Evil-speaking

Evil-speaking in the New Testament refers broadly to the sins of the tongue — slander, defamation, blasphemy, and speaking maliciously about others. Titus 3:2 commands believers to "speak evil of no one," placing it alongside quarreling and hostility as behaviors incompatible with Christian conduct. James 4:11 warns against speaking evil of one's brother, arguing that to do so is to speak evil of the law and to set oneself up as judge. Paul includes blasphemos (evil-speaking, slander) in lists of sins that characterize the ungodly (1 Corinthians 5:11; 6:10). Peter calls believers to put away all evil-speaking (1 Peter 2:1). The consistent New Testament emphasis is that the tongue's power for evil is a particular test of genuine faith (James 3:1–12) and that the new life in Christ is to be marked by gracious, edifying speech.