Answer
New life in Christ is a profound reality (John 17:23; Romans 6:4–5; Colossians 3:1–3; Galatians 2:20). The born-again believer draws his real life and rightful existence from the center and source of all life, who is Jesus Christ Himself. Because of this spiritual reality, the apostle Paul urges Christians to “put to death” or “rid [themselves]” of whatever sinful things of the earthly nature are still lurking within them. He lists some practical examples: “Sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Colossians 3:5–10).
Paul gave a similar admonition to the Ephesians: “But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving” (Ephesians 5:3–4, ESV).
The Greek term (aischrologia), translated as “filthy language” in Colossians 3:8, refers to lewd, foul, low, obscene, or abusive speech. This kind of talk applies not only to curse words and obscenities but also to abusive and hurtful words. Filthy language of any kind, whether crude, insensitive, or offensive, inevitably damages or wounds the hearer in one way or another. Most scholars agree that Paul’s emphasis in Colossians 3:8 is on abusive, destructive, divisive language.
Proverbs 10:11 says that “the words of the godly are a life-giving fountain” (Proverbs 10:11, NLT). “Gentle words are a tree of life,” informs Proverbs 15:4 (NLT). According to Proverbs 18:21, our words possess powerful, life-and-death effects: “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences” (NLT). We can either encourage and build people up with refreshing words of life (Romans 15:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:11) or drag them down into the toxic aftermath of our filthy language.
Jesus explained that our words reveal the condition of our hearts: “For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you” (Matthew 12:34–37, NLT; see also Matthew 15:10–11; 15:18–20).
When our hearts are in close fellowship with Jesus, drawing from His wellspring of life, we will think before we speak and choose words that please Him (Psalm 17:3; 19:14; 39:1; 141:3). Instead of using “foul or abusive language,” we will “let everything [we] say be good and helpful, so that [our] words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (Ephesians 4:29, NLT). By contrast, when our old earthly nature captures our hearts, we are more likely to produce sinful things such as rage, malice, slander, and filthy language (see Psalm 36:1–3; 50:19; 59:12; Proverbs 18:6–7).
Does your speech reflect the life of Christ as the source and center of your being? Are you speaking His life into your husband, wife, children, loved ones, fellow believers, and friends? Or is filthy language destroying your marriage, family, friendships, churches, neighborhoods, and ministries?
Because Jesus Christ is the center of our lives, our speech can and ought to be like His, never abusive but always “full of grace” toward others (Colossians 4:6). We should develop a life-giving vocabulary that builds people up rather than an arsenal of filthy language that shoots others down (Ephesians 4:15; James 3:9–10; 4:11).