1 Corinthians 3:18 nasb — Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he…

NASB

"Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise."

— 1 Corinthians 3:18, NASB

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1 Corinthians 3:18 in Other Translations

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1 Corinthians 3 — Context

15

If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

16

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

17

If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

18

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.

19

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS";

20

and again, "THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS."

21

So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you,

1 Corinthians 3:18 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Corinthians 3:18 say?
1 Corinthians 3:18 in the NASB reads: “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.”
Where is 1 Corinthians 3:18 in the Bible?
1 Corinthians 3:18 is found in the New Testament, in the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 18.
Who wrote 1 Corinthians?
1 Corinthians is traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle. It was written c. AD 55.
What is the book of 1 Corinthians about?
Paul writes to a gifted but fractured church wrestling with divisions, sexual sin, lawsuits, marriage questions, food offered to idols, and disorder in worship. Through every issue he points back to the cross, the Spirit, and the resurrection — and gives us the church's greatest chapter on love.
What are the major themes of 1 Corinthians?
1 Corinthians explores themes including Unity, Cross, Spiritual Gifts, Love, Resurrection. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Corinthians 3:18.
What translation should I read 1 Corinthians 3:18 in?
1 Corinthians 3:18 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Corinthians 3:18?
1 Corinthians 3:18 reads (NASB): “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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