Biblical Perspective On Self Talk
Biblical Perspective on Self-Talk
The biblical perspective on self-talk is rooted in the understanding that our words reflect our inner being. Proverbs 4:24 advises removing "deceitful speech" and "devious talk" from oneself, indicating the importance of monitoring one's inner dialogue [5]. The Bible cautions against self-aggrandizement and pride in one's speech, as seen in 1 Samuel 2:3, where it warns against "arrogance com[ing] out of your mouth" [1].
Self-talk can be a manifestation of deeper issues such as selfishness, self-righteousness, and presumption. Torrey's Topical Textbook highlights that selfishness is contrary to God's law and is exhibited in pleasing oneself and seeking one's own gain [2]. Self-righteousness is also condemned, as it is considered vain and hateful to God, often leading individuals to justify themselves before others and reject God's righteousness [4]. Presumption is another form of negative self-talk, characterized by opposing God, wilful commission of sin, and spiritual pride [6].
The biblical perspective emphasizes the need for self-denial and humility. Christ's example of self-denial is cited as a model for believers, who are called to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to mortify sinful lusts [3]. According to John Calvin, believers should withdraw the dominion and government of themselves from their own reason and give them to God, indicating a surrender of self-will [9].
The early Church Fathers also addressed the issue of self-talk. Augustine notes that true meditation occurs in the heart, not in outward babbling, suggesting that one's inner dialogue is crucial [11]. The importance of guarding one's speech is reiterated in the writings of the early Church, with an emphasis on edifying others through one's words [8].
In Christian theology, the issue of self-talk is tied to the concept of one's identity in relation to God. According to John Gill, if a person thinks themselves to be something when they are nothing, they deceive themselves, highlighting the danger of self-deception [10]. The biblical perspective on self-talk, therefore, encourages believers to cultivate humility, self-denial, and a God-centered identity.
The practice of speaking to oneself is also addressed in the New Testament. In 1 Corinthians 14:28, believers are instructed to speak to themselves and to God when praying or prophesying in tongues, indicating a private and personal aspect of self-talk [7].
Sources
- 1 Samuel ““Talk no more so exceeding proudly. Don’t let arrogance come out of your mouth, For Yahweh is a God of knowledge. By him actions are weighed. -- 1 Samuel 2:3”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Selfishness — Contrary to the law of God -- Le 19:18; Mt 22:39; Jas 2:8. The example of Christ condemns -- Joh 4:34; Ro 15:3; 2Co 8:9. God hates -- Mal 1:10. Exhibited in Being lovers of ourselves. -- 2Ti 3:2. Pleasing ourselves. -- Ro 15:1. Seeking our own. -- 1Co 10:33; Php 2:21. Seeking after gain. -- Isa 56:11. Seeking undue precedence. -- Mt 20:21. Living to ourselves. -- 2Co 5:15. Neglect of the poor. -- 1Jo 3:17. Serving God for reward. -- Mal 1:10. Performing duty for reward. -- Mic 3:11. Inconsistent with Christian love -- 1Co 13:5. Inconsistent with communi”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Righteousness — Man is prone to -- Pr 20:6; 30:12. Hateful to God -- Lu 16:15. Is vain because our righteousness is But external. -- Mt 23:25-28; Lu 11:39-44. But partial. -- Mt 23:25; Lu 11:44. No better than filthy rags. -- Isa 64:6. Ineffectual for salvation. -- Job 9:30,31; Mt 5:20; Ro 3:20. Unprofitable. -- Isa 57:12. Is boastful -- Mt 23:30. They who are given to Audaciously approach God. -- Lu 18:11. Seek to justify themselves. -- Lu 10:29. Seek to justify themselves before men. -- Lu 16:15. Reject the righteousness of God. -- Ro 10:3. Condemn others. -- ”
- Proverbs “Proverbs 4:24 (LEB) — Remove from yourself ⌞deceitful speech⌟, and abolish ⌞devious talk⌟ from yourself.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Presumption — A characteristic of the wicked -- 2Pe 2:10. A characteristic of Antichrist -- 2Th 2:4. Exhibited in Opposing God. -- Job 15:25,26. Wilful commission of sin. -- Ro 1:32. Self-righteousness. -- Ho 12:8; Re 3:17. Spiritual pride. -- Isa 65:5; Lu 18:11. Esteeming our own ways right. -- Pr 12:15. Seeking precedence. -- Lu 14:7-11. Planning for the future. -- Lu 12:18; Jas 4:13. Pretending to prophecy. -- De 18:22. Pray to be kept from sins of -- Ps 19:13. Saints avoid -- Ps 131:1. Punishment for -- Nu 15:30; Re 18:7,8. Exemplified Builders of Babel. -- Ge 11”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 14:28: let him--the speaker in unknown tongues. speak to himself, and to God--(compare Co1 14:2, Co1 14:4) --privately and not in the hearing of others.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — TESTIMONIES. (part 15): camp; and all who heard him shall place their hands upon his head, and all the assembly of the children of Israel shall stone him."(5) Of this same thing in Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians: "Let no evil discourse proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good for the edification of faith, that it may give grace to the hearers."(6) Of this same thing to the Romans: "Blessing, and not cursing."(7) Of this same thing in the Gospel according to Matthew: "He who shall say to his brother, Thou fool! shall be liable to the G”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 62: therefore, let his wisdom and will preside over all our actions. We are God’s; to him, then, as the only legitimate end, let every part of our life be directed. O how great the proficiency of him who, taught that he is not his own, has withdrawn the dominion and government of himself from his own reason that he may give them to God! For as the surest source of destruction to men is to obey themselves, so the only haven of safety is to have no other will, no other wisdom, than to follow the Lord wherever he leads. Let this, then be ”
- Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 6:3: For if a man think himself to be something,.... Of himself; to have anything of himself, to do anything of himself, and of himself to attain to life and salvation: when he is nothing: of himself; not even as a creature, but owes his being and preservation, and all the mercies of life, to another, even to God; has no grace nor gifts of himself, but what he has received, and can do no good thing, not think a good thought, or perform a good action, of himself, and much less of himself procure eternal life and salvation: he deceiveth himself: and will find himself s”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM LXXVII.[5] (part 7): thought on, years that stand, that are not made up of days that come and depart; years whereof in another place the Scripture saith to God, "But Thou art the Self-same, and Thy years shall not fail."[1] On these years this man that leapeth over, not in babbling without, but in silence[2] hath thought. 8. "And I have meditated in the night with my heart" (ver. 6). No slanderous person seeketh for snares in his words, in his heart he hath meditated. "I babbled." Behold there is the former babbling. Watch again, that thy s”