BIBLE EXEGESIS WITH MY SON

By Akin Ojumu

So, my son sent me a text message this morning wanting to get a better understanding of a Bible passage. As I began to ponder on how to respond, it dawned on me that a short and glib answer will not suffice. Failure to use this opportunity to provide a robust and fulsome explanation will amount to doctrinal malpractice.

Hence, this 1115-word commentary is me sharing my understanding of a Bible text with my son. It is a session in Biblical exegesis with a young man who’s clearly interested in having a good grasp of Scripture. And the text in question is 1 Corinthians 15:33.

My Son’s Enquiry

Hey Pops, in 1 Corinthians 15:33, can you give me a little more context. I know Paul was talking about maintaining good friendships that align with the Word. But does that mean anyone who falls short of that should not be considered friends anymore? Should we not try to help them or get them to align with the Word? I just want to get a deeper understanding.

My Response to the Enquiry

Hi Tolu, hope you are having a good week?

The question you ask is an important one and I’m glad that you ask. Also, it gladdens my heart that you value sound doctrine. Your desire to be grounded in right theology is music to my ears.

One of the fundamental principles of interpreting and understanding Bible passages is CONTEXT. To accurately interpret a Bible text, you must first examine and understand the context in which it exists. Failure to do so often results in misinterpretation and doctrinal error.

1 Corinthians 15:33

“Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.””

The immediate context of the above passage is Paul correcting an erroneous belief that was circulating among members of the Corinthian Church at the time.

1 Corinthians 15:12

“Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?”

As shown in the above text, the erroneous belief was that Christians who died before Christ’s second return will not experience the resurrection and be caught with Christ in the clouds. Paul also addressed this same erroneous belief in his letter to the Thessalonian Church.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

“For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

This heretical belief is contrary to the Gospel message. Unfortunately, it became so prevalent and widespread in the Church that many people believed the lie and thus completely lost their faith.

The consequence was that these backslidden Christians went back to their old sinful and immoral lifestyle. They started committing sexual immorality and got re-immersed in the pagan religious systems and ceremonies that they had abandoned when they became Christians.

It was this dangerous influence of erroneous belief that Paul was addressing in 1 Corinthians 15:33. Spending time with people who continually proclaim falsehood - including falsehood about the resurrection of believers - has a way of wearing down even the most faithful follower of Christ. The result of loosening one’s grip on right belief inevitably leads to loosening one’s moral convictions, as well. Those who drink from the polluted water of the stream of erroneous teachings are bound to get their soul poisoned. It might not result in wholesale apostasy, but it is most definitely spiritually ruinous.  

2 Timothy 3:13

“Evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

A parallel Bible passage to 1 Corinthians 15:12 is 1 Corinthians 5:11. Both texts warn against palling around with people who don’t share our spiritual beliefs and moral values. This is especially for people who profess to be Christians but whose lifestyles do not reflect their confession of faith.

1 Corinthians 5:9-11

“I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people - not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler - not even to eat with such a one.”

In conclusion, what Paul is saying in 1 Corinthians 15:33 and 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 is that Christians cannot have non-Christians or pseudo-Christians as best buddies. A non-Believer cannot be a close confidant of Believers. It is impossible for a Christian to pal around with an immoral believer and unbeliever and not be drawn into their immorality.

Of course, Paul is NOT saying that you shouldn’t have any type of dealing with people who don’t believe the same things as you do or who don’t share your moral values. If that were the case, we would have to leave this world (1 Corinthians 5:10). We have all sorts of relationships with all sorts of people, e.g., business partners, clients, employers, employees, landlords, tenants, etc.

Also, Paul isn’t suggesting that we should not help or influence those who have questionable character or inappropriate moral values. In fact, by our words and demonstrated good deeds, Christians are supposed to model godliness and point the way to biblical morality to the fallen world.

Matthew 5:16

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

So, if you have friends who are not in the right place morally, by all means show them a better way of living by how you live and what you say. At same time, you must be on your guard at all times, making sure you don’t get so close to them that you get dragged down into their spiritual morass.

Jude 1:22-23

“And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”

I hope that helps.

Love,

Dad