To frame the conversation, here I am presenting something of a "quantitative" analysis by observing the relative frequency of various vices in the New Testament, of which there are over 700 references. The three topics treated thus far - untruthfulness, theft, and sexual immorality, each have approximately 60-80 New Testament references, and likewise they rank in the top three prohibitions mentioned by Jesus. Keep in mind this is the back side of New Testament ethics, in that we must begin not with the negative but with the positive admonitions, directives, and examples that are found in the New Testament, and foremost, in the teaching of Jesus. I offer some discussion of this in previous blog posts, "What is Right? Parts 1, 2, 3."
Next in general order of frequency I have placed together two groups, each attested to by approximately 50 NT references. Here we look at references to abusive speech and to factional rivalry and strife. Concerning abusive speech, I find over 50 references to slander, evil speech, defamation, malicious gossip, perjury, false accusation, insults, blackmail, and revilings (a good Bible word). These references include eleven Greek word families, and the count does not include approximately 20 references to blasphemy against God or angels. These are placed together with a related group of vices to include factions, dissensions, rivalry, envy, jealousy, strife and quarrels. This group of related vice words ranks high on the list with around 43 references.
And if you find your leaders and teachers dealing with disagreement by name calling...
Is there a more timely admonition that we could receive? In social discourse, civility has been tossed out and open disdain and malice surrounds various factions and divisions, and the quarreling and arguing around these divisions is carried out with all manner of personal attack, slander, demonizing, sarcasm and half-truths (gossip). And if you find your leaders and teachers dealing with disagreement by name calling (hurling insults, reviling), or if you find yourself doing this, recognize that this (ad hominem - "against the person") is the oldest fallacy in the book of bad reasoning, and within any measure of human character and rational discourse, just flat-out wrong.
These ways of relating and communicating are not only wrong (high on the NT "bad" list), but are totally counterproductive to truth and understanding, to cooperation and good will, toward actually solving problems that could help us all. As Paul would say, "these things should not be!"
Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Colossians 3:8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
2 Cor 12:20-21 I am afraid that when I come there may be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances...and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.
1 Peter 2:1-2 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word...
James 4:10-11 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.
1 Corinthians 4:12-13 We toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate...
1 Peter 3:8-11 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing, for 'Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.'
Bauer, W. (1979). A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Second Edition ed.). (W. F. Gingrich, Trans.) Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
Friedrich, G. K. (Ed.). (1985). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament: Abridged in One Volume. (G. W. Bromiley, Trans.) Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans / Paternoster Press.
NASB-NIV Parallel New Testament in Greek and English. (1987). (A. Marshall, Trans.) Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan.
NCBC - North Clackamas Bible Community. (2010, October 25). Vice and Virtue Lists from the New Testament. Retrieved from Bible Study Resources from NCBC: https://bcresources.net/2200000-nts-frg12-lit-frm-vv-lists-nt-art-bcrx/
Renn, S. D. (Ed.). (2005). Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words. Peabody, Massachusetts, USA: Hendrickson Publishers.
Strong, J. L. (1984). Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Thomas, R. L. (Ed.). (1981). New American Standard Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Nashville: Broadman & Holman.
Images: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debate
1) Debate Tonight: Whether a man's wig should be dressed with honey or mustard! A 1795 cartoon satirizing the content of debates.
2) 13th-century illustration of Moses and Saint Peter debating in a work by the Jewish convert Petrus Alphonsi
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