Lexical Summary orgilos: Quick-tempered, prone to anger Original Word: ὀργίλος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance inclined to anger, quick-temperedFrom orge; irascible -- soon angry. see GREEK orge HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 3711 orgílos – prone to anger and harbor resentment, nurturing long-standing anger (prejudice, bitterness). 3711 /orgílos ("punitive") occurs only in Tit 1:7. See 3709 (orgē). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom orgé Definition inclined to anger, passionate NASB Translation quick-tempered (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3711: ὀργίλοςὀργίλος, ὀργιλη, ὀργίλον (ὀργή), prone to anger, irascible (A. V. soon angry): Titus 1:7. (Proverbs 22:24; Proverbs 29:22; Xenophon, de re equ. 9, 7; Plato (e. g. de rep. 411 b.); Aristotle (e. g. eth. Nic. 2, 7, 10); others.) Topical Lexicon Occurrence and Immediate Context The adjective ὀργίλον appears one time in the Greek New Testament, in Titus 1:7, within Paul’s list of qualifications for an overseer: “For the overseer must be blameless, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money”. Placed between pride and addictions, “quick-tempered” identifies a disposition, not a momentary lapse. Paul marks it as incompatible with spiritual oversight because unchecked anger disrupts the peace, impartiality, and pastoral care expected from those who shepherd God’s flock. Connection to the Old Testament Wisdom Tradition Paul’s proscription echoes long-standing biblical counsel. Proverbs repeatedly warns against the hot-tempered: “A quick-tempered man acts foolishly” (Proverbs 14:17), and “An angry man stirs up dissension” (Proverbs 29:22). Ecclesiastes 7:9 cautions, “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the laps of fools.” By invoking ὀργίλον, Paul draws on this wisdom stream, presenting the elder as a living embodiment of Israel’s sage advice: leadership must be governed by patience and self-control. Contrast with Righteous Indignation Scripture distinguishes between righteous anger directed against sin and a temper that erupts for personal reasons. Jesus’ cleansing of the temple (John 2:13-17) and His grief over hardened hearts (Mark 3:5) model zeal aligned with God’s holiness. In contrast, the ὀργίλος person is chronically irascible, driven by self-interest rather than concern for God’s glory. James 1:20 underscores the difference: “For man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.” Implications for Church Leadership 1 Timothy 3 parallels Titus, reinforcing that elders must be “temperate … gentle, not quarrelsome” (1 Timothy 3:2-3). A quick-tempered overseer risks: Paul therefore demands that prospective leaders demonstrate established patterns of controlled speech and demeanor before being entrusted with authority. Practical Ministry Applications • Selection of Elders: Titus 1:7 functions as a screening criterion. Evidence of chronic irritability requires pause until the candidate displays Spirit-formed restraint. Theological Reflections God Himself is “slow to anger” (Exodus 34:6), and believers are called to imitate His longsuffering character. The solitary New Testament appearance of ὀργίλον in the context of church oversight magnifies the stakes: shepherds must mirror the patience of the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4). Where this grace is embraced, communities flourish in unity, truth, and love. Forms and Transliterations οργιλον οργίλον ὀργίλον οργίλος οργίλου οργίλω οργίλων orgilon orgílonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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