Emotions

I could not find the word emotions listed in the ESV or KJV versions of the bible.

I had to resort to the Message Version to find the word used.

Proverbs 14:30 The Message 

A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones.

What I did find about expressed emotions was listed under the spirit of man.

spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation)

animation, vivacity, vigour

courage

temper, anger

impatience, patience

disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented)

disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse

spirit (as seat of emotion)

desire

sorrow, trouble

as seat or organ of mental acts

rarely of the will

as seat especially of moral character

All of this is the character of mankind that is built into us from the beginning of creation. All of it is addressed throughout the scriptures without calling them emotions and yet we can recognize ourselves and our actions in those stories as they are played out.

What I do not see in the above list is timidity and insecurity. Just about every emotion listed under the spirit of man has an opposite corresponding emotion. It is seen easily in courage vs cowardness or perhaps vigor vs laziness.

What I do not see is pride vs humility. So the bible covers a wider range of emotions than man is comfortable admitting and categorizing. Love and hate are not listed but perhaps those should fall under the heading moral character. What is missing in all this is how the Holy Spirit differs from the spirit of man. Mankind acts out because of emotions while the Holy Spirit only enacts the will of God the Father. The Holy Spirit does not act out, we do.

While love is a choice and God is asking us to choose Him, the Holy Spirit has no choice because He is One in agreement with God the Father. He cannot choose to be anything else.

Right or wrong we have to choose. Will we allow our emotions to get the better of us, or choose to listen to God and obey? Are we going to be selfish or selfless?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *