FOR WHATEVER REASON, when I was in high school, I was particularly fond of swearing, using words that were edgy back then but everywhere in the media now. Mind you, that’s not how I was raised; my parents never used that kind of language. But I was an awkward and nerdy kid who wanted to fit in, and somehow got the idea that lacing my speech with four-letter word bombs was the key to being cool.

I’m sure it came off as trying too hard to be someone I wasn’t. Luckily, no one mocked me for it.

But it made my sister giggle with embarrassment.

Paul doesn’t want us to use that kind of salty language. As we’ve seen in Colossians 3, he urges believers to rid their speech of filthiness (vs. 8). That’s not simply a prohibition against cursing and swearing; he’s encouraging the Colossians to live in newness in every aspect of their lives, including in the way they use words. That means no more lying, no more slander, no more malicious venting at other people.

Paul does, however, want their words to be salty in a different way. In chapter 4, as he finishes up the body of his letter, Paul writes:

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Col 4:6, NIV)

This may be an extension of what he said just before: “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity” (vs. 5). If so, Paul is referring to conversations that the Colossians have with people outside the church. The words the Colossians use are part of their witness. That’s especially the case when answering questions about the gospel. As the apostle Peter writes to Christians scattered around the empire:

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (1 Pet 3:15-16)

It’s not just about the words used. It’s not just about what a person says when asked the reason for their hope as Christians; it’s about how they give that answer. Various verses in Peter’s letter suggest that the people to whom he writes are being persecuted or mocked for their faith. One can easily imagine that the questions they get asked about what they believe and why aren’t always honest ones, putting believers on the defensive. But whatever they say in response, Peter teaches, let it be said gently and with genuine respect for the person asking the question. Whatever lies others may tell about them, they need to know in good conscience that they haven’t sinned in their attitude or speech.

Paul’s counsel seems similar in intent. But instead of talking about gentleness and respect, he advises the Colossians to let their speech be gracious and “seasoned with salt.” In our world, we take salt for granted and even warn people against eating too much of it. In the ancient world, however, salt was a valuable commodity. Indeed, the English word “salary” stems from the Latin salarium — which refers to the stipend soldiers were given to buy sal, or salt.

What does it mean, then, for our conversation to be seasoned with salt? There are various ways to take this. One scholar suggests that outside the church context, people of Paul’s day would have heard him referring to wit. More generally, he may be saying that the answer given shouldn’t be bland. Salt was not only used to provide savor, however; it was used to help preserve food from decay, as it still is today. Thus, Paul could be saying that the good kind of salty language has a preservative function, keeping the truth pure and unspoiled.

We don’t have to hold Paul to one and only one meaning; the beauty of metaphors like these is that they allow people to find related layers of meaning in the one image. However we take it, Paul would want believers to be able to give an account of their faith in a way that was winsome and interesting, gracious and respectful. To do so would make the most of every conversation.

. . .

IN THE SERMON on the Mount, Jesus taught his hearers that they were to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth (Matt 5:13-16). As we saw in Ephesians 5:8, Paul too calls believers to live as children of light, which includes eliminating what the New International Version translates as “obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking,” replacing these with “thanksgiving” (vs. 4).

And here in Colossians, being the salt of the earth includes using words that are seasoned with salt. The life of faith is not the same as obedience to a set of religious rituals; we must learn to think differently, pursue different goals, and even change the way we speak. When someone asks us a question about what we believe and why, we don’t have to worry that there’s only one right answer to memorize, nor should we try to argue people into the kingdom. It’s not just about what we say, but how we say it — with graciousness, respect, common sense, even a sprinkling of wit.

After all, when we do that, the person asking the question may want to keep the conversation going.