Thanks. That answered it infallibly and completely, for me and everyone else here. Thanks for every other reply I got in this topic too; I really appreciate the interest and love you people are offering in trying to inform me. God bless.
Scameter:
Here’s the Net Bible - Please note that it uses ABUSIVE LANGUAGE, which is closer to the Original Greek…
Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him. So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. You also lived your lives in this way at one time, when you used to live among them. But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all.
**
Colossians 3:1-11 NET Bible**
Here are 4 more translations on
BibleGateway.com, plus the
Revised Standard Version, &
New American Bible. And here is a
Greek/English Interlinear. and,
Here is an Interlinear with a PDF available.
The Apostle St. Paul isn’t talking about the occasional swear word. He’s talking about something much more extreme - Using language to abuse other people and using God’s Holy name to justify and dignify some of the most unholy and unGodly causes (a violation of the 2nd Commandment).
I suggest you spend some real quality time reading the Scriptures and the Church Fathers, and see what God emphasizes. I’m pretty sure you’ll see a lot about making sure employees receive an honest day’s wage for an honest day’s work, defending the rights of the widow, the orphan, the poor and the helpless, and rendering to God what rightly belongs to God… At the same time, aside from making sure people are treated with respect, that God’s name is held in awe and reverence, and about the need to be ready to give account for the hope that is in us and to lovingly correct our brothers and sisters when they are wrong, you’ll find the Scriptures say very little about speech.
Rabban Hillel said, “The First Commandment is this - You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your strength. this is the first and greatest commandment. The Second is like it - You shall love your neighbor as yourself. All of the rest is commentary.”
At some point, we need to love and know God so much that what is important to Him is important to us, and that what breaks His heart breaks ours.
Your Brother & Servant in Christ, Michael