Ephesians 4:29, commentary and pictures

No rotten talk is to come from the mouth, but only what is good for building up hearers so it gives them grace and help for their need. Rotten does not mean only openly vile words, but anything against holy principle and pure religion, including impure, false, idle, jesting and complaining words and harsh, angry, accusing and faultfinding words that tear down rather than lift up. In its place is to come speech that is kind, pure, true, cheerful and comforting, spoken in love after Christ's pattern, with timely counsel, praise to God and words that point souls to Jesus. This belongs to putting off the old corrupt self and putting on the new self in righteousness and true holiness, putting away lying, theft, anger, bitterness and malice, refusing to grieve the Holy Spirit, and walking in love, unity and light. Words show what fills the heart and whether conversion is real, for cherished evil in the heart bears evil words while Christ within brings honoring words, so the tongue must be guarded, sanctified and used as a precious talent accountable to God in home, church and daily work.

Meaning of Corrupt Speech

The prohibition allows no corrupt word to come from the mouth, and corrupt does not mean only what is openly vile or vulgar. It means any expression contrary to holy principles and pure, undefiled religion. Such speech is forbidden because it leaves a harmful impression on the mind, obscures the view of Christ, and drives true sympathy and love from mind and soul.

Corrupt speech includes unchaste, impure, unelevated, low and cheap words, jesting and trifling, guile and low expressions, and impure hints with covert insinuations and suggestions of evil. Truthful and pure speech is required instead, with only talk that is good, strengthens others, and brings blessing to hearers. Such impure hints and covert insinuations must be resisted at once, for unless instantly resisted they lead to great sin.

Corrupt speech also includes foolish, frivolous, idle, exaggerated, dishonest and false words, gossip and foolish joking, extravagant joking letters, and making serious subjects objects of ridicule. It includes fretful complaints and repining, complaining words and speech that highlights the faults of others, and any words that help neither speaker nor hearer. Such idle and harmful words are accountable before God, recorded, and will bring shame at the judgment.

Corrupt speech includes harsh, hasty, rash, passionate, peevish, scathing, impatient, angry and retaliatory words, and coarse and rough words. Uncontrolled angry outbursts come from the evil one, while harsh and retaliatory words wound and irritate others in the home and elsewhere. It includes evil, accusing speech that tears down character and damages trust, criticism that only exposes mistakes, faultfinding, and complaining that highlights others' faults. It includes suspicion, distrust, evil surmising, hinting, tale-bearing, confederacy in evil, judging, oppressing and casting a dark shadow on another, and persecution of brethren from prejudice and jealousy.

Corrupt communication is not limited to spoken words, for decisions and acts in council can violate the same rule when they express an unchristlike spirit. This occurs when decisions oppress needy people who may perish if abandoned, obscuring the mind's view of Christ and driving true sympathy and love from the soul.

Character of Edifying Speech

Paul's command is that nothing corrupt leave the mouth, but only what is good for building up, so that speech strengthens others, brings blessing and help, gives grace to the hearers, and meets their need. This edifying speech belongs to the renewed life of one who has put off the old self and lives in righteousness and holiness, putting away lying for truth-speaking, anger and wrath for kindness, tenderheartedness and forgiveness as God forgave for Christ's sake, honest labor to give to the needy, and no longer being tossed by every wind of doctrine but growing up into Christ the head. In the Christian home this same law means speaking with kindness and care rather than anger or harmful words.

Edifying speech is kind, courteous, pure, true, correct, wholesome, gracious, pleasant, cheerful, hopeful and comforting, always with grace and suited to strengthen the hearer. It is spoken in pleasant tones with pure and correct language, grace refining both word and tone, and kind words so given refresh the soul like dew and gentle showers. It is elevating, refining and ennobling rather than harsh, rough, unkind, uncourteous, blustering, overbearing or fault-finding, for sincerity and uprightness never atone for lack of kindness and courtesy, and such roughness shows failure to have learned of Jesus and causes good to be evil spoken of. Courtesy therefore must not lessen even when others are rough and uncourteous, and self-respect is preserved by carefully not needlessly wounding the self-respect of others, sacredly observed toward the dullest and most blundering, with sympathy as well as truth and pity and courtesy as well as honesty.

The pattern is Christ, in whose mouth was no sin or guile but from whom holy, ennobling truths constantly flowed, into whose lips grace was poured to know how to speak a timely word to the weary. To speak for edification is to reveal Him in speech with power to win souls, speaking at all times with His meekness and gentleness, patience and sympathy, taking human nature as He did to show the fruit those who receive Him must bear. Such words are like a sweet odor, calm and pure rather than rash or retaliatory, and help reveal Christ and the truth to others, proving by word and action sonship to God as members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King, a daily proof worth more than all learning and high attainments.

In correcting or advising, edifying speech is given in love and a right spirit, for harsh words wound and provoke rebellion while loving words can reform without exasperating and encourage right conduct. Criticism that merely exposes mistakes without offering constructive counsel tears down rather than helps, so those who know a better way should share it with the responsible persons to give useful guidance, speaking only words of comfort, peace and hope rather than words that judge, oppress or cast a dark shadow. Edifying speech speaks of God's goodness, mercy and love with praise, thanksgiving and lessons from the life of Christ, presenting none of self but all of Jesus. Rooted in Christ and seeking God personally, with mind and heart full of His love and truth sanctifying soul, life and character, it allows no strife for supremacy, no sermonizing, nothing savoring of self-exaltation and no dissension-causing questions; its honest, sound words give grace and knowledge, comfort the discouraged, show kindness, convict unbelievers, and point hearers to Jesus and the hope of heaven.

Edifying speech is trained, thoughtful and controlled rather than merely expressing whatever is felt or filling silence. The lips are guarded, speech is lessened and chosen thoughtfully rather than careless, rough or uncourteous, with grace refining word and tone, and right words are learned in order to bless and encourage and shed light on souls. Its value lies in wise, helpful words spoken in a way that benefits others, revealing the fruits of righteousness rather than cruelty or unkindness. Words of hope, cheer and comfort, especially for one in trouble, build up and express true friendship, and speech that so builds can help lead hearers toward salvation and strengthen influence and usefulness, while failing words undermine them.

Context in Ephesians Four

Ephesians 4:29 belongs to learning Christ as the truth is in Jesus, putting off the former old man corrupt through deceitful lusts, being renewed in the spirit of the mind, and putting on the new man created after God in righteousness and true holiness. Those who come to the banquet of truth claiming to believe and teach the Word to others while keeping corrupt speech and unrighteous works have not eaten the flesh and drunk the blood of the Son of God, have not put on the wedding garment, and will be speechless at the King's inspection and subject to outer darkness. The verse is a purposeful warning to stand at post on guard over self and do all to withstand in the evil day, lest evil agencies warring against believers lead to saying and doing what pleases the enemy, so that words and deeds are fragrant with the holiness of truth.

It stands together with putting away lying to speak truth with neighbors as members of one another, being angry without sin and not letting the sun go down on wrath, giving no place to the devil, and stealing no more but laboring honestly in order to have to give to the needy. It belongs with no longer being children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine and deceit, but speaking the truth in love and growing up into Christ the head. Harmful speech is to be put away as part of the renewed life in righteousness and holiness.

The verse stands together with putting away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking and malice, and being kind, tenderhearted and forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake forgave. Keeping it sets possibilities and probabilities before the Christian, for the talent of speech ranks with the highest gifts and the voice is an immeasurable talent when improved, and words spoken under the sanctification of the Spirit are of great value. It means following God as dear children and walking in love as Christ loved and gave himself as an offering and sacrifice to God.

It stands together with not grieving the Holy Spirit of God by whom believers are sealed unto the day of redemption. It belongs to walking circumspectly as wise and understanding the will of the Lord, being filled with the Spirit, being followers of God as dear children who walk in love as Christ loved and gave himself, and being now light in the Lord walking as children of light. It defines the relation church members are to sustain to each other and must be brought into practical life by encouraging one another and giving fellow laborers place to work without jealousy, evil surmising or evil speaking, producing a precious bond of union, brother with brother, as selfishness, self-sufficiency, self-esteem, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking and malice are put away under the Holy Spirit's working in forming a symmetrical character for the overcomer's reward through loving God supremely and neighbor as self. In institutions it requires complete renovation on Christlike principles, distinguishing the precious from the vile and barring corrupting, criticizing, judging, unholy, cheap and trifling talk, for God will not trifle with disobedience and will never vindicate work that allows such speech, while obedience rolls back the cloud.

The verse reveals God's plain, simple plan for all His children to lay hold upon truth, the appointed means to keep unity in His church so members reveal a healthy religious experience to the unbelieving world. That unity requires conforming life to obedience to God's commandments, being united in the faith of the Scriptures, and being bound together as one in Christ Jesus with lives hid with Christ in God. Those who live this way practice the golden rule as a living testimony that the Father loves them even as He loves His Son, use heaven's costly provision to draw souls to obedience to God's holy law, become laborers together with God and partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption in the world through lust, and by courtesy, fidelity, justice and mercy and consistent Christian lives magnify God's law and make it honorable, demonstrating that the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

The whole chapter of Ephesians 4:1-32 is a warning every soul must take in the last days, calling for faith joined with works, gathering every ray of light given amid moral darkness, bearing aloft the third angel's message, setting the churches in order, closing the door of unbelief, making straight paths for the feet so the weak are not turned out of the way, and withstanding Satan's increasing seducing power that would deceive even the very elect. It is to be read with Ephesians 5 and Ephesians 6:10-18, because Satan will make every effort to tear up the foundation of faith in the third angel's message, while the building of the work of the last sixty years has not had a pin or pillar moved, and this instruction guards that foundation while past history is reprinted and past, present and future are communicated. The chapter presents God's management of His work as a whole, in which the variety of gifts, including the gift of speech, is to blend and be used together to advance the work.

Heart Spirit and Conversion

Corrupt speech is fruit from cherished wrong thoughts and evil desires in the heart, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, and no unchaste, impure, unelevated words, guile or low expressions may proceed from it. Jealousy, suspicion and selfishness cherished within lead to evil speech, while love for Christ in the heart leads to words that honor him. Speech is to help and encourage others in Christian experience by speaking of God's goodness, mercy and love with praise and gratitude, and such pure words can convict unbelievers.

Words reveal whether the Saviour dwells within, and the tongue is God's property that must be sanctified beginning at the heart, the seat of affection. Corrupt communication is peevish, scathing, impatient remarks, especially when others do not grasp one's ideas and plans or when provoked, and it includes suspicion, distrust, talkativeness, hinting to some while speaking more plainly to others, pouring secrets into ears, joining in confederacy of evil, and making suspicion so common that scarcely an innocent word can be spoken without being misconstrued as evil. Such speech grieves Jesus and grieves the Holy Spirit so that He does not abide in the heart, producing attributes that are Satanic rather than divine. Those who serve God must show at all times by word and action with the meekness and gentleness of Christ that they are sons of God, members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King, following the example He gave in taking human nature to show the fruit those who receive Him must bear, and this daily proof is worth more than all learning, wisdom and high attainments, while any other course is dishonesty to God's family that will be cut off from it.

Obedience to letting no corrupt communication proceed but only what is good for edifying to minister grace is a Bible test of true conversion and of having truly learned Christ as the truth is in Jesus. Those who have truly learned Christ have put off the former old man corrupt through deceitful lusts, are renewed in the spirit of the mind, and have put on the new man created after God in righteousness and true holiness, so they put away lying, theft, wrath, bitterness, anger, clamor, evil speaking and malice, grieve not the Holy Spirit by whom they are sealed unto the day of redemption, and are kind, tenderhearted and forgiving as God for Christ's sake forgave them. To come to the banquet of truth claiming to believe and teach the Word to others while keeping corrupt speech and works of unrighteousness shows one has not eaten the flesh and drunk the blood of the Son of God and has not so learned Christ, leaving one without the wedding garment and without being clothed with Christ's righteousness, speechless at the King's inspection and subject to being cast into outer darkness. To profess to be a child of God while flashing out in uncontrolled angry words from the spirit of the evil one is useless, because speech must be unto salvation and a child of God must keep control over words and actions no matter what others say or what reproach comes.

Foolish, frivolous, improper, peevish and corrupting talk, with harsh, hasty, rash, passionate, unwise and trifling words, grieves the Holy Spirit and Jesus and drives the Spirit away, leaving Satanic rather than divine attributes and bringing lack of faith and spiritual power. Such words dishonor Christ as the unseen divine Companion walking with the believer and hurt both speaker and hearer, while speech is to be wholesome, gracious, heavenly and useful for strengthening others, revealing by words that Christ is abiding in the soul and encouraging right conduct in the Christian home and church. Keeping from all debased and corrupting talk requires purifying the soul by obeying the truth and striving in word and deed to reach the high standard of perfection, for men whether young or middle-aged in association with others. It requires resisting the devil, searching the heart and self as with a lighted candle for any cherished sin left unrepented and unconfessed, mortifying earthly members with self-love and self-indulgence, and rising in humility and self-denial above flesh and blood which cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

When tempted to harsh thinking or speaking, the believer must kneel wherever he is and lift the heart to God in prayer till rest is found in Jesus. He must believe Christ as the unseen Companion is present, commit the keeping of the soul to God, search the Scriptures with confidence and hope, and trust in the Saviour and hope in God as a humble trusting child of faith. God will then not leave nor forsake, but will preserve, sanctify, bless and heal body and soul, make celestial harmony in the soul, lead onward and upward to certain victory, and help speak right words.

Stewardship of Speech Talent

Speech and voice rank with the highest gifts entrusted to human beings, and the voice is a talent whose value when improved cannot be measured. It is a power for good or for evil, given for convincing, persuading, praising and praying to God, and for telling of redeeming love. It must therefore be diligently cultivated, carefully guarded, and used only to build up, after the pattern of one in whose mouth was no sin or guile but from whom holy, ennobling truths constantly flowed. Used in Christlike service, every word blesses and elevates others, gives life rather than irritation, and is shaped by pure principles from the heart to be right and helpful. Corrupt does not always mean openly vile, but means any expression contrary to holy principles and pure, undefiled religion that would leave a detrimental impression on the mind, including evil-speaking, frivolous talk, fretful repining, impure suggestions, impure hints and covert suggestions of evil which unless instantly resisted lead to great sin.

Speech is accountable before God, and words should be honest and sound rather than dishonest, exaggerated, harsh, gossiping, false, foolishly joking, or idle. Words that help neither speaker nor hearer are recorded, and idle words will bring shame at the judgment, while sound words build others up, comfort the discouraged, show kindness, give grace and knowledge to hearers, and help win people to Christ by pointing to Jesus and the hope of heaven. Christians should therefore not let foolish talk or wrong principles shape their experience, but should speak in ways that edify.

The same rule applies to written communication as well as to speech. Letters written in an extravagant, joking way, or making serious subjects objects of ridicule, are idle and harmful rather than edifying, are recorded, and bring shame at the judgment. When the love of Jesus is in the heart, letters reflect His spirit and bring forth good words that build up the one who receives them.

The instruction is to be studied and obeyed, read and impressed on minds, and put into practice, and it cannot be ignored, disregarded, or treated with indifference, for only doers of the Word will receive the reward. Living by the Bible makes believers strong in the Lord, while relying on personal ideas and opinions instead can mislead others. It is solemn instruction that means much and calls for a great reformation in words and works and spiritual understanding, for many have become hard-spirited because they are strangers to the working of the Holy Spirit, and to meet its standard believers must catch the inspiration of the angels in the heavenly courts and daily breathe the atmosphere of heaven.

The verse is a purposeful warning requiring standing at post on guard over self and doing all to withstand in the evil day and to stand. Evil agencies are warring against believers to lead them to say and do what pleases the enemy, and obedience keeps the words and deeds of Christ's followers fragrant with the holiness of truth. Keeping it means not grieving the Holy Spirit by whom believers are sealed unto the day of redemption, putting away all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking with all malice, and being kind and tenderhearted and forgiving as God for Christ's sake forgave, following God as dear children and walking in love as Christ loved and gave Himself as an offering and sacrifice to God. It belongs with having heard Christ and been taught as the truth is in Jesus, being renewed in the spirit of the mind, putting off the old man corrupt according to deceitful lusts and putting on the new man created in righteousness and true holiness, putting away lying to speak truth with neighbor as members one of another, being angry without sin, not letting the sun go down on wrath, giving no place to the devil, and stealing no more but laboring honestly to have to give to the needy.

Practice in Daily Life

In the Christian home the verse means speaking with kindness and care rather than anger or harmful words. Only pleasant, cheerful words are to be allowed to pass the lips, especially when fretful or impatient, and feelings are to be restrained and speech guarded. Parents are to train themselves and their children to speak kindly, purely, persuasively and well, especially in times of trial. Harsh, retaliatory, angry, passionate, coarse and rough words wound and irritate, cause unhappiness, and weaken respect and affection, while forgiving, gracious, tender, sympathetic and forbearing speech reflects Christ and creates peace and love. Controlling words in this way prevents spreading irritability through the family and hurting children.

In the church the verse defines the relation members are to sustain to each other and is to be brought into practical life. It requires encouraging one another and giving fellow laborers place to work without jealousy, evil surmising and suspicion, or evil speaking. Every member is to feel the burden to speak what edifies, being rooted in Christ and seeking God personally so that soul, life and character are sanctified by truth. It allows no strife for supremacy, no sermonizing, nothing savoring of self-exaltation, and no questions that cause dissension, but presents lessons from the life of Christ, presenting none of self but all of Jesus.

In institutions and offices the verse requires complete renovation by working from Christlike principles and making a clear distinction between the precious and the vile. It forbids all corrupting, criticizing, judging, unholy, cheap and trifling talk and improper familiarity, while sociable, kind and courteous conversation is permitted. Conversation that corrupts rather than elevates harms others and can demoralize a whole institution, as seen at the St. Helena health institution and in the Echo office where workers are to serve unselfishly. God will not trifle with disobedience in this and will never vindicate work that has allowed such speech, and those who persist in it should be removed from its work, while obedience rolls back the cloud resting on the institution.

Every family and every individual Christian is laid the duty to bar corrupt speech and keep it from being spoken. When with those who indulge foolish and frivolous talk, believers are by grace to change the subject or guide conversation toward what is profitable. Words of praise and thanksgiving are to flow from a mind and heart full of the love of God, revealing Christ in speech with power to win souls.

Reform begins with controlling the tongue, a little member that boasts great things and runs at random unless held by the bridle of grace and the bit of self-control. Restraint under God's word refines judgment, brings peace of mind, and makes it easier to speak rightly. With the indwelling Saviour's strength a hasty temper can be subdued and words brought under control, unto salvation and good for edifying hearers. Flashing out in uncontrolled, angry words comes from the spirit of the evil one, and to profess to be a child of God while allowing them is useless, for a child of God must be clothed with Christ's righteousness and keep control over words and actions no matter what others say or what reproach comes.

Courtesy must not lessen even when others are rough and uncourteous, for kind words are as dew and gentle showers to the soul and minister grace to the hearers. Sincerity and uprightness will never atone for lack of kindness and courtesy, and rough, unkind, uncourteous words and deportment with blustering, overbearing and fault-finding conduct shows a professed follower has not learned of Jesus and causes good to be evil spoken of. Self-respect is preserved by carefully not wounding needlessly the self-respect of others, sacredly observed toward the dullest and most blundering. The tongue is to be trained to speak words that bless rather than discourage, putting away harsh, evil, unbelieving, cheap and common talk, for sound words that cannot be condemned bring peace to the soul and a saving influence to others.

Words are to be controlled and spoken for the benefit and salvation of those who hear, not merely to fill silence or from talkativeness. Speech that builds others up can help lead them toward salvation and strengthens influence and usefulness, while words that fail to do this undermine a person's good influence. Corrupt communication includes suspicion, distrust, hinting to some while speaking more plainly to others, pouring secrets into each other's ears, joining in a confederacy of evil, and making suspicion so common that scarcely an innocent word can be spoken without being misconstrued as evil.