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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
What is "corrupt speech"? That which is said elsewhere to be also "idle, backbiting, filthy communication, jesting, foolish talking." See ye how he is cutting up the very roots of anger? Lying, theft, unseasonable conversation. The words, however, "Let him steal no more," he does not say so much excusing them, as to pacify the injured parties, and to recommend them to be content, if they never suffer the like again. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
Rotten he calls the idle word: senseless and inappropriate, such as jesting and empty talk. But even more rotten and, so to speak, foul-smelling is obscene speech, abuse, and slander. For we shall give account not only for deeds, but also for words. That is, let us speak what edifies our neighbor, what is needful for the present necessity, and not untimely and useless, so that the listeners may remain grateful to us. For if we speak what is profitable to the soul, then the listeners, as having received benefit, will be grateful. …
Clement of Alexandria
From filthy speaking we ourselves must entirely abstain, and stop the mouths of those who practise it by stern looks and averting the face, and by what we call making a mock of one: often also by a harsher mode of speech. "For what proceedeth out of the mouth," He says, "defileth a man,"-shows him to be unclean, and heathenish, and untrained, and licentious, and not select, and proper, and honourable, and temperate. …
Western Saints
Jerome
A good word is one that serves to build upon the occasion, communicating grace to the hearers because it teaches them to pursue virtues and shun vices. An evil word is one that prompts them to sin and rather drives them headlong into disaster.… Whenever we say what is not in season or inappropriate for the context, or that which does not contribute to the good of the hearers, an evil word proceeds from our mouth.… Even if we do no direct harm, yet we are not thereby building up. We shall pay the penalty of an evil word.
Thomas Aquinas
When he states Let no evil speech proceed from your mouth he begins to discuss what the old man does in relation to other men. He makes two points: First, he prohibits the old and encourages the new. Secondly, he provides an example for imitation at the beginning of Chapter Five (5:1). A person may be wrongly disposed toward his neighbor in two ways. In one way, he may hurt him through evil words; in another, he may harm him through bad example. First he forbids the former, secondly the latter (4:30). …
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