What is the difference between “anger” and “wrath”?

Question

Anger and wrath are listed separately in a list in Colossians 3:8, and Ephesians 4:26 might indicate that there is some difference in Paul’s mind between the term anger and the term wrath.

Col 3:8 - But now you also put off all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, foul language out of your mouth.

Eph 4:26 - Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

My question is this: is there a difference in Paul’s mind between anger and wrath?

Answer 1

Actually, four different words are involved as follows. The words in Eph 4:26 and Col 3:8 are different.

Eph 4:26 "Be angry, and yet do not sin." Let not the sun set upon your wrath

In this verse the two words are:

• ὀργίζω (orgizó = [verb] irritate, provoke, anger), eg, Matt 5:22, 18:34, 22:7, Luke 1:21, 15:28, etc
• παροργισμός (parorgismos = [noun] exasperation, wrath, irritation, indignation), only found in Eph 4:26. Both words come from the same cognate root with παροργισμός being a strengthened, more intense form.

Note that Paul is not condemning anger as such; indeed, the "Be angry" is actually in the imperative case - a command to be angry. However, Paul is saying we should be angry about righteous causes and not loose control - we should be angry at some things but he provides important caveats:

• do not let you anger develop into wrath, ie, loose control, and,
• do not let your anger last after sunset

Col 3:8 But now you also put off all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, foul language out of your mouth.

In this verse the two words are:

• ὀργή (orgé = [noun] anger, wrath, passion; punishment, vengeance), eg, Matt 3:7, Mark 3:5, Luke 3:7, 21:23, John 3:36, etc. It is the cognate noun with the same root as ὀργίζω as listed above.
• θυμός (thumos = [noun] an outburst of passion, wrath, rage), eg, Luke 4:28, Acts 19:28, Rom 2:8, 2 Cor 12:20, Gal 5:20, etc. In English a person in such a state much be described as in a blind rage; ie, acting irrationally angry.

Here Paul is condemning uncontrolled outburst of anger and rage, quite correctly.