“being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers” (Romans 1:29).
Romans 1:29 continues this list of negative characteristics with a reference to “evil mindedness.” One source tells us that the ancient philosopher Aristotle associated this idea with “the spirit which always supposes the worst about other people.” (1) Other references relate this idea to bad character (2) or a disposition for mischief, misfortune, and malignity. (3)
Since “evil” can be defined as something that causes harm, misfortune, or destruction, an evil-minded person will surely bring those qualities into his or her relationships with others. To illustrate this idea, let’s take the example of an employee who decides to secretly retaliate against an employer to avenge a perceived wrong. The issue with that response is twofold. First, it shows a clear disregard for the Biblical teaching on that subject. Next, a person who follows that path will bring harm, misfortune, or destruction against his or her employer, and thus exhibit evil-mindedness as a result.
Such a person might also exhibit a few of the other qualities mentioned here in Romans 1:29 including maliciousness and/or deceit. Thus, we can learn much about how we should conduct our lives by examining these characteristics.
Next comes a reference to “whisperers,” or those who secretly slander others. This generally involves false statements that are intended to bring reputational damage to others. We might associate this word with a person who quietly disparages others, or those who “talk behind your back” as described below…
“[This word] describes the man who whispers his malicious stories in the listener’s ear, who takes a man apart into a corner and whispers a character-destroying story. Both are bad, but the whisperer is the worse. A man can at least defend himself against an open slander, but he is helpless against the secret whisperer who delights in destroying reputations.” (4)
Another commentator offers a challenging truth concerning those who engage in such conduct: “People whisper their plans because they cannot speak them aloud. Even in a fallen world, our plans are so evil that others will reject them, so we whisper.” (5) We should also note that this seemingly minor indiscretion is included among other, higher-profile sins such as sexual immorality and murder here in Romans 1:29. Therefore, we should consider the possibility that this “minor” transgression is not nearly as insignificant as it may seem.
This is especially true in light of Jesus’ cautionary message from the Gospel of Luke…
“For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops” (Luke 12:2-3).
(1) Barclay, William. “Commentary on Romans 1”. “William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible“. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/dsb/romans-1.html. 1956-1959.
(2) G2550 – kakoetheia – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2550/kjv/tr/0-1/
(3) kakoetheia (n.d.). billmounce.com. https://www.billmounce.com/greek-dictionary/kakoetheia
(4) Barclay, Ibid.
(5) Sproul, R. C. (2024). The power of the Gospel: A Year in Romans. [p. 41]