Ephesians 4:26-27
Continuing on in Ephesians...
Consider the Text
This is one of those passages where the translations vary greatly.
"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.” (NIV)
“Even if you are angry, do not sin: never let the sun set on your anger or else you will give the devil a foothold.” (NJB)
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” (KJV)
“Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.” (NASB)
There are two significant issues that we need to deal with in the text itself:
• Is this a Command or a Condition?
You will easily notice that there are two completely different approaches on how this verse is translated. The KJV and NASB translations treat the first phrase of the passage as a command: “Be ye angry” (KJV) or “Be angry” (NASB). The NIV and NJB translations, on the other hand, treat it as more of a condition: “In your anger” (NIV) or “Even if you are angry” (NJB).
Without going into a lot of detail, let me just say that technically both approaches are possible based on the Greek grammar used by Paul. However, given the context and the way similar grammar is employed throughout the New Testament, it seems that we ought to choose the plain meaning and regard this as a command. Perhaps one reason that some translations are reluctant to do so is that we’ve been taught that anger is wrong, so it just doesn’t seem right that we would be commanded to be angry. But I think that when we look at this passage more carefully, we will see that Paul intended to give his readers a command here.
• The more closely we Examine this, We see Two Different Words for Anger
Most translations use the words “anger” or “angry” twice in verse 26. Only the KJV gives us a clue that these are actually two different Greek root words since it uses the words “angry” and “wrath”.
The word translated “angry” in the command “Be angry” is the same word that is often used to describe God’s anger. It is sometimes described as righteous indignation. It is anger that is an abiding, settled attitude against that which is sinful.
It is also the same word used to describe Jesus’ anger with the Pharisees when he healed a man on the Sabbath:
He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts... Mark 3:5 (NIV)
The
word translated “wrath” in the second command Paul gives – “let not the sun go
down upon your wrath” – deals more with the provocation or the underlying cause
of the anger. It is also used to describe anger that is mingled with
irritation, exasperation and embitterment. It comes from the same root word
Paul will use in Ephesians 6:4 when he commands fathers not to “exasperate”
their children.This is one of those passages where the translations vary greatly.
"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.” (NIV)
“Even if you are angry, do not sin: never let the sun set on your anger or else you will give the devil a foothold.” (NJB)
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” (KJV)
“Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.” (NASB)
There are two significant issues that we need to deal with in the text itself:
• Is this a Command or a Condition?
You will easily notice that there are two completely different approaches on how this verse is translated. The KJV and NASB translations treat the first phrase of the passage as a command: “Be ye angry” (KJV) or “Be angry” (NASB). The NIV and NJB translations, on the other hand, treat it as more of a condition: “In your anger” (NIV) or “Even if you are angry” (NJB).
Without going into a lot of detail, let me just say that technically both approaches are possible based on the Greek grammar used by Paul. However, given the context and the way similar grammar is employed throughout the New Testament, it seems that we ought to choose the plain meaning and regard this as a command. Perhaps one reason that some translations are reluctant to do so is that we’ve been taught that anger is wrong, so it just doesn’t seem right that we would be commanded to be angry. But I think that when we look at this passage more carefully, we will see that Paul intended to give his readers a command here.
• The more closely we Examine this, We see Two Different Words for Anger
Most translations use the words “anger” or “angry” twice in verse 26. Only the KJV gives us a clue that these are actually two different Greek root words since it uses the words “angry” and “wrath”.
The word translated “angry” in the command “Be angry” is the same word that is often used to describe God’s anger. It is sometimes described as righteous indignation. It is anger that is an abiding, settled attitude against that which is sinful.
It is also the same word used to describe Jesus’ anger with the Pharisees when he healed a man on the Sabbath:
He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts... Mark 3:5 (NIV)
So now that we’ve determined the background for the passage, let’s see if we can properly identify the principles that God wants us to learn from this passage. More tomorrow...you are loved!
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