Witherington Discusses Bad Language

Ben Witherington wrote an interesting blog post about "mature" or "adult" language. See https://www.patheos.com/blogs/bibleandculture/2019/02/25/about-mature-or-adult-language/#comment-4360436403

I agree with Witherington when he expresses dismay at people referring to profanity as "mature language." No, as he says, profanity and crude lingo "is juvenile, immature, it's the kind of language teenagers use to seem like they are all grown up (and they aren't)."

Something else to consider (noted in Witherington's blog post) is that what we say could be a reflection of our thinking and of what we regularly assimilate: garbage in, garbage out. Ephesians 4:29-32 provides fitting counsel on speech that's pleasing to Jehovah. Compare Eph. 5:1-5.

In Eph. 5:12, Paul stated: "For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret." (NIV)

So it's not only profanity that Christians must avoid; even mentioning (in sordid detail) what the nations secretly do might be shameful. A Christian is obligated to speak in a way that befits God's holy people: it is possible that Paul knew about the Greek comic Aristophanes or the Latin poet, Martial. He likely would have found their writings to be crude and unholy--especially the writings of Martial.

Harold W. Hoehner makes this observation about Eph. 5:12:

The infinitive λέγειν normally is translated “to speak” but this rendering seems clumsy here. Rather, the translation “to mention” would heighten the ascensive idea of the conjunction. Kreitzer suggests that those things too shameful to mention may have to do with the ritual obscene language associated with the mother-goddess Demeter.[69] Although this could be the case, there is nothing in the text to suggest such a specific reference. It is more likely that Paul has in mind useless deeds in which believers are not to participate. But if these works are so bad that it is shameful to even mention them, why expose them? Exposing such things not only reveals unfruitful works but teaches believers two important lessons. First, it reveals the ugliness of the deeds done in secret. Second, it impresses on them the importance of producing the fruit of light, the works of goodness, righteousness, and truth (v. 9). Deeds of darkness cannot be allowed, therefore, to spread and encompass the community of believers

See Hoehner, Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary.

John Eadie quotes Herodotus 1.138 when explaining Eph. 5:3, ποιέειν οὐκ ἔξεστι, ταῦτα οὐδὲ λέγειν ἔξεστιν.

See https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jec/ephesians-5.html

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0126%3Abook%3D1%3Achapter%3D138%3Asection%3D1