Tertullian c. 155 to after 220 · Carthage Tertullian agrees.
On record in Against Marcion.
What did the early Christians say about anger?
They did not agree. Lactantius, John Chrysostom and 9 others would say yes to the statement below. Clement of Alexandria, John Cassian and 3 others would say no.
- 16On record
- 11Would agree
- 5Would disagree
The statement in the quiz
“Anger at real wrongdoing can be a good thing.”
The quiz puts it in today’s words. Each person below is placed by what they wrote or said. Where their line is clear on its own, it is printed with its source.
You said:
From your result on . See your result
11 early Christians
Would agree
Your side
Tertullian c. 155 to after 220 · Carthage 
Lactantius c. 250 to c. 325 · Nicomedia and Gaul Lactantius strongly agrees:
“The anger which relates to the correction of vices ought not to be taken away from man.”
On the Anger of God
Antony the Great c. 251 to 356 · The Egyptian desert Antony agrees:
“And once also the Arians having lyingly asserted that Antony's opinions were the same as theirs, he was displeased and wroth against them.”
Life of Antony, as Athanasius tells it
Macrina the Younger c. 327 to 379 · Cappadocia Macrina agrees:
“But, whenever their impulse is towards what is noble, then they become matter for praise, as his desire did to Daniel, and his anger to Phineas, and their grief to those who nobly mourn.”
On the Soul and the Resurrection, as her brother Gregory recorded her words
Basil the Great c. 330 to 379 · Caesarea in Cappadocia Basil agrees:
“Anger, stirred at the proper time and in the proper manner, is an efficient cause of manliness, patience, and endurance.”
Homily against Anger
Gregory of Nyssa c. 335 to after 394 · Cappadocia Gregory of Nyssa agrees.
On record in Against Eunomius.
Ambrose of Milan c. 339 to 397 · Milan Ambrose agrees.
On record in On the Duties of the Clergy.
John Chrysostom c. 347 to 407 · Antioch and Constantinople Chrysostom strongly agrees:
“What then is the proper time for anger? When we are not avenging ourselves, but checking others in their lawless freaks, or forcing them to attend in their negligence.”
Homilies on Matthew
Jerome c. 347 to 420 · Rome and Bethlehem Jerome agrees:
“I will frankly admit that my indignation overpowers me; I cannot listen with patience to such sacrilegious opinions.”
Letter to Riparius
Augustine of Hippo 354 to 430 · North Africa Augustine strongly agrees:
“In our ethics, we do not so much inquire whether a pious soul is angry, as why he is angry; not whether he is sad, but what is the cause of his sadness; not whether he fears, but what he fears.”
City of God
Gregory the Great c. 540 to 604 · Rome Gregory the Great strongly agrees.
On record in Morals on the Book of Job.
5 early Christians
Would disagree
Your side
Clement of Alexandria c. 150 to c. 215 · Alexandria Clement strongly disagrees:
“Nor is he angry; for there is nothing to move him to anger, seeing he ever loves God, and is entirely turned towards Him alone, and therefore hates none of God's creatures.”
Stromata
Origen c. 185 to c. 253 · Alexandria and Caesarea Origen disagrees.
On record in Against Celsus.
John Cassian c. 360 to c. 435 · Egypt, then Marseilles Cassian strongly disagrees:
“For the end and aim of patience consists, not in being angry with a good reason, but in not being angry at all.”
Institutes
Boethius c. 477 to c. 524 · Rome and Pavia Boethius disagrees:
“Pity is rather due to the criminal, who ought to be brought to the judgment-seat by his accusers in a spirit not of anger, but of compassion and kindness.”
The Consolation of Philosophy
Isaac the Syrian 7th century · Nineveh and the mountains Isaac strongly disagrees:
“A zealous man will never reach peace of mind. And he that is destitute of peace is also destitute of gladness. Peace of mind is called complete health, zeal is the contrary of peace.”
Ascetical Homilies
What they said
More questions
- Solitude “If you had to choose, you'd grow closer to God alone in quiet than among other people.”
- Being rich “There's nothing wrong with being rich, as long as you use it well.”
- Speaking up “If someone you know is doing wrong, it's your job to tell them.”
- Grief “Even if you believe you'll see them again, it's right to weep openly for someone you've lost.”
your turn
Quiz Which early Christian thinks like you? And which would argue with you? See where you would stand on this and 22 more. Start Suggest a correction. Corrections that are applied are recorded in the public changelog.