teaching

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Colossians 3:8 Direct teaching

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Direct teaching

Be not prone to anger, for anger leads the way to murder;

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

"Hear now," he said, "how wicked the action of anger is, and in what way it overthrows the servants of God by its action and turns them from righteousness. But it does not turn away those who are full of faith, nor does it act on them, because the power of the Lord is with them. It is the thoughtless and doubting that it turns away. For as soon as it sees such men standing firm, it throws itself into their hearts, and for nothing at all the man or woman becomes embittered because of things that happen in daily life, for example because of food, or some unnecessary word that has been spoken, or because of some friend, or some gift or debt, or some such senseless matter. For all these things are foolish and empty and unprofitable to the servants of God. But patience is great, and mighty, and strong, and calm in the midst of great enlargement, joyful, rejoicing, free from care, glorifying God at all times, having no bitterness in her, and abiding continually meek and quiet. Now this patience dwells with those who have complete faith. But anger is foolish, and fickle, and senseless. Now from folly bitterness is begotten, and from bitterness anger, and from anger frenzy. This frenzy, th

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

Be angry, and sin not, says David, teaching us that we ought not to assent to the impression, and not to follow it up by action, and so confirm wrath.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

for wrath is found to be the impulse of concupiscence in a mild soul, especially seeking irrational revenge.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

Now the Saviour has taken away wrath in and with lust, wrath being lust of vengeance.

Gregory Thaumaturgus, Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes Supporting witness

Again, one ought certainly to keep wrath in check, and not allow himself to be carried rashly into anger, the slaves of which are fools.

Proverbs 29:22 Supporting witness

A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.

Proverbs 15:18 Supporting witness

A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 Supporting witness

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

Matthew 5:22 Direct teaching

But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians Direct teaching

It is declared then in these Scriptures, “Be ye angry, and sin not,” and, “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” Happy is he who remembers this, which I believe to be the case with you.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...ppens that through someone's plotting you are angry with anyone, do not let the sun go down on your wrath, Ephesians 4:26. For David says, "Be angry, and do not sin." That is, be quickly reconciled, lest your anger continue so long that it turns into settled hatred and produces sin. For the souls of those who hold settled hatred are destined for death, says Solomon. But our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ says in the Gospels, "If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift to God," Matthew 5:23-24. Now the gift to God is each person's prayer and thanksgiving. If, therefore, you have anything against your brother, or he has anything against you, neither will your prayers be heard nor will your thanksgivings be accepted, because of that hidden anger. But it is your duty, brothers, to pray continually. Yet because God does not hear those who are hostile to their brothers through unjust quarrels, even if they should pray three times an hour, it is our duty to put away all enmity and smallness of soul, so tha

Ephesians 4:26 Direct teaching

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Psalms 37:8 Supporting witness

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

We do speak of the wrath of God. However, we do not mean that this indicates any passion in Him. Rather, it is something assumed in order to discipline, by stern means, those sinners who have committed many serious sins. For what is called God’s wrath and anger is a means of discipline. That this understanding agrees with Scripture is clear from what is said in Psalm 6: “O Lord, rebuke me not in Your anger, neither chasten me in Your hot displeasure;” and also in Jeremiah: “O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing.” Moreover, anyone who reads in the second book of Kings about the wrath of God leading David to number the people, and finds in the first book of Chronicles that it was the devil who suggested this action, will easily see, by comparing the two statements, for what purpose wrath is mentioned. Of this wrath, as the Apostle Paul declares, all men are children: “We were by nature children of wrath, even as others.” Further, that wrath is not a passion on God’s part, but that each person brings it on himself by his sins, is clear from another statement of Paul: “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, and forbearance, and lo

Lactantius, On the Anger of God Direct teaching

...cipline may be kept, morals may be corrected, and reckless behavior may be restrained. This is just anger. And as it is necessary in man for correcting wickedness, so it is clearly necessary in God, from whom man receives an example. For just as we ought to restrain those who are under our authority, so also God ought to restrain the offenses of all people. And in order to do this, He must be angry, because it is natural for one who is good to be moved and stirred up by another person's fault. Therefore, they should have given this definition: anger is a motion of the mind that rises up to restrain faults. For the definition given by Cicero, "Anger is the desire to take vengeance," is not very different from those already mentioned. But that anger which we may call either fury or rage ought not to exist even in man, because it is completely vicious. But the anger that has to do with correcting vices ought not to be taken away from man. Nor can it be taken away from God, because it is both useful for human affairs and necessary.

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Direct teaching

When it speaks of anger, wrath, and tribulation, it means bitter punishments. For God is without passion. By anger, you should understand the lesser penalties; by wrath, the greater penalties; and by tribulation, the greatest penalties. The angels also are called evil, not because that is their nature or because of their own will, but because they have this duty and are appointed to bring pains and sufferings. So they are called that in relation to the condition of those who suffer such things. In the same way, the day of judgment is called the evil day, because it is full of miseries and pains for sinners. Isaiah says the same thing: "I, the Lord, make peace, and create evil," Isaiah 45:7. By that he means, "I maintain peace, and permit war."

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

...s their greenery. And although God is provoked by frequent, yes, continual offenses, He softens His anger and patiently waits for the day of retribution that has been determined once for all. Although He has vengeance in His power, He chooses instead to keep patience for a long time, mercifully bearing with people and delaying punishment, so that, if possible, long-continued evil may at some time be changed, and man, caught in the infection of errors and crimes, may, even though late, be converted to God. As He Himself warns and says, "I do not will the death of him that dies so much as that he may return and live." And again, "Return to me," says the Lord. And again, "Return to the Lord your God; for He is merciful, and gracious, and patient, and of great pity, and who inclines His judgment toward the evils inflicted" Joel 2:13. Referring to this, the blessed apostle also urges the sinner to repentance and says, "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the patience and goodness of God leads you to repentance? But after your hardness and impenitent heart you store up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and of revelat

Theophilus of Antioch, Connection to Romans 2:8 Direct teaching

To the unbelieving and despisers who obey not the truth but unrighteousness, when they have been filled with adulteries, and fornications and filthiness, and covetousness and unlawful idolatries, there shall be anger and wrath, tribulation and anguish, and at the last everlasting fire shall possess them.

Hippolytus, Against the Jews Supporting witness

...ways. And since you poured out His blood in anger, hear what your repayment will be: "Pour out Your indignation upon them, and let Your wrathful anger take hold of them," and, "Let their habitation be desolate," that is, their famous temple.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

...these things, their spirit becomes dull, and their sense of what is right is turned away. It is the wrath of God that keeps them from seeing their sins, so that repentance may not follow, as it is written: "And God gave them the spirit of torpor," that is, so that they may not return and be healed, and after their sins be made whole by just prayers and acts of satisfaction. Paul the apostle also states this in his epistle and says, "They received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 The highest kind of blessedness is not to sin. The second is to acknowledge our sins. In the first, innocence remains pure and unstained to preserve us. In the second, there is medicine to heal us. They have lost both of these by offending God: first, because the grace received in the sanctification of baptism is lost; and second, because repentance, by which sin is healed, does not come to help them. Do you think, brother, that their wicked acts against God are trivial, that thei

Cyprian, Treatises Background

And He has brought upon them the anger of His wrath.

Romans 2:8 Supporting witness

but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

Nahum 1:2 Supporting witness

God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

Nahum 1:6 Supporting witness

Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

Psalms 69:24 Supporting witness

Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

..., manliness, as they say, makes the person who shares in it essentially fearless and unconquerable. Anger serves the mind in patience, endurance, and similar qualities. And self-control and sound judgment are set over desire. But God is without passions, free from anger, and without desire. And He is not free from fear in the sense of avoiding what is terrible, or temperate in the sense of controlling desires. For the nature of God cannot come into contact with anything terrible, nor does God run away from fear. In the same way, He does not experience desire so that He must rule over desires. Accordingly, that Pythagorean saying was spoken in a mystical way about us: that a man ought to become one. For the high priest himself is one, since God is one, in the unchangeable state of the continual flow of good things. Now the Saviour has taken away wrath along with lust, since wrath is a desire for vengeance. For, in general, susceptibility to feeling belongs to every kind of desire. And when a human being is purely made divine into a passionless state, he becomes one. Then, just as those who are at sea and are held by an anchor pull on the anchor, yet do not drag it to themselves,

Lactantius, On the Anger of God Supporting witness

...r from being angry that, in His commands, He even forbids a man to be angry. I could say that human anger should be controlled, because a person is often angry without justice. And he is quickly stirred by emotion, because he lives only for a time. Therefore, to keep people of low rank, people of middle rank, and even great kings from doing the things they do in anger, their rage had to be restrained and held back, so that, when out of their right mind, they would not commit some crime that cannot be undone. But God is not angry for a short time, because He is eternal and perfect in virtue, and He is never angry unless it is deserved. However, the matter is not really like that. For if He had completely forbidden anger, He would in some way have condemned His own workmanship, since from the beginning He placed anger in man’s liver, because it was believed that the cause of this emotion is found in the moisture of the gall. Therefore, He does not completely forbid anger, because this feeling has necessarily been given. But He forbids us to remain in anger. For the anger of mortals should itself be mortal. If it lasts, hatred grows stronger until it brings lasting destruction. The

Lactantius, On the Anger of God Supporting witness

but as to those which belong to virtue — that is, anger towards the wicked, regard towards the good, pity towards the afflicted — inasmuch as they are worthy of the divine power, He has affections of His own, both just and true.

Lactantius, On the Anger of God Supporting witness

But that anger which we may call either fury or rage ought not to exist even in man, because it is altogether vicious;

Lactantius, On the Anger of God Background

Since, when it falls upon the mind of any one, as a violent tempest it excites such waves that it changes the condition of the mind, the eyes gleam, the countenance trembles, the tongue stammers, the teeth chatter, the countenance is alternately stained now with redness spread over it, now with white paleness.

Arnobius, Against the Heathen Supporting witness

For, to be angry, what else is it than to be insane, to rave, to be urged to the lust of vengeance, and to revel in the troubles of another's grief, through the madness of a savage disposition?

Arnobius, Against the Heathen Supporting witness

but anger harasses and destroys those who are subject to it: therefore that should be called mortal which has been made subject to the emotions of anger.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Background

On which account the poets have said that there are three furies which harass the minds of men: anger longs for revenge, desire for riches, lust for pleasures.