Theological Term of the Week: Wrath (of God)
Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 3:30AM 
wrath (of God)
God’s righteous anger against sin; his “eternal detestation of all unrighteousness.”1
- From scripture:
… because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. (Romans 2:5-8 ESV)
- From The Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter VI:
Every sin, both original and actual, being a transgression of the righteous law of God, and contrary thereunto,(n) doth, in its own nature, bring guilt upon the sinner;(o) whereby he is bound over to the wrath of God,(p) and curse of the law,(q) and so made subject to death,(r) with all miseries spiritual,(s) temporal,(t) and eternal.(u)
- From Knowing God by J. I. Packer:
No doubt it is true that the subject of divine wrath has in the past been handled speculatively, irreverently, even malevolently. No doubt there have been some who have preached of wrath and damnation with tearless eyes and no pain in their hearts. No doubt the sight of small sects cheerfully consigning the whole world, apart from themselves, to hell has disgusted many. Yet if we would know God, it is vital that we face the truth concerning his wrath, however unfashionable it may be, and however strong our initial prejudices against it. Otherwise we shall not understand the gospel of salvation from wrath, nor the propitiatory achievement of the cross, nor the wonder of the redeeming love of God. Nor shall we understand the hand of God in history and God’s present dealings with our own people; nor shall we be able to make head or tail of the book of Revelation; nor will our evangelism have the urgency enjoined by Jude—“save some, by snatching them out of the fire” (Jude 23 RSV).
Learn more:
- Colin Smith: Six Things You Need to Know About God’s Wrath
- Gavin Ortlund: 4 Problems with Downplaying God’s Wrath
- Thomas Boston: The Wrath of God
- Fred Zaspel: The Wrath of God and the Gospel
- D. A. Carson: The Doctrine of the Wrath of God
Related terms:
1 Arthur Pink, The Attributes of God.
Filed under God’s Nature and His Work
Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above.
Clicking on the Theological Terms button will take you to an alphabetical list of all the previous theological terms.
