Anger is a legitimate, God-given emotional response to perceived wrong. Anger and wrath are referenced in the Bible over six hundred times—and most of these are with reference to God. The Bible, it can appropriately be said, is an angry book.

Anger is part and parcel of our existence. Paul seems to be acknowledging this in Ephesians 4:26–27. But his message is simple: Put off sinful anger (v. 26a), put on self-control (v. 26b), and put in sound thinking (v. 27).