1 Corinthians 3:19 net — For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written,“He catches the wise in their craftiness.”

NET Bible

"For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written,“He catches the wise in their craftiness.”"

— 1 Corinthians 3:19, NET Bible

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1 Corinthians 3:19 in Other Translations

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1 Corinthians 3 — Context

16

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?

17

If someone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, which is what you are.

18

Guard against self-deception, each of you. If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise.

19

For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written,“He catches the wise in their craftiness.”

20

And again,“The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”

21

So then, no more boasting about mere mortals! For everything belongs to you,

22

whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. Everything belongs to you,

1 Corinthians 3:19 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Corinthians 3:19 say?
1 Corinthians 3:19 in the NET Bible reads: “For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written,“He catches the wise in their craftiness.””
Where is 1 Corinthians 3:19 in the Bible?
1 Corinthians 3:19 is found in the New Testament, in the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 19.
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 3:19.
What translation should I read 1 Corinthians 3:19 in?
1 Corinthians 3:19 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 3:19?
1 Corinthians 3:19 reads (NET): “For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written,“He catches the wise in their craftiness.”” 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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