The Nugget:
1Co 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (KJV)
1Co 15:33 Do not be fooled. “Bad companions ruin good character.” (GNB, Good News Bible)
1Co 15:33 Don’t let anyone deceive you. Associating with bad people will ruin decent people. (GW, God’s Word translation)
1Co 15:33 Don’t fool yourselves. Bad friends will destroy you. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)
1Co 15:33 Don’t be fooled: “Bad friends will ruin good habits.” (ERV, Easy to Read Version)
1Co 15:33 Be not deceived; “Evil stories corrupt well-disposed minds.” (Murdock NT)
1Co 15:33 Do not be tricked by false words: evil company does damage to good behaviour. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)
1Co 15:33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” (NLT, New Living Translation)
My Comment:
Compare 1 Corinthians 15:33 with Proverbs 13:20–
Proverbs 13:20
20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
King James Version
When I was a high school student, my Sunday school teachers, Mr. John Boyko and Mr. Dean Sawdon, recommended to us that we read one chapter of the book of Proverbs each day corresponding to that day’s date. Since Proverbs has 31 chapters, that works out well.
I was early impressed with a most important piece of advice found in Proverbs 1:10, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” Follow that advice and you will stay out of trouble!
I made some notes on the back of an envelope in the 1960s about Hindrances to Guidance which incorporate some of these verses and much more, as follows:
- Wrong relationships with other people. 2 Corinthians 6:14.
- Ignorance of the Word of God. Colossians 1:10. Mark 12:24.
- Prayerlessness. James 4:2.
- Failing to trust in the Lord. Proverbs 3:5, 6. Psalm 9:10.
- Seeking counsel from wrong sources. 1 Chronicles 10:13. 1 Kings 12:8. Job 21:16. Job 22:18. Psalm 1:1. Psalm 33:10, 11. Psalm 73:24. Proverbs 12:15. Proverbs 21:30. Isaiah 8:19, 20. Isaiah 30:1.
- Unconfessed sin. Psalm 66:18. 1 John 1:9.
- Willful practice of known sin. Psalm 66:18.
- Failing to walk in the light that we have. John 3:19. Psalm 119:105. Psalm 119:130.
- Failure to have a firm goal in our life. James 1:5, 6, 7, 8.
- All the factors that lead to unanswered prayer relate also to hindrances to divine guidance. Psalm 66:18.