Filthy Language
Mike Johnson
Profanity is pervasive today, perhaps at an all-time high. It is common in schools, homes, and workplaces (blue-collar and white-collar jobs). In the past, it seemed to be used more as an exclamation if somebody was upset. Today, people use profanity as a standard part of a sentence, frequently to emphasize a point. Filthy talk is promoted on television and in movies; politicians, movie stars, and celebrities use and promote vulgarity. Also, the use of such symbols as **—** are common in printed news stories, quoting people. (How long will it be before they write the word in its entirety?) The most popular curse words may change from generation to generation, but all are wrong.
The Bible abounds with passages condemning improper speech. For example, Psalm 10:7, describing the wicked, says, “His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue is trouble and iniquity.” Ephesians 5:4 adds, “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving” (NIV). Likewise, Colossians 3:9 says we are to put off “filthy language” (“obscene talk” ESV), and in Matthew 12:36, Jesus says, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.”
Another critical passage condemning offensive speech is Ephesians 4:29-30. Here Paul, after speaking about putting off the “old man” (our former conduct) and putting on the new life in Christ, says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. (30) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Let’s take a closer look at these verses.
He starts verse 29 by saying, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth . . .” One translation renders “unwholesome talk” (NIV) and another “corrupting talk” (ESV). In his commentary, Barnes speaks of the meaning of the original Greek word.
The word rendered “corrupt” (sapros) means bad, decayed, rotten, and is applied to putrid vegetable or animal substances. Then it is applied to a tree that is of a useless character, that produces no good fruit; Matt 7:17. Then it is used in a moral sense, as our word “corrupt” is, to denote that which is depraved, evil, contaminating, and may denote here anything that is obscene, offensive, or that tends to corrupt others. (Barnes’ Notes, Electronic Database)
Why did Paul need to warn about “corrupt words?” Perhaps some of the Christians at Ephesus were recent converts and had come from a bad environment where profanity was common, and they may have used it. Maybe he felt there was the danger of some falling back into its use. Regardless, he said it should not be used, and he used the word “no,” which means none of it.
As verse 29 continues, the writer states the kind of language they should use. Instead of “corrupt communication,” he says they should speak, “what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” So, corrupt speech is replaced with words that strengthen, build up, and encourage others to do right. We “impart grace” to a world lost in sin by doing so as our words can help lead the way to Christ.
The reason to obey this instruction is in verse 30, which says, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” If we use “corrupt communication,” we must stop and replace that language with edifying words. If we do not, we grieve the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 6:10 points out that despite all the good God had done for His people, they “rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit.” Why would the Holy Spirit be sad? Because He wants us to be saved, and we will not be if we reject His teaching. The Holy Spirit reveals the Words of God, so leaving His Word means we are rejecting God. But, of course, sin also grieves God (Ps. 95:10).
After becoming a Christian, we cannot continue to live as people of the world. When we use profanity (corrupt communication), we do just that. We must put off our former conduct (4:22-24) and “seek those things which are above” (Col. 3:1-17).