And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Ver. 11. Have no fellowship] No needless society for fear of infection; get the wind of those stinking carcases; "hate the garment spotted by the flesh," that is, avoid ill company (saith Perkins), as Leviticus 15:4. The Lacedaemonians would not allow a stranger to be with them more than three days; and shall we associate ourselves with such as are strangers to God?
Works of darkness] Work done in the dark must be undone again, or else we are sure to be thrust into outer darkness, where we shall never see light again till we see all the world on a light fire.
But rather reprove them] At least by your contrary courses, as Noah condemned the old world, by being righteous in his generation.Revelation 14:1,5, those who stood with the Lamb, had his Father's name on their foreheads, led convincing lives: so did Luther, Bucer, Bradford, &c.