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 realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.” 20And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless.”

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 realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,
• 1 Corinthians 15:33Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”
• Proverbs 5:7So now, my sons, listen to me. Never stray from what I am about to say:
• Isaiah 44:20The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can’t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, “Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?”
• Jeremiah 37:9“This is what the Lord says: Do not fool yourselves into thinking that the Babylonians are gone for good. They aren’t!
• Luke 21:8He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them.
• Galatians 6:3If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
• Ephesians 5:6Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.
• 2 Timothy 3:13But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.
• James 1:22But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
• 1 John 1:8If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.
• 1 Corinthians 1:18The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.
• 1 Corinthians 4:10Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed.
• 1 Corinthians 8:1Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.
• Proverbs 3:5Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
• Proverbs 26:12There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise.

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