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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Ephesians 4:26 - 4:26
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26. ὀργὴ is forbidden absolutely in Eph 4:31 in the sense of personal outburst of passion. There is good reason therefore for taking this verse as referring to ‘righteous indignation’; cf. Jam 1:19 βραδὺς εἰς ὀργήν. For the anger here is regarded as inevitable and right, though needing to be kept in strict restraint. Indeed the obligation to speak truth involves at times the saying of hard things.
ὀργίζεσθε καὶ μὴ ἁμαρτάνετε is taken from LXX. of Psa 4:4, and is apparently an accurate translation of a difficult phrase. The section Mat 5:22 ff. may have the same meaning, esp. with the omission of εἰκῇ. ἔνοχος τῇ κρίσει simply asserts that every one who is angry will have to give an account. It does not say that he will necessarily be condemned.
ὁ ἥλιος μὴ ἐπιδυέτω ἐπὶ παροργισμῷ ὑμῶν. παροργισμὸς seems to be used more of provocation given than of offence taken. In that case the injunction would suggest consideration of the feelings of others rather than watchfulness over our own. The duty would be to seek reconciliation with any whom we have irritated, before sunset. Certainly that method of approaching the matter would leave the least room for the devil to get a lodging within the community for the destruction of its peace. It would also correspond most closely the interesting Pythagorean precedent quoted by Wetstein: εἶτα μιμεῖσθαι τοὺς Πυθαγορικοὺς οἱ γένει μηθὲν προσήκοντες, ἀλλὰ κοινοῦ λόγου μετέχοντες, εἴποτε προσαχθεῖεν εἰς λοιδορίας ὑπʼ ὀργῆς, πρὶν ἢ τὸν ἥλιον δῦναι τὰς δεξιὰς ἐμβάλλοντες ἀλλήλοις καὶ ἀσπασάμενοι διελύοντο, Plut. De Am. Frat. 488 B.