Corrupt talk
The admonitions we get in the apostle Paul’s letters go way beyond suggestions. They have the force of commandments. We see one such in Ephesians 4:29. Here it is, in various translations:
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths. (NIV)
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth. (KJV)
Don’t use foul or abusive language. (NLT)
Stop all your dirty talk. (CEV)
Don’t ?say anything that will hurt others. (EXB)
Each of these is representative of several other translations. There is similarity, all of them clearly add up to, “Don’t say bad things.” But they aren’t all the same, are they? They vary in what “bad things” we shouldn’t say. So what is the actual exhortation/command? Is it about not telling dirty jokes? Cussing? Belittling others?
As always, context is vital. Going on in the same verse, Paul says, “…but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (NIV) He tells us what the right things are, which helps us understand what bad things we shouldn’t say. “Building others up” rather than belittling them or hurting them. “According to their need” rather than according to our own feelings. “Benefit those who listen” rather than planting corrupt things in their minds.
Looking at surrounding verses gives us even more detail about the kinds of things we ought not to be saying. In fact this letter rivals that of James, who speaks at length about the use and misuse of our tongue. A couple verses later we read:
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. (verse 31, ESV)
Is there ever bitterness in what we say? Anger? Shouting? Misrepresentation, or even outright lying? Are we ever malicious? These are some serious questions, and Paul wants us to face up to them.
A few verses earlier, Paul writes, “Put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor.” (verse 25, NIV) Earlier still, he says, “Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” (verse 15, ESV) You can plainly see that Paul is really leaning on the truthfulness aspect of what we say.
Moving into the next chapter, we find that Paul has more to say about what should not come out of our mouths: “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” (5:4, NIV) An awful lot of what comes out of the world around us consists of obscenity and coarseness, and a lot of the rest is simply foolish. We know we ought to turn away from that stuff, right? But it’s hard to swim against the current.
Fortunately, Paul gives us a further antidote—giving thanks. If we concentrate on giving thanks, on speaking truth, on building up, on helping others; if that’s what’s coming out of our mouths, we’ll find we’re a little less prone to spouting any kind of garbage talk.
Love, Paul