In my first installment, I mentioned the most common characteristic of the biblical fool, which is that he is a characterologically angry man.

If a person continually yields to a particular sin, it means they have become a slave to that sin.

 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness. Rom. 6:16, ESV

The use of the word “slave” is key to understanding the captivating power of sin. The Greek word for slave is doo-los, which is usually translated into English as bond-servant. Slave is the better translation because it implies absolute loyalty to a person or thing.

The NET Bible and Legacy Bible both translate doo-los as ” slave” and both Paul (Gal. 1:9) and James (Ja. 1:1) use it to mean an absolute loyalty to Jesus as Savior and Lord.

In Romans 6:16, the word doo-los means being loyal to sin, a particular sin, or a slave to righteousness. A  person who is a slave to a particular sin and has a characterological problem because that sin has bound them.

For example, someone who is an alcoholic is a drunkard (1 Cor. 8:11). A person who is a slave to pornography does not have a sex addiction, but is a slave to their lust. In the same way, a person given to angry explosions is characterologically an angry person who demands control. Unless their anger is addressed, it will spill over into their personal life, affecting their work, family, and health.

Although the characterologically angry person may profess Christ, they have more in common with the rebellious unsaved person.

Their habit of responding to life’s circumstances is outrage or hurt as they perceive that some offense has been perpetrated against them. The offense is not necessarily real, but it is perceived as real. Because they respond habitually to a real or imagined offense or hurt, the seed of bitterness grows in their heart. (Eph. 4:31)

Because they are not responding biblically to the offense, they are unforgiving (Lk. 17:3; Eph. 4:32) or never overlook an offense in love. (Pro. 19:11)

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. Pro. 19:11

The person with spiritual wisdom has good sense and is able to exercise self-control when emotions run hot. The biblical fool lacks spiritual wisdom and so does not overlook an offense, regardless of how minor it may be.

The anger becomes so habitual that it becomes characteristic of the person’s personality. Proverbs warns others not to associate with such a person lest they learn their ways.

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. Pro. 22:24-25

Children in an angry household often grow up angry themselves. They see anger modeled regularly with little consequence, and while they may be victimized by parental anger, they come to see it as usual and develop similar tendencies. 

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. Pro. 28:26

Often in Scripture, “mind” and “heart” mean the same thing. Proverbs 28:26 explains that the angry person has a serious issue of the heart. Spiritual wisdom entails fear of the Lord (Pro. 1:7) and a disinclination to self-reliance. The angry biblical fool trusts in their own mind/heart. 

Trusting in one’s own heart is biblical folly and, apart from a relationship with God, utterly wicked.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jer. 17:9)

The unrepentant biblical fool is on the path to death. The repentant, angry fool can turn from their ways and get on the right path. They have to want to change (Eph. 4:22-24, Rom. 12:1-2).

Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.  Pro. 3:7-8

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