As promised, here’s the answer I gave to Audrey’s question, from yesterday’s post. I included all the uses of the greek words thumos and orge since both those words have to do with anger. That made the response long. So if you want to read the whole exchange, donload this word document. Otherwise, here’s the gist of my discussion of those words…
…In one sense, you’re right, this [thumos, the same word used in Galatians 5] seems to be a word that is used mostly of wrong anger: outbursts of a carnal spirit. But when God has it, He is not simply freaking out, but it seems to be the word used for definite instances when we see Him express His settled displeasure at sin. In other words, God’s anger is not sinful, precisely because it is purely directed at sin. Now, there is another word for being angry in the new testament: “orgizo.” This is the word in Ephesians 4:26 (“Be angry, and do not sin”)—where we see that there is a kind of anger that can be righteous. But of course it’s a fine line to walk, because this word is sometimes used for sinful anger as well…
…Notice particularly the verses in James : the wrath of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God. But James’ logic seems to be that the wrath of God does accomplish His righteousness. Which is, of course, exactly what the Bible teaches.
And then, think about the stories of Jesus cleansing the Temple… Does He have a righteous, godly reason for anger? Yes…God’s Temple (“My Father’s House!”) is being defiled, willingly and knowingly. Does He lose control? Well…I’d say no. If He did, that would be sin. But even in the one story…he takes the time to go make a whip. That takes a lot of self control. So when He was angry, he went and found or bought the stuff, sat down and wound it all together, and then went and cleaned house.
I think what you have in Jesus’ few displays of anger is the expression of God’s holy wrath at sin. Or to put it another way, Jesus gets angry the way a man who was totally free from sin and totally shaped by the Father’s heart and mind would get angry. “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.”