The fifth exhortation is to get rid of five vices and to adopt three virtues. Paul now listed some sins that grieve the Spirit. Bitterness is the opposite of sweetness and kindness (cf. Colossians 3:19). It harbors resentment and keeps a record of wrongs done (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:5). [source][source][source]
"Every Christian might well pray that God would teach him how to forget." [1][source]
Wrath or rage flows from bitterness and refers to outbursts of uncontrolled passionate frustration. Anger is inappropriate noisy assertiveness and abuse. Clamor or brawling describes shouting. Slander refers to words that hurt another person. Malice is bad feelings and is the source of the other four vices. [2][source]
This verse may seem to contradict Ephesians 4:26. There Paul permitted anger, but here he seems to condemn it (cf. James 1:19-20). Two explanations are possible. First, we may view the command in Ephesians 4:26 as governing angry behavior even though anger is never God"s will ( Ephesians 4:31). Similarly God gave instructions concerning whom divorced Israelites could remarry even though divorce was never God"s will ( Deuteronomy 24:1-4; Malachi 2:16). A second possibility is that Ephesians 4:26 means anger is proper in certain circumstances, but we should normally avoid it. This seems to me to be a better explanation. Jesus Himself was angry occasionally (cf. Mark 3:5). Anger does not produce the righteous life that God desires, so as a rule we should avoid it ( James 1:20). [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Ephesians 4:20-32 - Putting On The "new Man"
The Lord Jesus is our text-book and our teacher, the schoolhouse in which we are taught, and the object lesson in which all truth is enshrined. But all is in vain unless we definitely and forever put away the old man; that is, our old manners and customs in so far as they are contrary to the Spirit of Christ. With equal decision we are called upon to seek the daily renewal of our spirit and the outward conformity of our mode of life to the example of Jesus. But it should never be forgotten that the latter will be a dry husk unless it is energized from the true vine. There can be little of Christ without unless He dwells without a rival within. But the Holy Spirit will see to this, if only we grieve Him not.
What a transformation immediately ensues! Truth instead of falsehood, gentleness for anger, earnest toil for dishonesty, cleansed instead of filthy speech. If all believers were to live like this, the world would know that the Son of God has come. It is not enough that a man should believe to secure deliverance from the wrath of God; he must daily seek to attain to such resemblance of Jesus as shall make men recall Him to mind. [source]
Chapter Summary: Ephesians 4
1He exhorts to unity; 7and declares that God therefore gives various gifts unto men; 11that his church might be edified, 16and grow up in Christ 18He calls them from the impurity of the Gentiles; 24to put on the new man; 25to cast off lying; 29and corrupt communication
Clamour [κραυγη] Old word for outcry (Matthew 25:6; Luke 1:42). See note on Colossians 3:8 for the other words. Be put away (αρτητω arthētō). First aorist passive imperative of αιρω airō old verb, to pick up and carry away, to make a clean sweep. [source]
Be put away [αρτητω] First aorist passive imperative of αιρω airō old verb, to pick up and carry away, to make a clean sweep. [source]
Bitterness [πικρία] Bitter frame of mind. [source]
Wrath [] What is commanded in Ephesians 4:26is here forbidden, because viewed simply on the side of human passion. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 4:31
Acts 8:23In the gall of bitterness [εις χολην πικριας] Old word from χολας cholas either from χεω cheō to pour, or χλοη chloē yellowish green, bile or gall. In the N.T. only in Matthew 27:34 and here. In lxx in sense of wormwood as well as bile. See Deuteronomy 29:18 and Deuteronomy 32:32; Lamentations 3:15; and Job 16:14. “Gall and bitterness” in Deuteronomy 29:18. Here the gall is described by the genitive πικριας pikrias as consisting in “bitterness.” In Hebrews 12:15 “a root of bitterness,” a bitter root. This word πικρια pikria in the N.T. only here and Hebrews 12:15; Romans 3:14; Ephesians 4:31. The “bond of iniquity” Peter describes Simon‘s offer as poison and a chain. [source]
1 Timothy 2:8Without wrath and doubting [χωρὶς ὀργῆς καὶ διαλογισμῶν] The combination only here. Ὁργὴ is used by Paul mostly of the righteous anger and the accompanying judgment of God against sin. As here, only in Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8. Διαλογισμός in N.T. habitually in the plural, as here. The only exception is Luke 9:46,Luke 9:47. By Paul usually in the sense of disputatious reasoning. It may also mean sceptical questionings or criticisms as Philemon 2:14. So probably here. Prayer, according to our writer, is to be without the element of sceptical criticism, whether of God's character and dealings, or of the character and behavior of those for whom prayer is offered. [source]
Greek Commentary for Ephesians 4:31
Old word from πικρος pikros (bitter), in N.T. only here and Acts 8:23; Romans 3:14; Hebrews 12:15. [source]
Old word for outcry (Matthew 25:6; Luke 1:42). See note on Colossians 3:8 for the other words. Be put away (αρτητω arthētō). First aorist passive imperative of αιρω airō old verb, to pick up and carry away, to make a clean sweep. [source]
First aorist passive imperative of αιρω airō old verb, to pick up and carry away, to make a clean sweep. [source]
Bitter frame of mind. [source]
What is commanded in Ephesians 4:26is here forbidden, because viewed simply on the side of human passion. [source]
Violent outbreak. See on John 3:36; see on James 5:7. [source]
Outward manifestation of anger in vociferation or brawling. [source]
See on Mark 7:22. [source]
The root of all the rest. See on James 1:21. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 4:31
Old word from χολας cholas either from χεω cheō to pour, or χλοη chloē yellowish green, bile or gall. In the N.T. only in Matthew 27:34 and here. In lxx in sense of wormwood as well as bile. See Deuteronomy 29:18 and Deuteronomy 32:32; Lamentations 3:15; and Job 16:14. “Gall and bitterness” in Deuteronomy 29:18. Here the gall is described by the genitive πικριας pikrias as consisting in “bitterness.” In Hebrews 12:15 “a root of bitterness,” a bitter root. This word πικρια pikria in the N.T. only here and Hebrews 12:15; Romans 3:14; Ephesians 4:31. The “bond of iniquity” Peter describes Simon‘s offer as poison and a chain. [source]
See on Mark 7:22. Compare Romans 3:8; Romans 14:16; 1 Corinthians 4:13; Ephesians 4:31. Rev. railing. [source]
Lit., be not embittered. Used only here by Paul. Elsewhere only in Revelation. The compounds παραπικραίνω toexasperate, and παραπικρασμός provocationoccur only in Hebrews 3:16; Hebrews 3:8, Hebrews 3:15. Compare Ephesians 4:31. [source]
Freely ( χάρις gracefree gift ), as Luke 7:42; 2 Corinthians 2:7, 2 Corinthians 2:10; Colossians 3:13. Note the change of pronoun from you to us, believers generally, embracing himself. This change from the second to the first person, or, vice versa, is common in Paul's writings. See Colossians 1:10-13; Colossians 3:3, Colossians 3:4; Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 2:3, Ephesians 2:13, Ephesians 2:14; Ephesians 4:31, Ephesians 4:32. [source]
The combination only here. Ὁργὴ is used by Paul mostly of the righteous anger and the accompanying judgment of God against sin. As here, only in Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8. Διαλογισμός in N.T. habitually in the plural, as here. The only exception is Luke 9:46, Luke 9:47. By Paul usually in the sense of disputatious reasoning. It may also mean sceptical questionings or criticisms as Philemon 2:14. So probably here. Prayer, according to our writer, is to be without the element of sceptical criticism, whether of God's character and dealings, or of the character and behavior of those for whom prayer is offered. [source]
ηλος Zēlos occurs in N.T. in good sense (John 2:17) and bad sense (Acts 5:17). Pride of knowledge is evil (1 Corinthians 8:1) and leaves a bitter taste. See “root of bitterness” in Hebrews 12:14 (cf. Ephesians 4:31). This is a condition of the first class. [source]