“Death and Life are in the Power of the Tongue”: A Biblical Study of the Words We Speak

The following is an excerpt from my newest booklet, “Death and Life Are in the Power of the Tongue: A Biblical Study of the Words We Speak.”  Due out December, 2024.

 Ephesians 4 describes how a believer is to walk worthy of the calling and to grow up in Christ. Notably, at least five of the imperatives in this chapter deal with speech: 4:15, 4:25, 4:29. 4:31. Let’s consider each verse in turn.

 Ephesians 4:15–16

15Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

16from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

In contrast to being deceived by false doctrines, we are to speak the truth in love.  To speak the truth means not lying, but it also means to speak God’s Word, for God’s Word is truth (Jn 17:17). This is one way we may walk worthy of our calling and grow up into Christ, the head. 

 Ephesians 4:25

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another

We are admonished to pay attention to what we speak.  Rather than lie (“falsehood” is a synonym for lie), we are to speak the truth with one another.  Twice so far in this chapter on walking worthy and growing up in Christ, we are commanded to speak the truth in love with one another. These are words that minister the greatest good.

 Ephesians 4:29

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

 In the Greek New Testament, the word translated as “corrupting” is saprós, meaning “rotten, useless, corrupt, depraved.”[1] This word is used elsewhere in the Scriptures to describe rotten, decayed fruit.[2] This graphic metaphor draws attention to the potential foulness of speech and how it can spread rottenness in others. Rather than utter such words, we are to speak what builds up and ministers grace as it suits the occasion.

 Ephesians 4:31

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Perhaps you’ve noticed the abundance of “ands” in this verse. That constitutes the figure, polysyndeton, or repeated conjunctions.[3] Polysyndeton causes the reader to slow down and consider each word in the series. While it is worthwhile to consider each of these words, for our purposes, let’s look at the two that specifically deal with speech: clamor and slander.

 In today’s English, we don’t use “clamor” much, but it generally means to cry aloud or shout. (This word occurs in Acts 23:9, where a “great clamor” arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees while arguing, resulting in sharp contention and violence.) Further, in the Greek New Testament, the word translated as “slander” in verse 31 is not the usual word for slander (katalalia) but blasphemia, which is a stronger word used almost exclusively to describe hateful speech against God.[4] The Christian saint is to remove all clamor and all slander from their speech.  It is startling that such a warning occurs in a chapter addressed to faithful Christians regarding how they are to walk worthy and grow up in Christ.  The word “all” indicates that there is never a time with it is appropriate or permissible to slander another believer. As we recall from our study of Psalms, the wicked use slander to harm the righteous. Slander is not something a born again one should participate in nor perpetuate.

 In these five verses from Ephesians 4, we have seen that the Christian saints are to speak the truth, not lie, not speak putrid, corrupt words, not to clamor, and not to slander. It is telling that God chose to include five imperatives about speech in Ephesians 4, a chapter that deals with the worthy walk and growing up in Christ.

 Ephesians 5:1–4

1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

2And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

4Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

 Part of imitating God and walking in love includes not speaking any obscene, indecent, foolish talk or crude joking. Instead, we are to give thanks. Ribald humor was commonplace in Greek and Roman literature, and it’s possible that Paul had this sort of low humor in mind when he wrote about filthiness or crude joking.  It may have been commonplace in Roman culture, but such speech is out of place or out of character for a Christian. Instead, the Christian is to express thanks.

[1] Strong, The New Strong’s Expanded. s.v. “saprós.”

[2] See Mt 7:17-18, 12:33; Lk 6:34

[3] Hans, Go Figure! 33.

[4] See Mt 12:31, 15:19, 26:65; Mk 3:28, 7:24; 14:64; Lk 5;21; Jn 10:33