Who Are Your Friends?

The word 'deceived' there can also be translated as seduce and wander. And in the culture that we're living in, you can easily be seduced by it, and you can easily wander away from the truth.

In this verse, the word 'evil' translates to the obvious- someone wicked. But there are a couple of other translations for this word which are interesting.

1. It also means: 'not such as it ought to be.'

So, even when you have company (companions, friendships) who may not blatantly do things that are heinous and what you would consider wicked, it will still taint you. Because they still act in ways that ought not be for the life of a believer.

2. It also means: 'a mode of thinking.'

People who do not have a relationship with Christ do not think the same as someone who does. Even if they are a "good" person. They still have a sin nature, which means they are worldly. So their mode of thinking will be as such. Christ is not first in their life, and they are concerned with the cares of this world. They will have a culture mentality versus a Kingdom mentality.

The term "evil company" may come off as strong. But when you see the other definitions of the world evil, it makes sense as to why Paul was writing this to believers.

The word 'corrupt' here means: to destroy

And that is exactly what will happen if you continue to have close relationships with people who do not love God, know God or respect God. Those relationships will destroy your Godly character and integrity.