1 Corinthians 3:18

1 Corinthians 3:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

Context of 1 Corinthians 3:18

16Do you not know and understand that you [the church] are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells [permanently] in you [collectively and individually]? 17If anyone destroys the temple of God [corrupting it with false doctrine], God will destroy the destroyer; for the temple of God is holy (sacred), and that is what you are. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool [discarding his worldly pretensions and acknowledging his lack of wisdom], so that he may become [truly] wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness (absurdity, stupidity) before God; for it is written [in Scripture], “[He is] The one who catches the wise and clever in their craftiness;” 20and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the [humanly] wise, that they are useless.”

1 Corinthians 3:18 word by word

Μηδεὶς ἑαυτὸν ἐξαπατάτω· εἴ τις δοκεῖ σοφὸς εἶναι ἐν ὑμῖν ἐν τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ, μωρὸς γενέσθω ἵνα γένηται σοφός.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Letἐξαπατάωexapataō · to deceiveG1818
• no manμηδείςmēdeis mēdemia mēden · nothingG3367
• himselfἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• Ifεἰei · ifG1487
• any manτιςtis · oneG5100
• amongἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• youσύsu · youG4771
• seemethδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
• to beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• wiseσοφόςsophos · wiseG4680
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• worldὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• worldαἰώνaiōn · an age: ageG165
• let him becomeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• a foolμωρόςmōros · foolishG3474
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 3:18

• 1 Corinthians 6:9Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor (perversely) effeminate, nor homosexuals,
• 1 Corinthians 15:33Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
• Proverbs 5:7Now then, my sons, listen to me And do not depart from (forget) the words of my mouth.
• Isaiah 44:20That kind of man (the idolater) feeds on ashes [and is satisfied with ashes]! A deceived mind has led him astray, so that he cannot save himself, or ask, “Is this thing [that I am holding] in my right hand not a lie?”
• Jeremiah 37:9Thus says the Lord, ‘Do not deceive yourselves, saying, “The Chaldeans will certainly stay away from us,” for they will not stay away.
• Luke 21:8He said, “Be careful and see to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name [appropriating for themselves the name Messiah which belongs to Me alone], saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not follow them.
• Galatians 6:3For if anyone thinks he is something [special] when [in fact] he is nothing [special except in his own eyes], he deceives himself.
• Ephesians 5:6Let no one deceive you with empty arguments [that encourage you to sin], for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience [those who habitually sin].
• 2 Timothy 3:13But evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
• James 1:22But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth].
• 1 John 1:8If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude ourselves and the truth is not in us. [His word does not live in our hearts.]
• 1 Corinthians 1:18For the message of the cross is foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and spiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God’s grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God.
• 1 Corinthians 4:10We are [regarded as] fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are highly esteemed, but we are dishonored.
• 1 Corinthians 8:1Now about food sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge [concerning this]. Knowledge [alone] makes [people self-righteously] arrogant, but love [that unselfishly seeks the best for others] builds up and encourages others to grow [in wisdom].
• Proverbs 3:5Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
• Proverbs 26:12Do you see a man [who is unteachable and] wise in his own eyes and full of self-conceit? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18If any man among you seemeth to be wise - · If any pretend or affect to be wise. This seems to refer to some individual in the Church of Corinth, who had been very troublesome to its peace and unity: probably Diotrephes (see on 1 Corinthians 1:14; (note)) or some one of a similar spirit, who wished to have the pre-eminence, and thought himself wiser than seven men that could render a reason. Every Christian Church has less or more of these. Let him become…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Let no man deceive himself - The apostle here proceeds to make a practical application of the truths which he had stated, and to urge on them humility, and to endeavor to repress the broils and contentions into which they had fallen. Let no man be puffed up with a vain conceit of his own wisdom, for this had been the real cause of all the evils which they had experienced. Grotius renders this, “See that you do not attribute too much to your wisdom and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-23Verses 18-23 To have a high opinion of our own wisdom, is but to flatter ourselves; and self-flattery is the next step to self-deceit. The wisdom that wordly men esteem, is foolishness with God. How justly does he despise, and how easily can he baffle and confound it! The thoughts of the wisest men in the world, have vanity, weakness, and folly in them. All this should teach us to be humble, and make us willing to be taught of God, so as not to be led…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-20Paul contrasts human wisdom with divine wisdom again (see 1 Corinthians 1:18–25). He uses Old Testament quotes to encourage the Corinthians. He urges them to be willing to seem foolish to the world so that they can be truly wise in God's eyes.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. seemeth--that is, is, and is regarded by himself and others. wise in this world--wise in mere worldly wisdom (1Co 1:20). let him become a fool--by receiving the Gospel in its unworldly simplicity, and so becoming a fool in the world's sight [Alford]. Let him no longer think himself wise, but seek the true wisdom from God, bringing his understanding into captivity to the obedience of faith [Estius].Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 3:18

• Humility
• Paradox
• Pride
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Foundation
• Plant
• Beguile
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Eschatology of the New Testament
• Paul, the Apostle
• Wisdom

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings