The Bible verse Ephesians 4:29 states “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.” This verse encourages Christians to be careful and intentional with their speech, avoiding unwholesome talk and instead speaking in a way that builds others up.
The Greek word translated as “unwholesome” or “corrupting” is sapros. This refers to talk that is rotten, worthless, bad, or corrupt. Unwholesome talk includes things like:
- Gossip
- Slander
- Lying
- Cursing
- Crude joking
- Spreading rumors
- Backbiting
- Belittling others
- Harsh criticism
- Vulgarity
- Deception
- Abusive speech
This type of speech can tear down relationships, hurt others, and fail to reflect God’s love. As Christians, we are called to build others up with our words and avoid corrupting speech. Our talk should give grace to those who hear it.
Why should Christians avoid unwholesome talk?
There are several reasons why unwholesome talk should be avoided:
- It is disobedient to Scripture. Ephesians 4:29 provides a clear command to avoid unwholesome talk. Christians are called to obey God’s word, so ignoring this verse means being willfully disobedient (James 1:22).
- It is unloving. Speech that tears others down or fails to build them up cannot fulfill the greatest commandments to love God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39). Love “does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6).
- It hurts relationships. Gossip, lies, insults, and criticism all undermine trust. This can damage relationships with other Christians as well as our witness to nonbelievers (John 13:35).
- It fails to reflect Christ. As Christians, we represent Christ through our words and actions. Unwholesome speech contradicts the example set by Jesus of speaking with grace, truth, and love (Ephesians 4:15).
- It grieves the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit lives within believers and seeks to produce godly fruit like kindness (Galatians 5:22-23), unwholesome talk resists and grieves the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30-32).
- It defiles the speaker. Jesus said evil words emerge from the heart and defile a person (Matthew 15:18-20). Filling our hearts with corruption leads to corrupting speech.
- It fails to build up others. While insults and gossip may temporarily make us feel superior, in the end driving others down does not truly build them or us up. We should focus instead on constructive speech (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
What kinds of speech should Christians use?
Rather than unwholesome talk, Ephesians 4:29 encourages speech that is useful for “building others up according to their needs.” Our words should aim to:
- Encourage and strengthen others (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
- Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15)
- Exhort and spur one another on (Hebrews 10:24)
- Comfort those who are hurting (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
- Confess our sins and pray for each other (James 5:16)
- Glorify God with thanksgiving (Psalm 50:23)
- Bless others and call down God’s grace upon them (Ephesians 1:3)
Examples of speech that builds others up includes:
- Affirming and encouraging words
- Compliments and praise
- Constructive feedback shared gently and kindly
- Speaking the truth to help others grow
- Wise and grace-filled counsel
- Comfort offered to those in need
- Prayers and blessings
- Testimonies of God’s work
- Thanksgiving and gratitude
How can Christians cultivate godly speech?
Growing in grace-filled and uplifting communication requires intentional cultivation. Here are some ways Christians can develop godly speech patterns:
- Regularly study Scripture passages about speech. Meditating on verses like Ephesians 4:29, James 3:1-12, Proverbs 10:19, and Colossians 4:6 renews our minds to God’s standards for communication.
- Allow the Holy Spirit to purify our hearts. As Jesus said, the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart (Luke 6:45). Praying to have pure hearts shapes our speech.
- Think before speaking. We should be quick to hear and slow to speak (James 1:19). Pausing to consider our words allows the Holy Spirit to guide them.
- Avoid places and relationships that tempt unwholesome talk. Just as it’s hard to avoid picking up an accent when immersed in a foreign culture, negative environments rub off on our communication. Seeking positive influences aids godly speech.
- Confess and repent of unwholesome talk. 1 John 1:9 promises that if we confess our sins, God will purify us from all unrighteousness. This includes purifying our speech.
- Pray for God’s help. We cannot build godly habits on our own. Praying for the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to speak life-giving words invites God’s supernatural help to tame our tongues.
- Practice speaking words that uplift. Like training a muscle, regularly using our mouths for blessings, encouragement, testimonies, gratitude, and prayers develops holy habits.
- Consciously replace unwholesome talk with pure speech. If we catch ourselves mid-gossip, we can pivot to share a word of encouragement instead. Replacing corrupting speech with grace-giving communication trains our tongues for righteousness.
- Focus on Christ’s love. Remembering how Jesus graciously restored and forgave us equips us to extend that grace through our words to others. God’s love is the root of life-giving communication (1 Corinthians 13:1).
What happens when Christians fail to control their speech?
Failing to control our tongues has serious consequences. Scripture warns:
- “No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:8)
- “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” (Proverbs 21:23)
- “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.” (Ephesians 4:29)
When we do not take care to speak with grace, kindness, and truth, the results include:
- Harm done to others. Careless words can inflict deep wounds. “The tongue has the power of life and death” (Proverbs 18:21).
- Damage to relationships. Untamed speech creates distrust, resentment, and division that hinders Christian fellowship and our witness to the world.
- Grieving the Holy Spirit. God dwells in us, so unwholesome communication grieves His presence within. We risk resisting the sanctifying work of the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
- Bad influence on others. “Bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Our ungodly talk can infect those around us and normalize sinful speech.
- Ruined reputation. When we regularly gossip or speak destructively, it becomes how others define us. This damages our Christian influence and credibility.
- Discipline or consequences from God. Persistent unrepentant sinful speech may lead God to enact discipline designed to lead us to repentance (Hebrews 12:5-6).
- Regret, shame and guilt. When we fail to control our tongues, we inevitably feel remorse. This can become debilitating if we do not receive God’s grace and forgiveness.
In summary, Scripture instructs us not to allow unwholesome talk to come out of our mouths because words have immense power. Corrupting speech fails to reflect Christ, harms others, and hinders the work of God’s kingdom. As Christians, we glorify God through building others up with our speech and extending grace to those who hear us. With the Spirit’s help, we can cultivate communication that gives life.