A Word Fitly Spoken

A Word Fitly Spoken: A Theology of Communication explores the biblical and theological foundations of human communication, examining why and how people speak, listen, sing, and engage one another through language and speech.

Rev. Aaron L. Garriott organizes this book in two parts. The first, “Divine Discourse,” considers God as a communicative Being and the source of all human language. Garriott traces communication through the doctrines of the Trinity, the image of God, divine self-disclosure in nature and Scripture, the sacraments as visible words, and the eschatological hope of perfected communion with God. The second part, “Human Discourse,” turns to the practical dimensions of communicating to God’s glory—stewardship of speech, prayer, congregational singing, everyday conversation, conflict resolution, nonverbal communication, listening, oratory, evangelism, and the challenges of digital media.

Throughout, Garriott draws on Reformed theological sources to argue that communication is not merely a social or anthropological phenomenon but an irreducibly theological one, rooted in God’s own nature and reflected in human beings made in His image. The book addresses both the spoken and unspoken dimensions of human interaction, offering pastoral guidance for Christians seeking to steward their words faithfully in an age of digital distraction and cultural fragmentation.

Key Themes

• God as the origin and foundation of all human communication
• The image of God as the basis for language, speech, and communion
• Prayer, singing, and the sacraments as forms of divine-human discourse
• Faithful stewardship of speech in everyday life and conflict
• Christian discernment in the use of digital media and technology

Featured Quotes

“Simply put, we communicate because God communicates.”

“Godly silence is a form of self-denial, a willingness to hear the other person rather than the need to be heard.”