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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise.

Context of 1 Corinthians 3:18

16Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. 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. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; 20and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts 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 6:9Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men
• 1 Corinthians 15:33Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
• Proverbs 5:7Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say.
• Isaiah 44:20Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”
• Jeremiah 37:9“This is what the Lord says: Do not deceive yourselves, thinking, ‘The Babylonians will surely leave us.’ They will not!
• Luke 21:8He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.
• Galatians 6:3If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.
• Ephesians 5:6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
• 2 Timothy 3:13while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
• James 1:22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
• 1 John 1:8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
• 1 Corinthians 1:18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
• 1 Corinthians 4:10We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!
• 1 Corinthians 8:1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.
• Proverbs 3:5Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
• Proverbs 26:12Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.

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