Pronunciation Guide: or-GEE-los (with emphasis on the second syllable)
Quick Answer: ὀργίλος (orgilos) means “prone to anger” or “quick-tempered,” describing someone who easily becomes angry and struggles to control their temper, particularly disqualifying them from church leadership.
1. What Does ὀργίλος Mean?
Strong’s G3711: ὀργίλος describes a person who is habitually prone to anger, quick-tempered, or easily provoked to wrath. This Greek adjective captures not just momentary anger, but a character trait of someone who consistently struggles with anger management. The word implies a dangerous instability of temperament that makes a person unreliable and potentially harmful in relationships and leadership positions. Paul uses this term specifically in Titus 1:7 to describe what an elder must NOT be, highlighting how destructive uncontrolled anger can be in spiritual leadership.
Key Insight: ὀργίλος reveals that habitual anger is not just a personality quirk but a serious character flaw that disqualifies spiritual leadership.
2. Where Does ὀργίλος Come From?
- Part of speech: Adjective (masculine, feminine, and neuter forms)
- Root word: ὀργή (orgē) meaning “anger” or “wrath”
- Language origin: Classical Greek, adopted into New Testament Greek
- Primary usage: Character descriptions, particularly in moral and ethical contexts
- Biblical context: Appears in pastoral epistles addressing church leadership qualifications
3. What Is the History of ὀργίλος?
The word ὀργίλος has deep roots in classical Greek literature, where it consistently described individuals whose anger was their defining characteristic. Aristotle used this term in his ethical writings to describe those who lacked the virtue of proper anger management—people who became angry too quickly, too intensely, or for the wrong reasons. The philosopher understood that while righteous anger had its place, being ὀργίλος represented a character flaw that undermined both personal relationships and societal harmony.
In the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament), ὀργίλος appears to translate Hebrew concepts related to quick temper and wrath. The early church fathers, including John Chrysostom and Jerome, wrote extensively about this word in their commentaries on Titus 1:7, emphasizing how destructive such a temperament could be in church leadership. They understood that a leader’s character directly impacts the entire community’s spiritual health.
Historical Summary: ὀργίλος traveled from classical Greek philosophy through Septuagint usage to New Testament leadership qualifications, consistently warning against dangerous anger.
4. How Should ὀργίλος Be Translated?
Primary meanings of ὀργίλος:
- Prone to anger
- Quick-tempered
- Easily provoked to wrath
- Habitually angry
- Given to fits of rage
Translation Tip: Context determines whether to emphasize the habitual nature (“prone to anger”) or the quick response (“quick-tempered”) aspect of ὀργίλος.
ὀργίλος Translation Options:
- “Quick-tempered” – emphasizes the rapid onset of anger
- “Prone to anger” – highlights the habitual tendency toward wrath
- “Hot-tempered” – captures the intensity and unpredictability
- “Given to anger” – shows the characteristic nature of the person
- “Irascible” – formal term meaning easily angered (though less accessible to modern readers)
5. How Is ὀργίλος Used in the Bible?
ὀργίλος appears only once in the New Testament, but its single usage carries tremendous weight. Paul employs this word in his letter to Titus when outlining the qualifications for church elders, specifically stating what they must NOT be. This strategic placement shows that Paul considered uncontrolled anger to be fundamentally incompatible with spiritual leadership. The rarity of the word in Scripture makes its appearance all the more significant—Paul could have chosen many other ways to describe problematic anger, but he selected this particular term that emphasizes the habitual, character-defining nature of the problem.
The word’s usage in ancient Greek literature and its adoption into Christian vocabulary reveals a consistent understanding: ὀργίλος describes someone whose anger has become their master rather than their servant. Unlike righteous anger that serves justice and love, the anger of someone who is ὀργίλος serves only to destroy relationships, undermine authority, and create chaos. Paul’s use of this word serves as a warning that such temperament disqualifies someone from positions of spiritual responsibility and trust.
Usage Summary: ὀργίλος appears once in the New Testament but carries crucial weight in defining the character requirements for church leadership.
Cross-reference verses using ὀργίλος:
- “For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered [ὀργίλος], not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain.” Titus 1:7
6. What Cultural Context Surrounds ὀργίλος?
In the ancient Mediterranean world, anger management was considered a crucial aspect of masculine virtue and social stability. Greek and Roman culture valued self-control (sophrosyne) as one of the cardinal virtues, and being ὀργίλος was seen as a serious character flaw that undermined a man’s authority and respectability. Leaders who could not control their temper were viewed as dangerous and unpredictable, unfit for positions of trust or responsibility.
Jewish culture also emphasized the importance of controlling one’s anger, with wisdom literature frequently warning against quick temper. The Hebrew concept of “slow to anger” (אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם – erek appayim) was considered a divine attribute that humans should emulate. When Paul writes to Titus about church leadership, he’s drawing on both Greek philosophical tradition and Hebrew wisdom to establish that spiritual leaders must demonstrate emotional maturity and self-control. The cultural shame associated with being ὀργίλος would have made Paul’s prohibition particularly powerful to his original readers.
Cultural Context: Ancient cultures viewed being ὀργίλος as a serious character flaw that disqualified men from leadership positions and social respect.
7. What Does ὀργίλος Teach Us About God?
The prohibition against ὀργίλος leaders reveals profound truths about God’s character and His expectations for those who represent Him. While Scripture clearly teaches that God experiences anger, His anger is always righteous, measured, and purposeful—never the uncontrolled, self-serving emotion that characterizes someone who is ὀργίλος. God is described as “slow to anger” (אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם), demonstrating perfect emotional control and timing in His responses to sin and rebellion.
By requiring that church leaders not be ὀργίלος, God reveals His desire for His representatives to reflect His character of patience, self-control, and measured response. The prohibition shows that leadership in God’s kingdom requires emotional maturity that mirrors the Divine nature. God’s anger serves justice and ultimately restoration, while human anger that is ὀργίλος serves only destruction and self-interest. This standard calls leaders to a supernatural level of character transformation that can only be achieved through the Holy Spirit’s work.
Theological Core: ὀργίλος reveals that God requires His leaders to mirror His perfect emotional control rather than human sinful anger patterns.
8. How Can I Apply ὀργίλος to My Life?
Understanding ὀργίλος challenges each of us to examine our own relationship with anger. While this word specifically addresses leadership qualifications, its principles apply to all believers who seek to represent the Messiah well in their daily lives. If you find yourself frequently losing your temper, becoming angry quickly, or struggling to control your emotional responses, this word serves as a mirror to reveal areas where the Holy Spirit needs to do transforming work.
The good news is that being prone to anger is not an unchangeable personality trait—it’s a character issue that can be addressed through God’s grace and intentional spiritual growth. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you develop the fruit of self-control, seek accountability from mature believers, and consider practical steps like pausing before responding when you feel anger rising. Remember that the goal is not to never feel anger, but to ensure that your anger serves righteousness rather than selfishness, and that you control it rather than it controlling you.
Self-Examination Questions: Am I quick to anger in my daily interactions? Do others see me as someone who struggles with temper control? How can I better reflect God’s patience in my responses to frustration?
9. What Words Are Similar to ὀργίλος?
- ὀργή (orgē) – or-GAY – The root word meaning anger or wrath itself, focusing on the emotion rather than the character trait – See G3709
- θυμός (thymos) – thoo-MOSS – Passionate anger or rage that flares up quickly, more about the intensity than the habitual nature – See G2372
- παροργισμός (parorgismos) – par-or-gis-MOSS – Provocation to anger or exasperation, focusing on what causes anger rather than the angry person – See G3950
- χόλος (cholos) – KHOL-os – Bitter anger or gall, emphasizing the bitter, resentful quality of sustained anger – See G5521
- ἀκρατής (akratēs) – ak-rat-ACE – Lacking self-control generally, which would include but not be limited to anger management – See G193
10. Did You Know?
- What does ὀργίλος mean in modern Greek? Modern Greek still uses ὀργίλος (οργίλος) to describe someone who is quick-tempered or easily angered, showing remarkable consistency across over two millennia of usage.
- How did Aristotle use ὀργίλος? Aristotle used ὀργίλος in his Nicomachean Ethics to describe people who failed to achieve the virtue of proper anger—becoming angry too quickly, too intensely, or for wrong reasons, viewing it as a character defect that prevented human flourishing.
- What’s the difference between ὀργίλος and θυμός? While θυμός (thymos) describes the intense, passionate anger itself, ὀργίλος describes the person who habitually experiences such anger—it’s the difference between the fire and being a fire-starter.
- Why does the Bible use ὀργίλος only in leadership context? Paul strategically uses ὀργίλος only in Titus 1:7 because church leaders must model God’s character, and habitual anger directly contradicts the patient, self-controlled nature required for spiritual authority.
- How does ὀργίλος relate to the fruit of the Spirit? ὀργίλος directly opposes the fruit of self-control (ἐγκράτεια) mentioned in Galatians 5:23, showing that spiritual maturity requires mastery over one’s emotional responses.
- What causes quick-tempered behavior today? Modern psychology identifies stress, unresolved trauma, sleep deprivation, and underlying mental health issues as contributors to being ὀργίλος, but Scripture emphasizes that lasting change requires heart transformation through the Holy Spirit.
- The ancient world viewed being ὀργίλος as a form of temporary insanity – Greek and Roman physicians actually believed that people who were habitually quick-tempered suffered from an imbalance of bodily humors that made them temporarily lose their rational faculties when angered, which is why they were considered unfit for leadership positions requiring sound judgment.
11. Remember This
ὀργίλος stands as God’s warning that quick temper is not a harmless personality quirk but a serious character flaw that disqualifies spiritual leadership and damages the testimony of the Messiah—yet through the Holy Spirit’s transforming power, even the most quick-tempered person can develop the divine patience that reflects God’s own heart.
