Slander

Dr. Couch, where does the word Slander come from? What does it mean in Greek? ANSWER: The word is "diabolos" and it is two words put together, dia=through, or thoroughly, and bolos=that means to throw. We get the word "ball" from bolos. The word diabolos is used 38 times in the NT. 35 times it is translated as the "devil." Twice it is translated as "accuser" (2 Tim. 3:3; Titus 2:3) and once as "slanderers" (1 Tim. 3:11). The word is used as a verb only once, "diaballomai." Jesus told His disciples that a steward, a servant, was "reported" to his rich owner that he was squandering his possessions (Luke 16:1). The word translated "reported" is meaning that the steward was "slandered" before his master, the rich man. The NAS translates the word "diaballomai" as "reported" and this is wrong. It should be translated that the man was "slandered" before his master. To slander someone is to "throw an accusation against them." This is what Satan, the devil, does to us. Thanks for asking. --Dr. Mal Couch (12/10)

What About Slander and Gossip In The Church?

Dr. Couch, our church recently went through a split. Slander and gossip destroyed the peace and contentment. A lot of people got hurt and left. I understand this is going on all over. I just found Proverbs 26:19-22. Do these verses apply to what is going on today?

 

   Absolutely! Here are some excellent thoughts about these verses from the Proverbs commentary volumes of Dr. Bruce Waltke. He not only exegetes the verses, and their meaning, but puts the right interpretation on what the passages are all about. Christians can be terribly destructive and go about without guilt destroying other people and institutions. Waltke writes:

   "The slanderer is a contentious person. He uses inflammatory speech that will burn down the community of believers. His words are so destructive, and he is so cunning, the church body will swallow his inflammatory calumnies like testy tidbits. The group that tolerates the gossip is also culpable for the conflicts that tear it apart.

    "By attacking others, or authority, the gossip secures his own will. He is labeled perverse, the one who turns a community upside down. His tools of trade are half-truths, facts distorted and exaggerated beyond recognition. As a storm whips up the sea, the slandering rebel whips up strife so strong that it divides even the closest friends. A contentious person must be driven from the community.

    "The gossip’s yeast will work through the whole batch of dough. His audience greedily swallow his inflammatory speech, they delight in his words. The words now in their hearts will inevitably be on their lips. The community will ultimately lose its own peace and character by tolerating agitators against all that is right."

   Waltke is right on target in his thoughts coming from these verses. This destruction is happening in church after church across America!

Thanks for asking.

Dr. Mal Couch