"Gossip in the New Testament." The New Testament in Cross-Cultural Perspective. Eugene: Cascade Books. Of course, this does not mean that there are not numerous texts in the New Testament that see gossip as dangerous negative speech. Thus, for example, the Epistle to the Romans associates gossips ("backbiters") with a list of sins including sexual immorality and with murder: > :28: And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God > gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not > convenient; :29: Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, > wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, > deceit, malignity; whisperers, :30: Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, > proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, :31: > Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, > implacable, unmerciful: :32: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they > which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have > pleasure in them that do them.
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