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

16Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and that is what you are. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool so that he can become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, since it is written, He catches the wise in their craftiness; 20and again, The Lord knows that the reasonings of the wise are futile.

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 6:9Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males,
• 1 Corinthians 15:33Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
• Proverbs 5:7So now, sons, listen to me, and don’t turn away from the words from my mouth.
• Isaiah 44:20He feeds on ashes. His deceived mind has led him astray, and he cannot rescue himself, or say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”
• Jeremiah 37:9This is what the Lord says: Don’t deceive yourselves by saying, “The Chaldeans will leave us for good,” for they will not leave.
• Luke 21:8Then he said, “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Don’t follow them.
• Galatians 6:3For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
• Ephesians 5:6Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things.
• 2 Timothy 3:13Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived.
• James 1:22But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
• 1 John 1:8If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
• 1 Corinthians 1:18For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.
• 1 Corinthians 4:10We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!
• 1 Corinthians 8:1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
• Proverbs 3:5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;
• Proverbs 26:12Do you see a person who is wise in his own eyes? 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