How does bad company corrupt good character (1 Corinthians 15:33)?

Response

In his initial letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul addressed the false teachers who had infiltrated the church in Corinth, spreading the belief that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was not real. These individuals focused solely on their physical existence and rejected the concept of life after death or resurrection. As stated in (1 Corinthians 15:32), “If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.” Consequently, their moral perspective influenced other believers in Corinth.

Paul emphasizes that associating with false teachers can have a negative impact on us. False teachings do not lead to righteousness, so it is crucial to be cautious about the relationships we form, particularly with those outside the church. Unbelievers have the potential to shake even the most steadfast Christians in their faith and influence their journey with Christ and their testimony to the world. This is why Paul advises, “Do not be deceived.”

Indeed, this marked the second occasion Paul warned the Corinthians against deception. As mentioned in (1 Corinthians 6:9), “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind.” He urged them not to adopt the behaviors of immoral individuals who would not share in God’s kingdom. Paul understood how easily people could be swayed by such harmful teachings.

If not checked at the very beginning, they could start to adopt such twisted ideas and behaviors as normal. For this reason, Paul quotes a proverb by the Greek poet Menander: “Bad company corrupts good character” «Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. », (1 Corinthians 15:33). No doubt this proverb was well known among Greeks of this time.

The point Paul makes here is relevant to all people in all ages. When we associate with or take delight in the company of people with worldly morals, we run the risk of mimicking their behaviors, their language, and their habits. Before long, we are no longer of Christ, but of the world with its denial of absolute authority, its rejection of the Bible as the Word of God, and its ideology of relative morality. This is especially relevant to young people who are generally easily influenced by their peers. Young people are desperate for the approval of others. So motivated are they by the need for acceptance that godly wisdom in decision-making can go out the window in the face of peer pressure. Therefore, it is crucial for parents of young teens especially to be on guard against the influence of bad company.

So, what are we to do? Paul provides us the answer at the very end of chapter 15: “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” «Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.», (1 Corinthians 15:58). As parents, we stand firm against ungodly influences that may corrupt our children. As Christians, we stand firm against those who would corrupt our walk with Christ. As church members, we stand firm.I am against false teaching and watered-down gospel presentations that lead others astray. In all things, we are “self-controlled and alert” because our “enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” «Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: », (1 Peter 5:8).