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Gossip is a strange little thing. Everybody condemns it, but almost everybody does it. Everybody seems to agree it shouldn’t go on, but no one seems quite sure what it is or what distinguishes gossip from news. How is gossip different from slander, some wonder, and does the difference even matter? In many New Testament passages, it is actually “gossips” who are personally condemned, their iniquity merely provoking such judgment as something so deeply ingrained in their character that they offer it little resistance.

I. Word Study

A. Gossips

1. the word “gossips” appears several times in the New Testament, always condemned, but translated three different Greek words that might help us understand exactly what is at stake

a. psithyristēs (ψιθυριστής, pr. psith-oo-ris-tace', Strong’s #5588) appears in Romans 1:28-32

1. Thayer defines it as “a whisperer, secret slanderer, detractor”

2. the image is of one taking a friend aside and whispering secretly in his ear something that detracts from the character of a person known to both of them – the information might be true or false, but its reporting is designed to embarrass, hurt, or ostracize the object

b. phlyaros (φλύαρος, pr. floo'-ar-os, Strong’s #5397) appears in First Timothy 5:11-15

1. Thayer defines it as “of persons uttering or doing silly things, garrulous, babbling … of things, foolish, trifling, vain”

2. the King James Bible translates it “tattler” instead of “gossip,” and the literal meaning is “to boil up” or throw up bubbles, which, since they are hollow and useless demonstrate the worthlessness of a babbler’s tales; a tattler tells lies or even truths with the intent of causing someone else embarrassment or harm, taking joy at another’s difficulty or shame, but having no real interest in enlisting help in rebuking or restoring the object of her talk

c. diabolos (διάβολος, pr. dee-ab'-ol-os, Strong’s #1228) is the most interesting of the three words, because it is usually translated “devil,” owing to Satan’s operation as an adversary and accuser, but its use as a synonym for gossip is very revealing; it appears in that context in First Timothy 3:11, Second Timothy 3:3, and Titus 2:3

1. Thayer defines diabolos as “prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely … a calumniator, false accuser, slanderer, … metaphorically applied to a man who, by opposing the cause of God, may be said to act the part of the devil or to side with him”

2. malice is always attached to this kind of talk; it is not that one is telling the story as a disinterested observer, but that one hopes to capitalize upon the real or fictional failures in someone else’s life

2. while malice is common to every instance of gossip, accuracy is not

a. sometimes the gossip is true or mostly true and the retelling is often couched as reporting news, but unless the intent is to enlist aid in going to admonish or rebuke the subject of the talk, there is no excuse for violating the golden rule

b. distinguishing gossip from something that might look similar, but actually be helpful is a question of motive, but also follow-up

c. if there is no intent or actual movement toward helping the object of the talk, then it has amounted to nothing but gossip

B. Slander

1. definitionally, slander differs from gossip in that slander is always false, where gossip is often at least partly true – understand that any embellishment instantly turns gossip into slander, even if you are unaware that fiction has been added to the information to make it more censorious

2. the Law of Moses forbade slander as unneighborly and a violation of brotherly kindness: “You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:16).

3. when you engage in slander and gossip today, you become guilty of an act that is just as reprehensible as whatever it is you are exposing in someone else, who might have already repented of their misdeed, or who might be only guilty by association or falsely accused (First John 3:11-15)

4. timeless wisdom advises that a gossip can never be trusted with anything: “Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered” (Proverbs 11:12-13).

a. candidates for the eldership or deaconship are to be rejected if even their wives are known to be active in gossip (First Timothy 3:11)

b. indeed, elders and deacons, as well as preachers, will become aware of many private matters and a reputation for loose lips will prevent people from trusting them enough to talk freely or seek guidance or assistance

II. Avoid Them

A. Gossips Accuse and Destroy

1. it is difficult, but the duty of a brother and neighbor is to avoid gossip, especially about fellow Christians – to avoid hearing it, certainly to avoid starting or repeating it, but even to learn to avoid people who are prone to it; “Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler” (Proverbs 20:19).

2. the apostle Paul noted that he and those with him were subject both to “evil report and good report” and were reputed to be “deceivers, and yet true” (Second Corinthians 6:8).

3. gossips destroy churches by turning people against one another for the sake of their own pride and entertainment; many preachers and their families become the victims of gossip in the church because they live in a fishbowl, but the damage is seldom confined to the subject of gossip (Galatians 5:13-15)

B. Malice

1. there is a place for enlisting the help of witnesses in approaching someone who needs to be rebuked or encouraged where sin or disappointment has occurred, and such talk is not gossip, although it can come perilously close save for two things

a. pious intent to rebuke or encourage (see Matthew 18:15-17)

b. real action that follows the talk, rather than more talk or inaction (see James 5:19-20)

2. malice, or barring that, indifference, usually accompanies gossip and slander, and there is no hope of heaven for the Christian who can enjoy seeing a neighbor or brother fall into sin or disappointment (Ephesians 4:25-31)

3. furthermore, it is not gossip to expose false doctrines, even naming those who teach them, as long as the criticisms are accurate and fair (see Second Timothy 2:17)

Conclusion

Few things are as destructive as gossip, a sin of the tongue which James likened to a wildfire, consuming everything in its path.

Questions for Review

Define psithyristēs.
Define phlyaros.
Define diabolos as it relates to gossip.
How is malice part of gossip? Accuracy?
What distinguishes slander from gossip?
How should we deal with a gossip?
When is it scriptural to talk about someone?