Gossip, Slander, Railing, Reviling ... and What Motivates Them

Many times, the motivation for gossip, slander, railing, reviling, which are similar, is to divide others unto oneself for selfish ambitions, like making disciples. In this case, the person should be marked or identified. (Rom.16:17) Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them. {18} For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent. (This division or faction often involves jealousy, lying and manipulation to get one's way.) (Jas.3:14) But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth. {15} This wisdom is not [a wisdom] that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish [Greek: demoniacal]. {16} For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed. Let's get some terminology straight so we can look at some scriptures.

From Wikipedia: Gossip is malicious talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others, meant to harm the subject's reputation in the community. It is one of the oldest and most common means of sharing facts and views, but also has a reputation for the introduction of errors and variations into the information transmitted. The term can also imply that the idle chat or news is of personal or trivial nature, as opposed to normal conversation, but may not be intentionally malicious.

(Mat.12:36) And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

(Greek meanings given below. Both Greek and Hebrew verses given to show the nature of these errors.)

Slander(er): Greek: Diablos; Accuser, Devil; meaning accusing falsely, finding fault with the demeanor and conduct of others and spreading their innuendos and criticisms in the church. (Diablo is also Spanish for "Devil.")

Psalms 15:1 Jehovah, who shall sojourn in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? [Who will be in Jerusalem, the Bride] {2} He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, And speaketh truth in his heart; {3} He that slandereth not with his tongue, Nor doeth evil to his friend, Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.

Psalms 50:20 Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; Thou slanderest thine own mother's son.

Psalms 101:5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I destroy: Him that hath a high look and a proud heart will I not suffer.

Proverbs 10:18 He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; And he that uttereth a slander is a fool.

Jeremiah 6:28 They are all grievous revolters, going about with slanders; they are brass and iron: they all of them deal corruptly.

Jeremiah 9:4 Take ye heed every one of his neighbor, and trust ye not in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will go about with slanders.

Ezekiel 22:9 Slanderous men have been in thee to shed blood; and in thee they have eaten upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they have committed lewdness.

Romans 3:8 and why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), Let us do evil, that good may come? whose condemnation is just.

1 Timothy 3:11 Women in like manner [must be] grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

2 Timothy 3:3 without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good,

Titus 2:3 that aged women likewise be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good;

Rail(er): Greek: Blasphemeo; to blaspheme, rail, revile, defame, speak evil of.

2 Peter 2:10 but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities:

Jude 1:8 Yet in like manner these also in their dreamings defile the flesh, and set at nought dominion, and rail at dignities.

Jude 1:10 But these rail at whatsoever things they know not: and what they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, in these things are they destroyed.

Revile(er): Greek: Blasphemeo; to blaspheme, rail, revile, defame, speak evil of. Also commonly translated from: Loidoreo; to abuse, revile.

Ecclesiastes 10:20 Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

John 9:28 And they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are disciples of Moses.

1 Corinthians 4:12 and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

1 Corinthians 5:11 but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat.

1 Corinthians 6:10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Peter 2:23 who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:

1 Peter 3:16 having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.

Eph.4:25 Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. (Selfish ambition often involves pride, anger and lying to get one's way.) {26} Be ye angry, and sin not: (?) let not the sun go down upon your wrath: {27} neither give place to the devil. {28} Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need. {29} Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, (Greek: "the building up of the need." i.e. If it's not building up the speaker and the spoken to, don't say it.) that it may give grace to them that hear. (If it doesn't give grace or favor from God to the hearer, then don't say it.) {30} And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption. {31} Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice: (All of this comes because of selfish ambition and unforgiveness for those who get in its way.) {32} and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you. If we want forgiveness from God, we must sow it.

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