Topical Bible: Slander: Forbidden

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Topical Encyclopedia

Slander, defined as the act of making false and damaging statements about someone, is explicitly forbidden in the Bible. It is considered a serious sin that not only harms the individual being slandered but also disrupts the community and dishonors God. The Bible provides clear guidance on the issue of slander, emphasizing the importance of truthfulness and the destructive nature of false accusations.

Old Testament Teachings

The Old Testament contains numerous admonitions against slander. In the book of Leviticus, God commands His people to refrain from slanderous behavior: "You must not go about spreading slander among your people. You must not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD" (Leviticus 19:16). This command underscores the seriousness of slander as a violation of God's law and a threat to communal harmony.

The Psalms also address the issue of slander, highlighting its destructive power. Psalm 101:5 states, "Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure" . Here, slander is associated with pride and arrogance, traits that are detestable to God.

New Testament Teachings

The New Testament continues to emphasize the prohibition of slander. In his epistle to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul instructs believers to put away all forms of malicious speech: "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice" (Ephesians 4:31). This directive is part of a broader call to live a life worthy of the calling received in Christ, characterized by love, kindness, and forgiveness.

James, the brother of Jesus, also warns against the dangers of slander. In James 4:11, he writes, "Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it" . James highlights the inconsistency of slander with the law of love, which is central to Christian ethics.

Moral and Spiritual Implications

Slander is not merely a social or ethical issue; it has profound spiritual implications. It is a manifestation of the sinful nature and a tool of the enemy to sow discord among believers. Proverbs 10:18 states, "He who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool" . This proverb links slander to hatred and foolishness, contrasting it with the wisdom and love that should characterize the people of God.

The teachings of Jesus further illuminate the heart issue behind slander. In Matthew 15:19, Jesus explains, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander" . Slander is listed among other grave sins, indicating its seriousness and the need for a transformed heart.

Practical Considerations for Believers

Believers are called to be vigilant against the sin of slander, both in their own lives and within their communities. The Apostle Peter advises, "Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind" (1 Peter 2:1). This call to action requires self-examination and a commitment to truth and love.

In practical terms, avoiding slander involves guarding one's speech, seeking reconciliation, and promoting peace. The wisdom literature of the Bible, particularly the book of Proverbs, offers guidance on the power of words and the importance of speaking truthfully and lovingly. Proverbs 12:18 reminds us, "There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing" .

Ultimately, the prohibition of slander is rooted in the character of God, who is truth and love. As His image-bearers, believers are called to reflect His nature in their interactions with others, upholding the dignity and worth of every individual.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 23:1
You shall not raise a false report: put not your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ephesians 4:31
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

James 4:11
Speak not evil one of another, brothers. He that speaks evil of his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law, and judges the law: but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Folly of Slander. Part 1.
... I. For explication of its nature, we may describe slander to be the uttering ... That
which is in Holy Scripture forbidden and reproved under several names and ...
/.../barrow/sermons on evil-speaking by isaac barrow/the folly of slander part.htm

Ninth Commandment
... The bearing of false witness is forbidden, but this must not be limited ... Lying"uttering
or acting falsehood"and slander"the spreading of false reports ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/ninth commandment.htm

The Ninth Commandment
... He that raises a slander, carries the devil in his tongue; and he that receives
it, carries the devil in his car. [2] The second thing forbidden in this ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 9 the ninth commandment.htm

Letter cciv. To the Neoc??sareans.
... There is no doubt as to who is the originator of the slander. ... from the Lord, inasmuch
as no one can be brought near to the Lord by doing what is forbidden. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter cciv to the neocaesareans.htm

Christian Sympathy
... Thus vehemently making a tremendous appeal to heaven, he shakes off the slander
into the ... it; not in the same form of imprecation, for that is forbidden to the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/christian sympathy.htm

It Frequently Happens that a Creature who is not Entirely Hardened ...
... the brethren have extracted what seemed suitable for establishing the slander, but
have ... evil; and she willed to abstain from eating the forbidden fruit because ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/article xxiii iii it frequently.htm

The Sixth Commandment
... The sin forbidden is murder: Thou shalt not kill.' Here two things are to be understood,
the ... We injure others in their name, when we calumniate and slander them ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 6 the sixth commandment.htm

From the Seventh to the End of the Tenth Commandment
... sin is calumny; and if you maliciously circulate these reports to injure his character,
your sin is slander. ... 380 Q. What is forbidden by the Eighth Commandment ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 34 from the seventh.htm

A Discourse of Mercifulness
... Divers ways. First, by mis-reporting them, a sin forbidden. Thou shalt not raise
a false report' (Exodus 23:1). Eminency is commonly blasted by slander. ...
/.../15 a discourse of mercifulness.htm

The Seed of the Woman, and the Seed of the Serpent
... day wherein they eat of the forbidden fruit, they should "surely die;" and, if he
did not execute this threatening, the devil might then slander the Almighty ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the seed of the woman.htm