Ephesians 4:29 CSB

[29] No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.

How many times have you heard the first part of this verse used in regards to what someone says? As a means to point out unbecoming words said by an adult or to a child that has said a naughty word. I am not saying that this particular teaching isn’t in the text. I am saying however, that if that’s all that is said from this verse. Enough has not been said. In fact I think that a grave injustice has be done upon the hearer.

This text in context is a set of instructions defining what a believer should look like after putting off one’s old self. Paul sets a stark contrast explaining the differences between those who have accepted Christ and those who haven’t. I will not be highlighting the whole of Ephesians 4 here but I will encourage you to please read the entire chapter.

The problem we face here isn’t that specific words should or should not be said. That is a societal interpretation. There is no doubt that certain distasteful words can and will hurt your witness as society has trained us that we don’t want to hear such things. But that changes with time. Just look at what kids in the store say to their parents nowadays compared to what was allowed 40 years ago. The contrast is so stark that it is staggering. Simply put what was offensive then is commonplace now.

Whether or not something should be said is not where Paul is going here (at least not solely where he is going here) as evidenced by the rest of verse 29 which is so often not said. He tells us how something should be said and what foul language is.

When we teach or discipline our children or even other adults around us. We need to recognize that we are teaching and disciplining ourselves as well or that if we are not we are showing set belief be it good or bad. This is why Paul removes societal teaching from what he is saying. He keeps his teaching in Christ as evidenced by those very words ending the chapter. He does this by defining foul language for us.

but only what is good for building up someone in need,

so that it gives grace to those who hear.

Foul language is what is not that. That should give us pause. It broadens the scope of foul language to staggering degrees taking the definition completely out of societal norms. This is what I call the IN CHRIST portion of the text. Not to say that it isn’t all in Christ because it most certainly is. I am simply saying that those words should focus us on the fact that this is Christ teachings.

I feel that if we do not finish that verse when using it to teach or admonish, that we are essentially removing the Lord from the teaching. Hence grave injustice.

This is by no means an exhaustive study of the text but simply an observation.

Do we use common acceptable language that does not give grace?

Do we use common acceptable language that is not good for building up?

Do we use common acceptable language that does not give Grace?

Jesus died for my sins! Do the words that come from my mouth express that or are they foul language?

We can not remove Christ from the teaching if we are to teach anything worthy.

Just food for thinking. (Because the phrase food for thought implies we should stop thinking at some point. I don’t believe that.)

It is my sincere hope that this finds you well.

Love in Christ

Colby