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NASB | Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]. |
Bible Question:
Bitterness, as I have read from the scriptures have been used in various ways. Jobs spoke of the bitterness of his soul. Proverbs contrasted between the bitterness and joy of the heart. I do not know If bitterness as used by Paul has the same implication. What then are the principles governing bitterness? Is bitterness a sin? If yes, why and if No, why? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Kwamena, Bitterness in the New Testament is referred to in the following passages: Acts 8:23; Romans 3:14; Ephesians 4:31 and Hebrews 12:15. Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible provides the following commentary for Acts 8:23 "Of bitterness - This is a Hebraism; the usual mode of expressing the “superlative,” and means “excessive bitterness.” The phrase is used respecting idolatry Deu_29:18, “Lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood.” A similar expression occurs in Heb_12:15, “Lest any root of bitterness springing up, trouble you.” “Sin” is thus represented as a “bitter” or poisonous thing; a tiring not only “unpleasant” in its consequences, but ruinous in its character, as a poisonous plant would be in the midst of other plants, Jer_2:19, “It is an evil and bitter thing that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God”; Jer_4:18; Rom_3:14, “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”; Eph_4:31. The meaning here is, that the heart of Simon was full of dreadful, malignant sin." The Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary offers (Acts 8:23): "in the gall of bitterness and ... bond of iniquity — expressing both the awfulness of his condition and the captivity to it in which he was held." So, it could be said in regards to bitterness and sin and they go hand in hand: one (bitterness) is usually the result of the other (sin); and where one is present, the other is not too far behind, or at least lurking at the door. When Jesus was on the cross, they gave him sour wine (Matthew 27:34,48; Mark 15:36; John 19:29; Psalm 69:21), which, is a vivid reminder that He had to endure the bitter scorn of humanity - this even while carrying humanity's sins on the cross. Blessings to you, Makarios |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Eph 4:31 | Author | ||
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gramylr6 | ||
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appointed warrior | ||
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Tatin | ||
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Kwamena | ||
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Makarios |