[Greek] θυμός (thumos), [Latin] fumus: fury, wrath, rage, intense desire, indignation, passion, outburst of emotion, anger; Lk.4:28, Acts 9:28, Rom.2:8, 2Cor.12:20, Gal.5:20, Eph.4:31, Col.3:8, Heb.11:27, Rev.12:12, Rev.14:10,19, Rev.15:1,7, Rev.16:1,19. Rev. 18:3, Rev.19:15
An ancient wine press near Mt. Hebron, a region known for its vineyards
Background Information:
Greek Hellenism: This term originally denotes a violent movement of welling up and boiling up. Such examples include vital forces, soul, spirit, principle of life, passion, desire, inclination, wrath, rage, temper, will, courage, the seat of emotions, heart, disposition, and mind. Plato’s Cratylus 419e states, “The spirit has its name from the raging and boiling of the soul.” Xenophon’ On the Heart of Horsemanship 9.2 states, “It must be realized that spirit in a horse is precisely what anger is in a man. Therefore, just as you are least likely to make a man angry if you neither say nor do anything disagreeable to him, so he who abstains from annoying a spirited horse is least likely to rouse his anger.”
Old Testament: This term, related to several Hebrew words, can refer to the external part of the body, face, breath, insolence, anger, and venom. The philosophers Philo and Josephus often referred to this term as anger. The wrath of God becomes a constant theme in the Old Testament. Wine becomes a metaphor for God’s wrath. The suffering which man brings on himself is represented as a drink, cup, or wine, which God hands him in His anger.
The Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life (Gen.2:7). By the sweat of your face shall you get bread to eat (Gen.3:19). A patient man is better than a warrior, and he who rules his temper (Prov.16:32). The quick-tempered man makes a fool of himself, but the prudent man is at peace (Prov.14:17). Woe to you who give your neighbors a flood of your wrath to drink (Hab.2:15). I, also, will met you with fiery defiance and will chastise you with sevenfold fiercer punishment for your sins (Lev.26:28).
New Testament: This term means wrath, anger, range, and intense desire. Examples in the New Testament reference the wrath of God, Jews, silversmiths, Corinthians, Ephesians, and Pharaoh. God expresses His wrath in response to disobeying truth, obeying wickedness, and practicing works of the flesh. Interestingly, there are multiple references in the book of Revelations. With the exception of Rev.12:12 (wrath of the dragon), God expresses His divine wrath.
Scripture:
“When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury.” Lk.4:28
Jesus returns to the synagogue in Nazareth, where He had grown up. His kinfolk were amazed and could not believe that Jesus could be a prophet. The people became further provoked and upset with Jesus’ words. The people drove Him out of Nazareth.
“When they heard this, they were filled with fury and began to shout, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” Acts 19:8
Ephesus was a center of pagan worship of Artemis. The silversmiths were filled with fury about what Paul said about said about this god. Paul was forced to leave Ephesus.
“But wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness.” Rom.2:8
Paul states that Gentiles along with Jews stand on an equal footing in judgment before God. The Jews cannot condemn the sins of the Gentiles without condemning themselves.
Conclusion:
Enthused, enthusiasm, fuming
I was not really surprised that this term was widely used in the Hellenistic era. For the sake of brevity and clarity, I had decided to include only examples pertaining to wrath and rage. It is interesting that this term also pertains to the soul and to the heart (seat of emotions). I can imagine philosophers and playwrights having a field day with this term.
God’s wrath becomes an important theme in the Old Testament era. The notion of the grapes of wrath originates with drinking (receiving) God’s wrath. Drinking this wine will later appear in 1Cor.11:29, literature, and music.
Grapes of Wrath: This becomes a scriptural allusion to Rev.14:19-20, Isa.63:1-6, and Joel 4:13. In Isa.63:1-6 God treads a wine press in anger. The wine press is a symbol of bloody judgment. Joel 4:13 states that the harvest is ripe, the wine press is full, for the nations’ crimes are numerous. It is time to tread the wine press. In Rev.14:19-20 in earth’s vines the grapes are ripe. These grapes were thrown into the great wine press of God’s fury.
Catholic perspective: Paul makes a very important point in not receiving the bread and cup of the Lord unworthily. Otherwise, one will drink judgment (God’s wrath). This is a good reminder to both Catholics and non-Catholic Christians. Catholics must respectably receive the bread and cup, realizing that this is the (Eucharist), the Real Presence of Jesus. Other Christians must also acknowledge, recognize, and respect Catholics’ belief that this sacrament is much more than a symbol.
The Battle Hymm of the Republic
“Mine eyes have seen the coming of the glory of the Lord,
He is trampling on the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.”
The grapes of wrath represents the greed and selfish interests of the landowners and bankers who brought hardship and exploited migrants
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
“In the souls of the people, the grapes of wrath of filling and growing heavy for the vintage.” Chapter 25
The people are getting very angry and frustrated; they are being filled with wrath. The food is being destroyed. Some people are starving.
Learning about grapes and God has been a very ‘fruitful’ exercise for me (and I hope for you).