Anger and Wrath (4/13/2025)

A study of Colossians 3:8—Part 1

“But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth” (Colossians 3:8).

As Paul proceeds in his discussion of the rich life the believer can have as a Christian, he teaches here some negative qualities that are against the example Jesus left for us to follow and that are the opposite of the quality of love that He taught His followers to possess. 

While some of the emotions listed here may appear to be synonymous, there are distinctions to be made. “Anger” is described as a slower acting, but more lasting feeling of displeasure than the other emotions. Such displeasure can be the result of a verbal attack, personal injury, or insult. It may even be accompanied by an inclination to get revenge.

“Wrath,” on the other hand, arises from an inward feeling—it manifests itself in more of an “outburst,” erupting suddenly but usually subsiding fairly quickly—it is described as an “outburst of wrath” in another scripture, and it is identified as a sin.

These are the first two emotions in this passage that Paul says to “put off”—in other words, the child of God should eliminate them or at least learn to control them so that he can be identified as a follower of Jesus.