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Ephesians 4: 29
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
29 Let no [a]unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification [b]according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
Footnotes: Ephesians 4: 29 Lit rotten Ephesians 4: 29 Lit of the need
Ephesians 4: 29
English Standard Version (ESV)
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.
Ephesians 4:29
King James Version (KJV)
29 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.
King James Version (KJV) Public Domain
Reverend Courson takes a theological perspective on Ephesians 4: 29: He opines that one can always tell which kingdom a person is in from his/her speech. (1253). The language of the kingdom of darkness and death is that of complaining and murmuring, fault-finding, cynicism, cursing and corrupt communication. (1253). In contrast, speech within the kingdom of God speaks graciously, with kindness and thanksgiving. (1253).
Courson appears to place more emphasis on the dangers of ungodly spiritual speech as opposed to being mostly concerned with swearing and cursing. This is not to excuse swearing and cursing, but the state of the spirit/mind of the person, regenerated or not, will influence communication. A corrupted nature, not regenerated, opposed to God will lead to more negative spiritual language, not guided by the Holy Spirit.
The regenerated person may at times, in frustration and/or habit, for example, swear or curse and yet still be guided by the Holy Spirit. But, the Scripture is clear that the Christian should use clean speech. The process of obtaining clean speech can be an aspect of God sanctifying the Christian within salvation.
Foulkes reasons that the Apostle Paul is writing against that which is deceitful (143), but that one is to avoid bad language. (143). The Greek word σαπρός (Sapros) basically means 'rotten'. It is worthless and rotten language that can spread among people. (143). It spreads rottenness. (143).
From: Bible Hub
Strong's Concordance sapros: rotten, worthless
Original Word: σαπρός, ά, όν
Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: sapros
Phonetic Spelling: (sap-ros')
Short Definition: rotten, useless, corrupt
Definition: rotten, useless, corrupt, depraved.
George E. Harpur explains that Ephesians 4: 29 is writing against evil speech.
Additional: For context, Harpur explains that from 4: 25 to 5: 2, the text is contrasting the walk of the non-Christian to the Christian. Evil is compared to virtue. (1437).
COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.
FOULKES, FRANCIS (1989) Ephesians, Grand Rapids, Inter-Varsity Press.
HARPUR, GEORGE (1986) Ephesians in The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
STRONG, J. (1890)(1986) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Burlington, Welch Publishing Company.
