Is Anger Always a Sin?

Is Anger Always a Sin? examines what Scripture teaches about anger—both divine and human—and offers biblical guidance for distinguishing righteous anger from sinful anger.

Part of the Crucial Questions series, this booklet by Dr. R.C. Sproul begins with the wrath of God as the necessary starting point for understanding human anger. Sproul argues that because God is perfectly holy and just, His wrath against evil is not a defect but a righteous expression of His character. The booklet traces this theme through Scripture, from the revelation of God’s wrath in Romans 1 to the imagery of divine judgment in the Psalms, showing that the Bible treats God’s anger as a central and serious doctrine rather than a peripheral one.

From there, Sproul turns to the anger of Christ, exploring how Jesus directed His wrath toward hypocrisy and injustice while showing tenderness to the broken and downtrodden. This pattern provides a model for believers seeking to obey the biblical command to “be angry and do not sin” (Eph. 4:26). The booklet also addresses the destructive potential of unchecked anger, illustrating through Old Testament narrative how even justifiable anger can lead to devastating consequences when it is not governed by wisdom and self-control. Sproul concludes with practical counsel on understanding the roots of anger, recognizing misdirected anger, and handling offenses in a Christlike manner.

Key Themes

• The wrath of God as a righteous expression of His holiness and justice
• The distinction between righteous and unrighteous anger
• Christ’s anger as a model for moral discernment
• The relationship between underlying pain and the experience of anger
• Practical guidance for recognizing and governing sinful anger

Featured Quotes

“If anger or wrath were inherently evil, intrinsically bad or wicked, then it would be a defect in the character of God for Him to be angry.”

“Almost all (if not all) anger is rooted and grounded in some kind of pain. Anger doesn’t occur in a vacuum.”