1 Corinthians 15:33

Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals.

'Be not deceived' -'Do not go on being deceived! Deception runs its course; do not be persuaded to enter on or to continue in this course.' (Lenski p. 698) (1 Corinthians 6:9)

'Evil companionships' -'Bad company' (NASV)

'corrupt good morals' -'ruins good habits' (Beck); 'ruins character' (Gspd).

Points to Note:

1. The 'bad company' in this verse, are those who are teaching error. (1 Corinthians 15:12)

'Conduct begins with teaching. Example is the strongest way to convey teaching but example is based on teaching. We sooner or later act out what we've come to believe.' (McGuiggan p. 199)

'One who rejects the resurrection cannot live and act like one who truly believes this divine reality.' (Lenski p. 699)

'At first, the false doctrine would appear to be an innocent theory about the dead; soon those who accepted it would reason, "Why deny myself of this fleshly pleasure since there is no resurrection anyway?"' (Willis p. 568)

2. This statement is also found in. secular work from the ancient world. 'The quotation "bad company ruins good morals" is an iambic trimeter from Menander's comedy Thais; it had probably become. proverbial saying.' (F.F. Bruce p. 150) This was the Greek equivalent to 1 Corinthians 5:6 '..a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.'

3. We have seen the above truth played out in many of the mainline denominations. Years ago many denominations began to swallow modernist views of the bible, i.e. the O.T. is myth, Jesus wasn't really born of. virgin, etc..Today, these same denominations are the religious bodies which are advocating that homosexuality and sex outside of marriage aren't sinful.

4. Many have made the mistake of thinking that they can convince people to live moral lives by using poetry, philosophy, cute and humorous stories or religious hype.