1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil companionships corrupt good morals,'” is widely believed to reference a line from the Greek playwright Menander’s comedy Thais. Menander (circa 342–291 BC) was a well-known dramatist of Greek New Comedy, and the phrase appears in a fragment attributed to his lost play. The original Greek line is believed to be, “Φθείρουσιν ἤθη χρηστὰ ὁμιλίαι κακαί”, which translates to “Evil associations corrupt good morals” (Intertextual Bible).
Paul’s use of this phrase demonstrates his engagement with the cultural context of his readers, as it was a well-known proverb in the Greek-speaking world of the time. By referencing Menander, Paul effectively communicated his warning about the corrupting influence of bad associations, especially in the context of those denying the resurrection (Crosswalk).
This practice of quoting or adapting cultural and literary references is not uncommon in Scripture, where such elements are repurposed to convey theological truths (Bible Hub).
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