Filthy Speech
May 18, 2008
by Tom O'Neal

Among the things that Paul wrote to the Ephesians was “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” (4:29) and “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children: And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints: Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks” (5:1-4). To the Colossians, Paul said, “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth” (3:8).

All Christians have heard friends, neighbors and relatives use filthy speech at some time or another. Sad to say, some who claim to be God’s children have engaged in the use of filthy speech. One of the ways one can engage in filthy speech is by telling filthy or dirty jokes. Sadder even still it the fact that some preachers are not ashamed to use filthy speech or tell dirty jokes, some even in the present of other gospel preachers. It seems that some are not embarrassed by their filthy mouths.

What is corruptness? Of “corrupt” Thayer says, “rotten, putrid…corrupted by age and no longer fit for use, worthless” (page 568). W.E. Vine says, “corrupt, rotten, (akin to sepo, to rot), primarily, of vegetable and animal substances, expresses what is of poor quality, unfit for use, putrid. It is said of a tree and its fruit, Matt. 7:17, 18; 12:33; Luke 6:43; of certain fish, Matt. 13:48 (here translated “bad”); of defiling speech, Eph. 4:29) (vol. 1, page 95).

What is filthiness? Of isochrones W. E. Vine says, “baseness (from aischos, shame, disgrace), is used in Eph. 5:4, of obscenity, all that is contrary to purity” adding “Broadly speaking, aisochrones signifies whatever is disgraceful” (vol. 2, pages 98-99). Thayer says, “baseness, dishonor” (page 17).

What is foolish talking? Of morologia W. E. Vine says, “from moros, foolish, dull, stupid, and lego, is used in Eph. 5:4; it denotes more than just idle talk. Trench describes it as ‘that ‘talk of fools’ which is fooliness and sin together’” (vol. 4, page 109). Thayer says of “foolish talking” “that ‘talk of fools’ which is foolishness and sin together” (page 114).

What is jesting? Of eutrapelia W. E. Vine says, “properly denotes wit, facetiousness, versatility (lit., easily turning, from eu, well, trepo, to turn.) It was used in the literal sense to describe the quick movements of apes and persons. Pericles speaks of the Athenians of his day (430 B. C.) as distinguished by a happy and gracious ‘flexibility.’ In the next century Aristotle used it of ‘versatility’ in the give and take of social intercourse, quick repartee. In the sixth century, B. C., the poet Pindar speaks of one Jason as never using a word of ‘vain lightness,’ a meaning approaching to its latest use. Its meaning certainly deteriorated, and it came to denote course jesting, ribaldry, as in Eph. 5:4, where it follows morologia, foolish talking” (vol. 2, page 274). Thayer says it comes from a word that denotes “easily turning; nimble-witted, witty, sharp” and then says, “in a bad sense, scurrility, ribaldry, low jesting” (page 263). Webster says of “ribald” “low coarse, or scurrilous; esp., coarsely offensive in language” (New Collegiate Dictionary, page 728). The American Heritage Dictionary says of “ribald” “Pertaining to or indulging in vulgar, lewd humor” (page 1,061). The word ‘vulgar’ basically means the common people or the great masses of people. Thus, the vernacular language of a people. The Latin Vulgate translation of Scripture was one for the common man. The American Heritage Dictionary gives “4. Obscene or indecent; lewd: a vulgar joke” (page 1,356). It is in this later sense that we use the word in this article. The American Heritage Dictionary says of “scurrility” “Given to the use of vulgar or low abusive language; foul-mouthed” (page 1,104).

As in Paul’s day, there are those who can and will turn every statement into something ugly, vile, vulgar and dirty. They can turn innocent comments, remarks or words into something that is vulgar, suggestive and crude with the twist of a word or an inference, which the speaker never had in mind. If reproved, they seem innocent and charge the one who reproves them with having a dirty mind. Such language is not only not nice in decent company, but is also condemned by the Holy Spirit. With some there is no line beyond which they will not go in their use of language. Their language is coarse, crude, and vulgar. Some individuals seem not to be able to communicate in any language except this kind. Their entire speech is laced with such language. Such vulgar speech indicates that the speaker is not sufficiently educated enough to communicate with others in clean, decent speech. The Christian does not use such language. He knows that he will give an account for his speech (Matt. 12:36-37).

Some publications are well known for their filthy language. Books are often filled with such on nearly every page. Magazines often have such language upon their pages. You and I live in a world where we do not have control over what is published, but we do not have to purchase such and take it home and spend our time reading such. How could a person be up lifted morally, edified spiritual and made a better person by reading such filth?

Some movies are well known for their filthy language. Movies have changed drastically over the last several years. Some readers are old enough to remember Clark Gable uttering one word in “Gone with the Wind” and all the commotion that it caused. Now look at the language used in the movies. It is almost impossible to find a movie today that is not filled with filthy speech. The sad thing is that a number of people who call themselves Christians go to see such, rent them and bring them into their homes and view them with their family. What are children to think when parents watch such? If they register a protest to such, what good does that do if they continue to watch those kind of films?

Some TV and radio programs are known for their filthy language. Some four letter words which only preachers were permitted to use in preaching on the radio a few years ago because they were words found within the Bible, are mild in comparison to what is said on some programs today. I have known of people being cut of the air for saying filthy words in years gone by. Today, hardly anything said causes people to be cut off the air.

Some entertainers are well known for their filthy language. When they are on radio or TV they hold to some extent the words they use. However, when they perform in clubs or in videos they have no limit to which they will not go using every filthy word known. No Christian should be found in such clubs or listening to such videos.

Some music uses filthy language. Many songs not only use filthy language, but are about vulgar and indecent circumstances. Parents would do well to listen to what their children listen. They might get the shock of their life to learn what their children are hearing. When parents wonder why their children are acting the way they are, the answer could well be in the influence of the music to which they are listening. Children cannot listen to filthy, vulgar, suggestive music and not be affected by it in time. Such does not edify the child and build them up morally, spiritually or socially.

Of such language, the Apostles Paul said, ”let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints” (Eph. 5:3).

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