1 Corinthians 3:18 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.
1 Corinthians 3:18 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.
1 Corinthians 3:18 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.
1 Corinthians 3:18 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.
1 Corinthians 3:18 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.
1 Corinthians 3 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 3:19 | For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. | Direct Explanation |
| Rom 12:16 | Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the humble. | Warning against self-deception |
| Gal 6:3 | If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. | Self-deception and pride |
| Prov 3:7 | Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. | Wisdom and God's perspective |
| Prov 26:12 | Like a dream when one awakes, so the Lord, when you awake, will despise their imagery. | Contrasting earthly and divine wisdom |
| Isa 5:21 | Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! | Deception and distorted perception |
| Jer 8:9 | The wise are put to shame; they are dismayed and snared; behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so in them rests no wisdom. | Rejection of God's wisdom |
| Matt 11:25 | At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; | Revelation to the humble |
| 1 Cor 1:20 | Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? | God making worldly wisdom foolish |
| 1 Cor 1:27 | But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; | God's chosen foolishness |
| 1 Cor 2:14 | The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. | Spiritual vs. Natural discernment |
| 1 Cor 8:2 | If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. | False claims of knowledge |
| 1 Tim 6:3-5 | If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the doctrine proper for godliness, he is puffed up with pride and understands nothing. He is debauched by discussion and conflict, which produce envy, division, slanders, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people of warped minds, who are deprived of the truth and are thought to gain by godliness. | Dangers of false teaching |
| James 3:13-15 | Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he must show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and do not lie against the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. | Earthly vs. Heavenly wisdom |
| Psalm 14:1 | The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. | Foolishness and denial of God |
| Psalm 111:10 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! | Fear of the Lord as wisdom's root |
| Eccl 2:12-14 | So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly, for what can the man do who comes after the king? It is only what he has already done. Then I saw that wisdom surpasses folly as light surpasses darkness. The wise man has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. | Superiority of wisdom |
| John 1:9 | The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. | Divine Light |
| 2 Peter 3:16 | And as he writes of these things in all his letters, some of them hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. | Misunderstanding Scripture |
| Col 2:8 | See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. | Danger of human philosophy |
| 1 John 4:1 | Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. | Discernment of spirits |
1 Corinthians 3 verses
1 Corinthians 3 18 Meaning
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
1 Corinthians 3 18 Context
Paul is addressing the divisions in the Corinthian church. The Corinthians were aligning themselves with different spiritual leaders (Paul, Apollos, Cephas), indicating a worldly and immature spiritual understanding. Paul has been rebuking them for their reliance on human wisdom and leaders, rather than Christ. He contrasts God's wisdom with human wisdom, showing how the world's brilliant thinkers are considered foolish by God. This verse serves as a stark warning against spiritual pride and self-deception. It emphasizes the need to abandon one's own understanding and embrace the transformative power of divine wisdom. The Corinthian church was struggling with factions and boasting, which stemmed from their reliance on superficial spiritual credentials and the eloquent rhetoric of their leaders, rather than the simple but profound message of the cross. Paul is urging them to realize that true spiritual insight comes from God and requires a humble, teachable spirit.
1 Corinthians 3 18 Word Analysis
- Let (μηδέ): A conjunction used here negatively, signifying a prohibition or warning. "And not." It connects to the preceding thought and extends the warning.
- no one (οὐδεὶς): Pronoun meaning "no one," "nobody." Emphasizes the universal nature of the command.
- deceive (φLeveletw): Present imperative of
φLeveleō, meaning "to beguile," "to deceive," "to mislead." A continuous action of self-deception. This is a strong admonition against delusion. - himself (ἑαυτὸν): Reflexive pronoun, meaning "himself." The deception is directed inwards.
- If (ἐὰν): A conditional particle, introducing a hypothetical situation.
- anyone (τις): Indefinite pronoun, "someone," "anyone."
- thinks (δοκῇ): Present subjunctive of
dokéō, meaning "to seem," "to be of opinion," "to think." It refers to a persistent belief or judgment. - he is (εἶναι): Infinitive of
eimi, "to be." - wise (σοφὸς): Adjective meaning "wise." Refers to possessing wisdom, particularly in worldly terms.
- in this age (τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ):
Tōi aiōni toutōi. "In this age" or "in this world." Refers to the current temporal order, distinct from God's eternal order. It implies human wisdom limited to the present, temporal sphere. This contrasts sharply with divine wisdom. - Let him become (γεγενήσθω): Second aorist passive imperative of
ginomai, "to become." A strong command, "let him be made." This is a plea for transformation. - a fool (μωρὸς): Adjective meaning "foolish," "silly," "unwise." It signifies one who lacks true wisdom, especially spiritual discernment.
- that (ἵνα): A purpose conjunction, indicating the reason or goal for becoming a fool.
- he may become (γένηται): Second aorist subjunctive of
ginomai, "to become." The result of the transformation. - wise (σοφός): Adjective meaning "wise." The ultimate goal of becoming a fool is to attain true, divine wisdom.
Words Group Analysis:
- "Let no one deceive himself": This phrase is a powerful imperative against self-delusion. It highlights that spiritual error often begins within, when individuals falsely assess their own understanding or spiritual standing. It warns against pride that prevents honest self-evaluation.
- "If anyone thinks he is wise in this age": This segment points to a specific type of person: one who relies on worldly standards of intelligence and knowledge. This "wisdom of the world" is contrasted with divine wisdom, suggesting it is ultimately empty and leads to deception. The emphasis is on human intellectual pride, prevalent in the philosophical and rhetorical culture of Corinth.
- "let him become a fool that he may become wise": This is a paradoxical statement, a hallmark of Pauline teaching on spiritual matters. True wisdom in God's eyes is not attained through human intellectual striving but through a humble renunciation of self-sufficiency. By embracing a "foolishness" in the world's view—the wisdom of the cross—one paradoxically becomes truly wise in God's sight. It's about reorienting one's entire perspective and value system towards God's revelation.
1 Corinthians 3 18 Bonus Section
The phrase "wise in this age" connects to 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, where Paul contrasts God's wisdom (the cross) with the "wisdom of the world" (eloquence, philosophical reasoning, and perceived intellectual superiority). The Corinthians, impressed by rhetorical skill, were boasting in human leaders and their intellectual capacities. Paul calls this wisdom "foolishness with God." To become truly wise, one must embrace the message of the cross, which the world considers foolishness, thereby transforming their understanding and priorities from temporal to eternal. This paradoxical path is echoed in Jesus' teachings, like becoming like a little child (Matt 18:3) to enter the kingdom of heaven, which also involves abandoning adult intellectual pride and self-sufficiency. The call to become a "fool" is a call to radical dependence on God and to trust His wisdom above all human reason or reputation.
1 Corinthians 3 18 Commentary
The Apostle Paul forcefully warns believers against the danger of spiritual self-deception, particularly that which arises from relying on the wisdom of this world. The Corinthian church was enamored with human eloquence and intellectual prowess, leading to pride and division. Paul declares that such worldly wisdom is ultimately foolishness from God's perspective. True spiritual understanding is not achieved by exalting one's intellect or achievements but by humbling oneself. Becoming a "fool" in this context means relinquishing self-reliance, abandoning pride in human wisdom, and recognizing one's absolute dependence on God's revelation. By adopting this posture of humility, characterized by the "foolishness" of the cross, one is able to receive true, divine wisdom. This verse is a timeless admonition for believers to constantly examine their motivations and priorities, ensuring they are not being misled by superficial or worldly criteria for wisdom, but are instead seeking God’s perspective through a humble heart.
Practical Usage:
- When feeling intellectually superior in spiritual matters, remember this verse and seek humility.
- Before engaging in theological debates, check if your primary motivation is to appear wise or to truly understand God.
- When tempted to criticize others for their "lack of understanding," examine if you yourself have embraced worldly pride over divine simplicity.