In biblical terminology, "backbiters" refers to individuals who engage in slanderous or malicious talk about others, often in their absence. This behavior is condemned in Scripture as it is contrary to the principles of love, unity, and truth that are central to Christian living.

Biblical References:

1. Romans 1:28-30 : The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, includes backbiters in a list of unrighteous behaviors that characterize those who have turned away from God. He writes, "Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful; they invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents."

2. Proverbs 25:23 : The wisdom literature of the Old Testament also addresses the issue of backbiting. Proverbs 25:23 states, "As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks." This proverb highlights the destructive nature of backbiting, likening it to a storm that disrupts peace and harmony.

3. 2 Corinthians 12:20 : Paul expresses his concern for the Corinthian church, fearing that he may find them engaged in divisive behaviors, including backbiting. He writes, "For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalries, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder."

Theological Implications:

Backbiting is seen as a sin that not only harms the individual being spoken about but also damages the spiritual health of the one engaging in it. It is a violation of the command to love one's neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22:39) and undermines the unity of the body of Christ. The New Testament frequently emphasizes the importance of edifying speech and warns against the use of the tongue for evil purposes (Ephesians 4:29, James 3:5-10).

Moral and Ethical Considerations:

From a moral standpoint, backbiting is considered a breach of trust and an act of betrayal. It often stems from a heart of envy, pride, or malice, and it can lead to discord and division within communities. Christians are called to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) and to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding.

Practical Application:

Believers are encouraged to guard their tongues and to refrain from speaking ill of others. Instead, they should focus on building one another up and addressing conflicts directly and lovingly, in accordance with biblical principles (Matthew 18:15-17). By doing so, they reflect the character of Christ and contribute to the unity and purity of the church.

Whether it is a Grave Sin for the Listener to Suffer the Backbiter ...
... For a man is not under greater obligations to others than to himself. But it is
praiseworthy for a man to suffer his own backbiters: for Gregory says (Hom. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is a grave.htm

Whether Tale-Bearing is a Sin Distinct from Backbiting?
... On the contrary, A gloss on Rom.1:29,30, "Tale-bearers, backbiters [Douay: 'whisperers,
detractors']" says: "Tale-bearers sow discord among friends; backbiters ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether tale-bearing is a sin.htm

Whether Backbiting is the Gravest of all Sins Committed against ...
... xi, Ep.2): "What else do backbiters but blow on the dust and stir up the dirt into
their eyes, so that the more they breathe of detraction, the less they see ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether backbiting is the gravest.htm

Jowett -- Apostolic Optimism
... minds," "unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy,
murder, strife, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, hateful to God ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume 10/jowett apostolic optimism.htm

How and in what Time I came to Solitary Life: and of the Song of ...
... grown in ghostly profit. Forsooth the worst backbiters I have had are those
which I trusted before as faithful friends. Yet I ceased ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter xv how and in.htm

That God is to be Loved and Worshipped in Diseases: and Also of ...
... be glad with the angels of God and all His saints, it befalls us here to be reproved
by flatterers and wrong sayers; by fawners and backbiters; by praisers and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter ix that god is.htm

That Ghostly Song Accords not with Bodily: and the Cause and the ...
... Nor doubtless ought I to cease from the best tried devotion because of backbiters
that have cast evil biting into mind innocence; and I ought to cast all ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter iii that ghostly song.htm

Rom. I. 28
... Ver.30. "Whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful," and classing things
which to many seem indifferent among his charges, he further strengthens his ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily v rom i 28.htm

Letter Liv. To Furia.
... 3. A truce to the calumnies which the malice of backbiters continually fastens upon
all who call themselves Christians to keep them through fear of shame from ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter liv to furia.htm

Sin and the Penalty of Sin the Same.
... all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full
of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, odious to ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 24 xxii sin and the.htm

Backbiters (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Backbiters (1 Occurrence). Romans 1:30 backbiters,
hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors ...
/b/backbiters.htm - 6k

Backbite
... "He that backbiteth [Revised Version, slandereth] not with his tongue" (Psalm
15:3). Backbiters bak'-bit-rz (Greek katalaloi: Men who speak against. ...
/b/backbite.htm - 8k

Inventers (1 Occurrence)
... Inventers (1 Occurrence). Romans 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud,
boasters, inventers of evil things, disobedient to parents, (WBS). ...
/i/inventers.htm - 6k

Insolent (16 Occurrences)
... Romans 1:30 backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of
evil things, disobedient to parents, (WEB WEY ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/i/insolent.htm - 11k

Inventors (1 Occurrence)
... Romans 1:30 backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of
evil things, disobedient to parents, (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV). ...
/i/inventors.htm - 6k

Invent (2 Occurrences)
... Romans 1:30 backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of
evil things, disobedient to parents, (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT ...
/i/invent.htm - 7k

Forms (24 Occurrences)
... Romans 1:30 They were secret backbiters, open slanderers; hateful to God, insolent,
haughty, boastful; inventors of new forms of sin, disobedient to parents ...
/f/forms.htm - 13k

Destitute (25 Occurrences)
... Romans 1:30 They were secret backbiters, open slanderers; hateful to God, insolent,
haughty, boastful; inventors of new forms of sin, disobedient to parents ...
/d/destitute.htm - 13k

Disobedient (30 Occurrences)
... Romans 1:30 backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of
evil things, disobedient to parents, (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). ...
/d/disobedient.htm - 17k

Despiteful (3 Occurrences)
... Despiteful (3 Occurrences). Romans 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud,
boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (KJV WBS). ...
/d/despiteful.htm - 8k

What does the Bible say about backbiting? | GotQuestions.org

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