1 Corinthians 15:33
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
1 Corinthians 15:33
The proverb-like warning is clear: “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” The verse sits within Paul’s exhortation to cultivate bodily and moral discipline in light of the resurrection. “Evil communications” can mean corrupt talk, insidious influences, or false teaching that pollutes righteous living. In the Corinthian church, where factions, sexual immorality, and philosophical mixing were easy to adopt, this warning would have been a timely admonition to guard conversations and the company one keeps. The “corrupting” effect may be understood as social influence that shapes manners and behavior away from virtue.
The verse anchors ethical living in communal influence. It emphasizes that what people say and how they relate to others affect one’s spiritual metabolism and formation. It also ties speech and relationship to the resurrection: Christians are called to newness of life that rejects corrupting influences.
Be mindful of the company you keep and the conversations you engage in. Choose friends and communities that encourage purity, integrity, and truth. If you find yourself drawn into cynicism, gossip, or shallow humor that undercuts virtue, pause and redirect. Practice constructive speech—edifying, honest, and kind. In workplaces, challenge “evil communications” by addressing harmful talk with grace and truth, modeling a different way of relating that mirrors the resurrection life.
Cross-References: Proverbs 13:20; Ephesians 4:29; Titus 3:2; James 3:5-10; 1 Corinthians 5:11