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1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
1 Corinthians 15:33 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.”
  • KJV Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
  • NKJV Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
  • NASB Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
  • NLT Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Paul warns not to be deceived, for bad company corrupts good character. It matters because false teaching about the resurrection threatened to corrupt the church.

Overview

Quoting a common proverb, Paul warns the Corinthians against the corrupting influence of those who denied the resurrection. Wrong belief leads to wrong behavior, so associations matter. The exhortation calls believers to guard both their doctrine and their conduct from harmful influences.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 16

  • Prov 13:20He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
  • Matt 24:4Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you.
  • 1 Cor 5:6Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough?
  • Prov 9:6Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
  • Eph 5:6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
  • Gal 6:7Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.
  • 2 Tim 2:16–18But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness,
  • 1 Cor 6:9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts,
  • Matt 24:24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
  • 2 Pet 2:2Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed.
  • Heb 12:15See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.
  • 2 Pet 2:18–20With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.
  • Matt 24:11and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.
  • Rev 12:9And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
  • 2 Th 2:10and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.
  • Rev 13:8–14And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (6)

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Commentaries & study tools

Christ at the center

Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.

How 1 Corinthians 15:33 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.