What is gossip?

[tonychanyt]

Proverbs 16:

28 A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.

Proverbs 26:

20 Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.

Ephesians 4:

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

Look to your heart and motivation. Are you talking about this person for his benefit? If not, then it is likely that you are gossiping about him.

When in doubt, ask him for his permission first before you tell others. If you are afraid to ask, then it is likely gossip.

Check with the Paraclete dwelling in you. When you speak, do you have inner peace about you in your mouth? If not, then it is likely that it is gossip.

 

[Josheb]

Proverbs 16:


Proverbs 26:


Ephesians 4:


Look to your heart and motivation. Are you talking about this person for his benefit? If not, then it is likely that you are gossiping about him.

When in doubt, ask him for his permission first before you tell others. If you are afraid to ask, then it is likely gossip.

Check with the Paraclete dwelling in you. When you speak, do you have inner peace about you in your mouth? If not, then it is likely that it is gossip.

Great, but what is gossip? The op talks "around" the topic but never answers the question it asks. Both of the OT verses quoted speak of the gossiper (whisperer or talebearer), not gossip as an action.

What is gossip, Tony?

Give 2 Corinthians 12:20 a try. That is a verse that uses the verb, not the noun. "Psithyrismoi" is slandering in secret. Defamation is comments intended to denigrate a person's reputation. Slander is false statements spoken (in secret) to damage a person's reputation. More importantly, knowing what not to do is best served when what to do instead is known. So, Ephesians 4:25-32 (not just verse 29) understanding it's context in stated earlier in the chapter (vss. 12-16) is a good place to start. I like Proverbs 15 but Romans 14:19, James 3:10-12, 1 John 4:20-21, and Colossians 4:5-6 are also very helpful.