Gossip can ruin friendships. It can also destroy a person’s reputation. Be careful not to say hurtful things about others.

Gossip; Are Your Words Helpful and Good or Hurtful?

STM Bible Lesson

Lesson focus: 2 Timothy 3:3. Bible lesson background: The Bible Knowledge Commentary: As in his previous letter, Paul warned Timothy about the collapse predicted for the last days (cf. 1 Timothy 4:1-3), a term which includes the entire period between the first century and Christ’s return. During this interim, according to the prediction, the world will see terrible times of societal degeneration.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 [read 2 Timothy 3:1-9 (1-5)]

Know this: there will be hard times during the last days. 2 People will be selfish, greedy, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobeying their parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural love, unforgiving, gossips (slanderers), violent, mean, hating good, 4 traitors, wild, and conceited. They will love pleasures more than they love God. 5 They will hold the outer form of religion but say no to its inner power. Stay away from these people. (Holy New Covenant).

KJV: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

diabolos – false accusers

G1228 διάβολος diabolos (d̮iy-a’-ɓo-los) adj. a calumniator (a person that makes statements about someone that are not true and that are damaging to their name), false accuser, slanderer.

Gossip

The focus of this study, gossip, is the negative aspect of the activity; wicked gossip. FYI, to gossip or share info about others is not always a sin or negative.

Proverbs 16:27-28 [read Proverbs 16:27-30 (27-28)]

A worthless person digs up evil [gossip] — it is like scorching fire on his lips (CJB). 28 Gossip is spread by wicked people; they stir up trouble and break up friendships (TEV)

KJV: An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. 28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

The word gossip is not found in the KJV or NKJV. But that does not mean it is not in the Bible. In fact, ‘gossip’ is found 19 times and ‘gossiping’ 3 times in the Contemporary English Version (CEV). So stay with me and complete this Bible lesson on gossip.

Think about this:

Gossip (talebearer) is listed as one of the ‘thou shalt not’s’ in the Moral Law. More related to slander than to gossip.

Leviticus 19:16 [read Leviticus 19:1-37 (16)]

You shall not go up and down as a dispenser of gossip and scandal among your people, nor shall you [secure yourself by false testimony or by silence and] endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the Lord. (AMPC)

KJV: Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor; I am the LORD.

rakiyl – talebearer

H7400 רָכִיל rakiyl (raw-keel’) n-m. slander, slanderer, tale bearer, informer. [a slanderer, gossip, talebearer (OJB)].

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What is gossip?

Definition

A gossip or ‘talebearer’ is one who spreads or repeats a rumor or things heard. It is usually of a personal, dramatic, or intimate nature about others.

Synonyms

• Calumny – Slander; a false accusation of a crime or offense, knowingly or maliciously made to hurt someone’s reputation.
• Fable – A story that is not true; a falsehood.
• Inquisitor – A unnecessarily curious person; one who asks more questions than is necessary or proper; prying.
• Newsmonger – One who spends much time in hearing and telling news; a person who spreads news; especially a gossip.

Anyone who spreads gossip is a fool

The interesting part of this wisdom is that it begins speaking of a fool’s words. By association, it is also foolish to gossip!

Proverbs 18:6-8 [read Proverbs 18:6-8]

By talking, a fool gets into an argument, and his mouth invites a beating. 7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin. His lips are a trap to his soul. 8 The words of a gossip (talebearer, slanderer) are swallowed greedily (OJB: delicious tidbits), and they go down into a person’s innermost being. (GW)

KJV: A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. 7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. 8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

nirgan – talebearer

H5372 נִרְגָּן nirgan (neer-gawn’) v. 1. a slanderer, gossip, talebearer (OJB). 2. Specifically for Proverbs 18:8 per the Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon: whisper (maliciously), backbite, slander.

A gossip reveals secrets

Be careful, what you share with others may be shared with others. People that like to talk may not be trustworthy.

Proverbs 20:19 [read Proverbs 20:19]

A gossip goes around revealing secrets, so don’t get involved with a talkative person. (CJB)

KJV: He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

Proverbs 11:13 [read Proverbs 11:13]

A person who gossips can’t keep secrets. But a trustworthy person can keep a secret. (ICB)

KJV: A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

Gossip involves at least three people, the gossip—for this discussion we’ll call the ‘busybody’, the ‘listener’ and the one whom the info is about—the ‘victim’. Sometimes, the ‘busybody’ does not know the identity of the ‘victim’; so the ‘victim’ can often also be the ‘listener’. Has this happened to you, have you been the listener/victim?

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Whisperer, whispering

A warning against ungodly behavior. Paul cautioned the church at Rome to not be like those who fail to obey God. Pay careful attention to the list of sins; whisperers=gossips or gossipers.

God responds to continued rebellion…

Disciple’s Study Bible – God responds to continued rebellion by letting people carry their moral freedom of choice to absurd limits. Evil becomes standard operating procedure for such people.

Romans 1:29-30 [read Romans 1:18-32 (29-30)]

Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness and sin, of greed and hate, envy, murder, fighting, lying, bitterness, and gossip. 30 They were backbiters, haters of God, insolent, proud, braggarts, always thinking of new ways of sinning and continually being disobedient to their parents. (TLB).

KJV: Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

psithuristes – whisperers (gossips)

G5588 ψιθυριστής psithuristes (psiy-thï-riy-stees’) n. 1. a whisperer, secret slanderer, detractor.

Listening to gossip…

It is just as wrong to listen to gossip as it is to spread it. Are you quick to listen to gossip? Feed on this word and maybe it will change your mind.

Proverbs 17:4 [read Proverbs 17:4]

Wrongdoers (evil people) eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander. (NLT)

KJV: A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

I actually overheard someone whom I respected talking about me in a negative way, it did not feel good. Unlike backbiting, gossip ‘whispering’ is not always done behind your back or when you are not present. Some people are so wicked, careless and mean that they will say hurtful things about you in-your-face.

The Corinthians need to repent

Life Application Bible Commentary – Not only were they slandering each other, but they did so in secret. They continued to maliciously gossip about each other—and also, presumably, Paul (see 1 Corinthians 5:11; 6:10). The Greek word for “gossip” is literally “whisperer”.

2 Corinthians 12:20-21 [read 2 Corinthians 12:14-21 (20-21)]

For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. 21 Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure. (NLT)

KJV: For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: 21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

psithurismos – whispering

G5587 ψιθυρισμός psithurismos (psiy-thï-riyz-mos’) n. 1. whispering, i.e. secret detraction 2. (by implication) a slander 3. whispering, gossip.

Do your best to make your words good and helpful!

Malicious, evil, or wicked conversation about others is never done in love or a loving manner. Are your words destroying others?

Galatians 5:14-15 [read Galatians 5:7-15 (14-15)]

Indeed, the whole law has been summed up in this one precept — ‘You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ 15 But, if you are continually wounding and preying on one another, take care that you are not destroyed by one another. (OEBus)

KJV: For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

We should always be careful about what we say and how we say it. Our words should uplift, not tear down.

Ephesians 4:29 [read Ephesians 4:25-32 (29)]

When you talk, do not say hurtful things. But say what people need—words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will help those who listen to you. (ICB)

KJV: 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.

Deacons wives must not be gossips

1 Timothy 3:11 [read 1 Timothy 3:8-13 (11)]

Their wives must also be of good character. They must not be gossips, but they must control their tempers and be trustworthy in every way. (GW)

KJV: Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers^G1228, sober, faithful in all things.

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The Wrap-up: Our words reflect our spiritual condition

A helpful and good heart produces helpful and good words. So remember our words reflect our spiritual condition.

Matthew 12:35-37 [read Matthew 12:33-37 (35-37)]

Those who are good have good things saved in their hearts. That’s why they say good things. But those who are evil have hearts full of evil, and that’s why they say things that are evil. 36 I tell you that everyone will have to answer for all the careless things they have said. This will happen on the day of judgment. 37 Your words will be used to judge you. What you have said will show whether you are right or whether you are guilty. (ERV)

KJV: A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Gossip in the body of Christ is not new, but I hope you understand, it is a sin when it is not helpful and good. The message in 2 Timothy 3:3 and 5; people will gossip and be ‘false accusers’, but we must avoid them, do not take part in talking about others. I pray that you practice self-control. It is one way to make sure you are not guilty of corrupt/evil speaking.

Final plea to use helpful and good words

Luke 6:45 [read Luke 6:43-45 (45)]

Good people do good things because of the good in their hearts, but bad people do bad things because of the evil in their hearts. Your words show what is in your heart. (CEV)

KJV: A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Check your words, are they good and helpful or hurtful? My friends avoid wicked gossip and have a wonderful day. I pray that you have enjoyed and will make the most of this Bible lesson. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺

Related studies/lessons/snacks for further spiritual growth:

Fruit of the Spirit; Helpful Qualities Just For You! – an estimated 19-minute read.

Choose Friends Carefully, A Warning To All Godly People – an estimated 9-minute read.

Slander – An Act of Hate and Not of Love – an estimated 25-minute read.

Backbiting is Backstabbing and It Does Not Show Love! – an estimated 10-minute read.

Self-control; Take Control Now with This Gift From God – an estimated 19-minute read.

See what is available on the Sound Truth Ministry website.

I look forward to your feedback via comment at the bottom of the page or by emailing [email protected]. Have a fantabulous day!