One bad apple spoils the whole bunch

[TheGloryLand]

One bad apple spoils the whole bunch. Where did this come from, did someone take it from using the Bible. Do you believe it’s true, this verse when it’s applies to people.

[BrotherTony]

I don't believe anyone truly knows where the proverb "One bad apple spoils the whole barrel" comes from. I have heard it said many times throughout my life by my parents, my great aunt, and my grandfather.  It's a metaphor for how one person with a bad attitude or bad habits can spoil it for everyone and turn everyone sour and bitter. This principal is taught in Scripture. Joshua 7:1-26 is one instance. Galatians 5:9 tells us that "A lilttle leaven leaveneth the whole lump." The Lord throughout the Old Testament told the people of Israel to root out any evil in their midst so that they could be clean...just as we would root out a rotten apple and throw it away, checking carefully the apples that were around that particular apple to make sure that none of the rot had "infected" it. 

[TheGloryLand]

31 minutes ago, BrotherTony said:

I don't believe anyone truly knows where the proverb "One bad apple spoils the whole barrel" comes from. I have heard it said many times throughout my life by my parents, my great aunt, and my grandfather.  It's a metaphor for how one person with a bad attitude or bad habits can spoil it for everyone and turn everyone sour and bitter. This principal is taught in Scripture. Joshua 7:1-26 is one instance. Galatians 5:9 tells us that "A lilttle leaven leaveneth the whole lump." The Lord throughout the Old Testament told the people of Israel to root out any evil in their midst so that they could be clean...just as we would root out a rotten apple and throw it away, checking carefully the apples that were around that particular apple to make sure that none of the rot had "infected" it. 

I was thinking in Judas, as a type of a bad Apple. But he didn’t spoiled the bunch. The other eleven Apostles.

[BrotherTony]

9 hours ago, E Morales said:

I was thinking in Judas, as a type of a bad Apple. But he didn’t spoiled the bunch. The other eleven Apostles.

Judas is a great example of a "bad apple." Yet Christ knew he was a bad apple when he chose him. 

[TheGloryLand]

1 hour ago, BrotherTony said:

Judas is a great example of a "bad apple." Yet Christ knew he was a bad apple when he chose him. 

If we Christians are good apples, is it Gods plan, that we live with bad apples. Not that we be separated from them. When we come to Christ, we are separated from the world and false religions, not the bad apples. Is this right… 

[Pastor Scott Markle]

15 hours ago, E Morales said:

One bad apple spoils the whole bunch. Where did this come from, did someone take it from using the Bible. Do you believe it’s true, this verse when it’s applies to people.

"One bad apple spoils the whole bunch" is NOT a Biblical statement; therefore, I am NOT compelled to hold it as a principle of absolute truth.

However, the following are Biblical statements; therefore, I AM compelled to hold them as principles of absolute truth:

Proverbs 13:20 -- "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed."

Proverbs 22:24-25 -- "Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul."

1 Corinthians 5:6 -- "Your glorying is not good.  Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?"

1 Corinthians 15:33 -- "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners."

[Napsterdad]

16 hours ago, E Morales said:

One bad apple spoils the whole bunch. Where did this come from, did someone take it from using the Bible. Do you believe it’s true, this verse when it’s applies to people.

Wikipedia actually has a well cited explanation for this phrase, which has multiple variants on the theme: “The bad apples metaphor originates from the proverb, ‘A rotten apple quickly infects its neighbor’, first recorded as used in English in 1340 [Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs]. The proverb was rephrased by Benjamin Franklin in Poor Richard's Almanack in 1736, stating ‘the rotten apple spoils his companion’.”

Speaking of actual separation is a little more complicated, as Biblical separation is multi-faceted.

The first facet of separation is that which we experience when we are saved and are separated unto Christ. This is (until we are called home) a spiritual separation. When asked by Pilate if He was the King of the Jews, Jesus replied: My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. [John 18:36]

When asked again if He were a king, Jesus replied: Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. [John 18:37]

When we are saved we become one that is of the truth and become a member of Jesus’ ‘kingdom not from hence’ (i.e. not from this world).

For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: [Philippians 3:20]

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: [Colossians 1:12-13]

So, Spiritually speaking, once we are saved we are separated unto Christ to that kingdom not of this world. It’s kind of like missionaries that travel to foreign lands to spread the Gospel. They are American by citizenship but are residing in a foreign land. They are Americans, but don’t live here. Fortunately, being saved, our citizenship is in a far better place than America.

That is spiritual separation, then there is practical (or personal) separation. This can be broken down into several facets as well.

First, now that we are saved, we should separate ourselves from sin, much of which we were partakers of when lost:

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. [1 Peter 1:13-16]

Then we discuss the separation I believe is most closely in line with this thread; our relationship with others.

I cannot think of a place in the Bible where we are told not to have relations with those not saved. In fact, if we are to obey the Great Commission it is imperative that we do have relations with the unsaved, else how could they ever get saved?

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. [Matthew 28:19-20]

It is clear throughout the Gospels that Jesus freely had relations with sinners (both laity and religious).

The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! [Luke 7:34]

This charge could not have been made had Jesus not been interfacing with publicans and sinners. The lie comes in the term ‘friend’ (a word that is far to freely used with regards to relationships). The word friend implies not only affection (Jesus loves everyone), but trust. While Jesus ministered to, and was acquainted with, publicans and sinners He did not trust or abide with them.

It is interesting that immediately following the above Pharisaic accusation Jesus dined with a Pharisee and we have the story of the woman with the alabaster box [Luke 7:36-50]. True to form the Pharisee criticized Jesus for allowing the woman to minister to Him, but how would this woman ever have been saved had Jesus completely separated Himself from this world? As Christians we MUST have relations with those in this world, or how will they get saved? The issue is the nature of those relations.

For me, the verses that best talk to this are 2 Corinthians 6:14-17:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

The key phrase being “unequally yoked”. A yoke is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull. For the farmer, an unequally yoked team of animals would have been an ox with a mule, or mule with a horse, etc. Being different by nature you could not get these two different types to be able to plow equally if at all. They would work against each other.

The idea then being that we are not to have our close associations (friendships) with those of an unlike faith (or no faith). Being yoked together with other true Christians does not preclude us from plowing in the same field (world) as other teams; but being equally yoked, our true walk, and straight furrows should be an example those other teams should want to follow. Leading to Christ by example.

Unfortunately, as with Judas, there are times when a bad apple may find its way into our team. Jesus gave us a way to deal with this too:

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. [Matthew 18:15-17]

This topic is full of grist for the mill, but I believe this post is long enough. Thanks for the study topic!

[1Timothy115]

I think most here have heard the apple analogy before. The nearest I can come to your inquiry is... 

1 Corinthians 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 
Galatians 5:9   A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

...I suppose there is an application but, the scripture is better.

[SureWord]

One bad apple in a bushel will begin to rot the other apples because the gases it emits causes the others to go bad more quickly.

This is a truth and even though it may not be "biblical" all truth is of God.