Filthy Language - Colossians - Part 52

The next unique word used in Colossians is the Greek word aischrologia (Strong's G148) and it used here as 'filthy language'...

"But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth." - Colossians 3:8 NKJV

It is a good translation. The word it comes from means filth related to shame. That is an interesting concept. Filth is something that is thought of as preventable so people brought up around cleanliness often associate filth with shame. Company can't come over unless the house is spotless.

Filthy language is littered with curse words and obscene ideas. Littered is the operative word. It is speech that is preventable in clean society.

Let's move to the verses that follow.

"Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." - Colossians 3:9-15 NKJV

Wow. The shame economy is gone.

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you." - John 15:1-3 ESV

We don't clean up our act. God does. That is profound.

Jesus bears fruit is us and through us. There is no division. Everyone who believes is clean. Our feet get dirty but we have been washed clean.

If we are self-regulating our words then our source of strength is our self. God will give us words if our minds are set on things that are above (see Colossians 3:1)

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