Wrath of God
May 1, 2025 - Thursday of the Second Week of Easter
John 3:31-36
Today’s Gospel concludes with a stark statement: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.” The phrase “the wrath of God” can unsettle many, especially since theologians note that it applies human emotions to God. How, then, should we approach this concept? Do we ignore it, or is there a deeper meaning to uncover?
From the early days of the Church to the present, many Christians have been perplexed by the image of God portrayed in the Old Testament. There, God appears stern, strict, and quick to punish disobedience—a stark contrast to the compassionate Father who welcomes the prodigal son. This perceived contradiction has even led some to reject the Old Testament entirely, favoring a limited view of the New Testament. Such a selective approach, however, represents one of the earliest heresies and still echoes in contemporary thought.
In the Old Testament, God’s wrath is closely linked to the execution of justice. Unlike the impersonal gods of philosophy, the God of the Bible is deeply committed to justice. He does not tolerate the oppression of the righteous by the wicked, the poor by the rich, or the weak by the mighty. This passionate commitment to justice underpins prayers of lament and petition. For example, the prophet Habakkuk asks, “Why does the wicked swallow up the man more righteous than he?” (Hab. 1:13). Our moral actions carry consequences—acts of injustice evoke God’s anger.
The New Testament also speaks of God’s wrath. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” (Rom 1:18). Here, God’s wrath is seen as being manifested in the allowance of sinful acts by those who reject Him and His commandments.
Even the book of Revelation portrays the wrath of God through the figure of Jesus, the Lamb of God. The unrighteous cry out, asking the mountains and rocks: “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Rev 6:16-17).
So, how can one escape this wrath? The answer is found in faith in Jesus. As Paul reminds the Thessalonians, Jesus “delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thess 1:10). In the biblical narrative, death is often viewed as the outcome of God’s anger—a consequence of transgressing His commandments (see Gen 2:16-17). Yet in Jesus Christ, life triumphs over death, and those who believe and obey Him are assured eternal life.
Thus, the early Christians understood the drama of salvation: by believing in Christ, one moves from death to life, and God’s wrath no longer remains. Conveying this message of redemption and renewal was of utmost importance to our ancestors in faith—and it remains equally vital for us today.