Darby Bible
1 Corinthians 3:18
18Let no one deceive himself: if any one thinks himself to be wise among you in this world, let him become foolish, that he may be wise.
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 ye not know that ye are [the] temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17If any one corrupt the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye. Let no one deceive himself: if any one thinks himself to be wise among you in this world, let him become foolish, that he may be wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; for it is written, He who takes the wise in their craftiness. 20And again, [The] Lord knows the reasonings of the wise that they are vain.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 31 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
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 3:18
- 1 Corinthians 6:9Do ye not know that unrighteous [persons] shall not inherit [the] kingdom of God? Do not err: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who make women of themselves, nor who abuse themselves with men,
- 1 Corinthians 15:33Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
- Proverbs 5:7And now, children, hearken unto me, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
- Isaiah 44:20He feedeth on ashes; a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
- Jeremiah 37:9Thus saith Jehovah: Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans are certainly gone away from us; for they are not gone.
- Luke 21:8And he said, See that ye be not led astray, for many shall come in my name, saying, I am [he], and the time is drawn nigh: go ye not [therefore] after them.
- Galatians 6:3For if any man reputes himself to be something, being nothing, he deceives himself;
- Ephesians 5:6Let no one deceive you with vain words, for on account of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
- 2 Timothy 3:13But wicked men and juggling impostors shall advance in evil, leading and being led astray.
- James 1:22But be ye doers of [the] word and not hearers only, beguiling yourselves.
- 1 John 1:8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
- 1 Corinthians 1:18For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but to us that are saved it is God's power.
- 1 Corinthians 4:10We [are] fools for Christ's sake, but ye prudent in Christ: we weak, but ye strong: ye glorious, but we in dishonour.
- 1 Corinthians 8:1But concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know, (for we all have knowledge: knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
- Proverbs 3:5Confide in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own intelligence;
- Proverbs 26:12Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of 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
In the dictionaries
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
Darby Bible — 1889 — Public Domain
Commentaries