EPHESIANS 4:29-32 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Corrupt Word; "corrupt, rotten" (akin to sepo, "to rot"), primarily, of vegetable and animal substances, expresses what is of poor quality, unfit for use, putrid. The Greek word is σαπρός sapros. Vine's (def. 3), Strong's G4550.
Necessary Edification; "(to) the use (edifying)," the RV more accurately has "(for edifying) as the need may be," marg., "the building up of the need," i.e., "to supply that which needed in each case;" so Westcott, who adds "The need represents a gap in the life which the wise word 'builds up,' fills up solidly and surely." Edifying has the idea of "building up". The word "need" here in the Greek is χρεία chreia. Vine's (def. A-1), Strong's G5532.
Impart; to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection) Derivation: a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses);. Primarily has the idea of "give" or "minister". The Greek word is didōmi δίδωμι. Strong's G1325.
The standards of speech addressed here are important for many reasons. Whatever part of our speech that does not build up, tears down. Unlike "Truth", spoken in love which corrects or rebukes (tearing down of those who are puffed up. Correct responses lead to humility.) Corrupt words destroy and war against the Spirit. This form of tearing down leads to shame, and pushes us away from God. In "Exodus" God was most disappointed with grumblings and doubt.
Hearers; Them that hear. Literally, anyone who audibly hears you. The verb akouo, "to hear," is rendered "hearers" in the AV (RV, "them that hear"). The Greek word used here is ἀκροατής akroates. Vine's (def. Prime), Strong's G202.
Moving to Verse 30.
Grieve; Has the idea of distress, to cause pain or grief. The Greek word is λυπέω lupeo. Vine's (def B-1a), Strong's G3076.
My Notes: Because God's own Spirit indwells us, unholy speech (anything unholy) causes distress in our relationship with God. The Spirit becomes inactive.
Holy Spirit Of God; The spirit which lives in us. NSB (para). The Greek word is πνεῦμα pneuma. Vine's (def 1), Strong's G4151.
Whom You Were Sealed; See this study.
Day Of Redemption; the deliverance of the believer from the presence and power of sin, and of his body from bondage to corruption, at the coming (the Parousia in its inception) of the Lord Jesus. The Greek word for "redemption" is ἀπολύτρωσις apolutrosis. Vine's (def B-2d), Strong's
Verse 31.
Bitterness; metaphorically, of a condition of extreme wickedness, "gall of bitterness" or "bitter gal;". The Greek word for bitterness is πικρία pikria. Vine's (def. C-1), Strong's G4088.
Clamor; signifies "the tumult of controversy." The Greek word used here is κραυγή krauge. Vine's (def. Prime) Strong's G2906.
Evil Speaking; either from blax, sluggish, stupid," or, probably, from blapto, "to injure," and pheme, "speech," (Eng. "blasphemy") is so translated thirteen times in the RV, but "railing". The Greek uses the word "blasphemy", βλασφημία blasphemia. Vine's (def A-1), Strong's G988.
Tenderhearted; "compassionate, tenderhearted," lit., "of good heartedness" (eu, "well," and splanchnon). This can also be rendered "pitiful", but not in the derogatory sense. It has the idea of being "full of pity". The Greek word is εὔσπλαγχνος eusplanchnos. Vine's (def 2). Strong's G2155.
Forgiving; "to bestow a favor unconditionally," is used of the act of "forgiveness," whether Divine. The Greek word used here is χαρίζομαι charizomai. Vine's (def. A-2), Strong's G5483.
Takeaways - 1. It really matters what we say. I think we tend to treat language as throwaway interaction especially online, but everything we say matters and we especially want to stay away from the things mentioned here. Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, malice, and evil speaking. This is not an easy thing to do, but we must allow the Spirit to speak through us when we run into situations where these things might come into play at all times, specifically when speaking with other Christians.
2. One of the concepts covered in "bitterness" is that it leads to "complaint". We do not want to spend our time complaining about things. 1 Corinthians 10:7-10 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
There is a difference between expressing your concerns to God and those who can help and complaining about Him or your situation in life, other people, etc. Some maintain that complaining is fine as long as it's not "about God". I can't really see where the Bible itself says that.
3. We should be kind and forgiving. Forgiveness is a huge concept, it doesn't mean you let people walk all over you. This is a study I would like to do with more depth at some point.
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