Watch Your Mouth

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (Eph 4:29)(KJV)

The theme of the verse is "corrupt communication." The ESV calls it "corrupting talk." The LITV (Literal Translation) uses "any filthy word." You see, then, that while the ideas are the same, there are nuances. What exactly is this kind of "corrupt communication" we're supposed to avoid?

The most common view is that Paul is referring to bad language. You know, cursing, swearing, things like that. "Filthy words." Don't do that. While that might be somewhat in view, I don't think that's the actual intent. While that's what I've been taught, I don't think that's what Paul was teaching. The Greek word here is saprós. Strong's says it means "rotten, that is, worthless (literally or morally)." Thayer's says, "1) rotten, putrefied, 2) corrupted by one and no longer fit for use, worn out, and 3) of poor quality, bad, unfit for use, worthless." (Now you see the nuances.) This helps flesh out the concept a bit. The "corrupt communication" Paul is urging us to avoid isn't just bad words. It is rotten communication, corrupt and unfit for use. It is even worthless dialog. You can see that this is a much broader concept than just swearing.

I think, however, that my original statement -- "The theme of the verse is 'corrupt communication'" -- was not quite accurate, even if that's what we generally make of it. If I told you, "Don't turn right, but turn left instead," you would not think, "The primary topic is not turning right." Neither is this verse so limited. The theme of this verse is communication -- how are we to speak to one another. "No corrupt communication" is only half of the message, and the second half helps to define the first half. The aim of our communication is not X, but to be good for edification -- for giving grace to the hearers. What is X? That which does not edify or give grace. That's the theme. Do that which builds up rather than tears down, especially in how you speak to one another.

I think that, in general, we don't really pay attention to how we speak. Paul goes on to command us to "walk in love" (Eph 5:2) and he starts that with "Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving." (Eph 5:4) Yet we're pretty sure that filthiness, foolish talk, crude jokes, and generally useless talk is actually snappy repartee -- just good, clean fun. Insults between friends is a pleasure, not a problem. And while that looks right, especially to the world, it's just not biblical. I think that a conscious use of words that is aimed at edification, grace, and gratitude actually takes work. And I'm afraid I'm not doing my share. Are you? James says, "If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body." (James 3:2) Sometimes it seems like we don't much care about being godly in our speech, and I'm not talking about "bad words".