What Does the Bible Teach about Wrath?
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When you hear the word wrath, you might think of unchecked anger or fury. While that may be true for some, the Bible gives us a more complete picture of wrath. There is a clear distinction between the wrath of God and the wrath of men, and understanding both gives greater insight into who God is and who we are.
For a few moments, let’s examine the nature of God’s wrath, identify how it differs from human anger, and discover what it means for us as believers in a fallen world.
What Does the Bible Say about Wrath?
A general definition of wrath is an intense anger that often comes with a desire for vengeance or punishment. With God, his wrath flows out of his holiness and righteousness and is a response or judgment against sin and injustice. With man, wrath is an emotional response that is not always born out of a sense of justice, but a need for revenge or the desire to see someone suffer for something they may have done. This could be something against you or someone else.
God’s wrath, however, is always a response to sin, wickedness, and willful ongoing disobedience.
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them” (Romans 1:18-19).
Because God is holy and just, he will always at some point punish sin. The reason I say at some point is that wrath is not God’s first response to sin. The Bible tells us in many places that God is slow to anger and abounding in love. He would much rather forgive sin than punish those who commit sin. That’s why, before God gets to a place of wrath, there is often time for repentance.
Examples of God’s Wrath
Within the pages of Scripture, there are examples of God’s wrath. Here are two that are very well known.
Noah and the Flood
In the story of Noah and the flood, there are two key elements that give insight into God’s wrath.
His response to sin – “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5).
Time for repentance – “Then the Lord said, ‘My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years’” (Genesis 6:3).
Even though God could have judged the earth immediately, he did not. He waited for the years it took for Noah to build the ark before he brought judgment. All of this represented time for men to repent, but obviously they did not. God still does that today, as he is patient. He does not want people to perish in judgment, so he gives every opportunity to repent before he pours out wrath.
Sodom and Gomorrah
“Then the Lord said, ‘The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous’” (Genesis 18:20).
The motivation behind the destruction of Sodom was their sin. When you read the passage in Genesis, Abraham pleaded with God for Sodom. He asked God to spare the city if there were righteous people in it. Abraham started at fifty and eventually ended at ten and God agreed if there were ten righteous people in the city, he would not destroy it. This again shows God’s patience in judging sin. It also shows that he will eventually judge all sin when there is no repentance.
The Ultimate Expression of God’s Wrath
Let’s remember the two key points so far about God’s wrath. Because God is holy and just, he will eventually judge all sin. However, he is also patient and seeks to show mercy before wrath. The reality of our human condition is we are all deserving of God’s wrath because all of us have sinned and violated his commands. If God judged us immediately for our sin, he would be right and just to do that. However, we find one act in Scripture that becomes the greatest demonstration of both God’s love and God’s wrath. That is the cross.
The cross is God’s greatest response to sin because in the cross, he poured out his wrath against sin on Jesus. By doing this, it satisfied his requirement for justice, because all sin must be judged. It is also his greatest act of love because in the cross we find that we who are sinners can escape God’s wrath by putting our faith and trust in Christ who took the punishment for sin that we so rightly deserved.
“For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus” (Romans 3:25-26).
While God is just, he is also fair, and he provides a way of escape so that we who are sinners don’t have to face judgment. Either the death of Christ will include your sins and satisfy your judgment, or you will carry your sins yourself and face God's judgment for your sin. This means you have a choice. You can either choose to experience God’s mercy or God’s wrath.
What Does the Bible Say about the Wrath of Men?
The wrath of men is far different from the wrath of God. Man’s wrath is often born out of a need for revenge. The wrath of humans typically has no patience in it and very little mercy at all. It is often as the Bible says, an eye for and eye, and it usually leads to sin by the one who is angry. Wrath and anger that lingers in the human heart becomes dangerous. The longer it lingers, the more likely it will lead you into sin.
“And ‘don’t sin by letting anger control you.’ Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27).
An angry or wrathful Christian is an immature Christian. When anger or wrath overtake you, then you will operate in the flesh. It’s just a matter of time. The problem with this is that it causes us to not represent Christ well. That’s why the Bible commands us to throw off anger and wrath.
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Ephesians 4:31).
When you read these verses, remember Paul is writing to fellow believers, not to unbelievers.
Final Thought
Since human wrath often begins in a different place, the wisdom of Scripture encourages us to be slow to become angry. This does not mean you can never get angry. Just be slow to get there. If you don’t, then that can lead to wrath and when that sets in, you will never live the righteous life God desires you to live.
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:19-21).
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