1 Corinthians 3:18
WEB
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
BSB
Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.
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.
Matthew Henry
Greek interlinear
G3367
any (man, thing), no (man), none, not (at all, any man, a whit), nothing, + without delay
, including the irregular feminine μηδεμία , and the neuter μηδέν
Derivation: from G3361 and G1520;
not even one (man, woman, thing)
KJV: any (man, thing), no (man), none, not (at all, any man, a whit), nothing, + without delay.
See also: G3361, G1520.
G1438
alone, her (own, -self), (he) himself, his (own), itself, one (to) another, our (thine) own(-selves), + that she had, their (own, own selves), (of) them(-selves), they, thyself, you, your (own, own conceits, own selves, -selves)
Derivation: from a reflexive pronoun otherwise obsolete and the genitive case (dative case or accusative case) of G846;
him- (her-, it-, them-, also (in conjunction with the personal pronoun of the other persons) my-, thy-, our-, your-) self (selves), etc.
KJV: alone, her (own, -self), (he) himself, his (own), itself, one (to) another, our (thine) own(-selves), + that she had, their (own, own selves), (of) them(-selves), they, thyself, you, your (own, own conceits, own selves, -selves).
See also: G846.
G1818
beguile, deceive
Derivation: from G1537 and G538;
to seduce wholly
KJV: beguile, deceive.
See also: G1537, G538.
G1487
forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether
Derivation: a primary particle of conditionality;
if, whether, that, etc.
KJV: forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether.
Often used in connection or composition with other particles, especially as in G1489, G1490, G1499, G1508, G1509, G1512, G1513, G1536, G1537. See also G1437.
See also: G1489, G1490, G1499, G1508, G1509, G1512, G1513, G1536, G1537, G1437.
G5100
a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, - thing, -what), (+ that no-)thing, what(-soever), X wherewith, whom(-soever), whose(-soever)
Derivation: an enclitic indefinite pronoun;
some or any person or object
KJV: a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, - thing, -what), (+ that no-)thing, what(-soever), X wherewith, whom(-soever), whose(-soever).
G1380
be accounted, (of own) please(-ure), be of reputation, seem (good), suppose, think, trow
Derivation: a prolonged form of a primary verb, δόκω (used only in an alternate in certain tenses;
compare the base of G1166) of the same meaning; to think; by implication, to seem (truthfully or uncertainly)
KJV: be accounted, (of own) please(-ure), be of reputation, seem (good), suppose, think, trow.
See also: G1166.
G4680
wise
Derivation: akin to σαφής (clear);
wise (in a most general application)
KJV: wise.
Compare G5429.
See also: G5429.
G1510
am, have been, X it is I, was
Derivation: the first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb;
I exist (used only when emphatic)
KJV: am, have been, X it is I, was.
See also G1488, G1498, G1511, G1527, G2258, G2071, G2070, G2075, G2076, G2771, G2468, G5600.
See also: G1488, G1498, G1511, G1527, G2258, G2071, G2070, G2075, G2076, G2771, G2468, G5600.
G1722
about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in)
Derivation: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between G1519 and G1537);
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
KJV: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in).
Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
See also: G1519, G1537.
G4771
thou
Derivation: the personal pronoun of the second person singular;
thou
KJV: thou.
See also G4571, G4671, G4675; and for the plural G5209, G5210, G5213, G5216.
See also: G4675, G4571, G4671, G5209, G5210, G5213, G5216.
G3588
the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc
, including the feminine ἡ , and the neuter τό in all their inflections;
Derivation: the definite article;
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
G165
age, course, eternal, (for) ever(-more), (n-)ever, (beginning of the , while the) world (began, without end)
Derivation: from the same as G104;
properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity (also past); by implication, the world; specially (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future)
KJV: age, course, eternal, (for) ever(-more), (n-)ever, (beginning of the , while the) world (began, without end).
Compare G5550.
See also: G104, G5550.
G3778
he (it was that), hereof, it, she, such as, the same, these, they, this (man, same, woman), which, who
, including nominative masculine plural οὗτοι , nominative feminine singular αὕτη , and nominative feminine plural αὕται
Derivation: from the article G3588 and G846;
the he (she or it), i.e. this or that (often with article repeated)
KJV: he (it was that), hereof, it, she, such as, the same, these, they, this (man, same, woman), which, who.
See also: G846, G3588.
G3474
fool(-ish, X -ishness)
Derivation: probably from the base of G3466;
dull or stupid (as if shut up), i.e. heedless, (morally) blockhead, (apparently) absurd
KJV: fool(-ish, X -ishness).
See also: G3466.
G1096
arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought
Derivation: a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb;
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
KJV: arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.
G2443
albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to
Derivation: probably from the same as the former part of G1438 (through the demonstrative idea;
compare G3588); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result)
KJV: albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to.
Compare G3363.
See also: G1438, G3588, G3363.
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Verses 18–20
1 Corinthians 3:18–20
Here he prescribes humility, and a modest opinion of themselves, for the remedy of the irregularities in the church of Corinth, the divisions and contests among them: "Let no man deceive himself, Co1 3:18. Do not be led away from the truth and simplicity of the gospel by pretenders to science and eloquence, by a show of deep learning, or a flourish of words, by rabbis, orators, or philosophers." Note, We are in great danger of deceiving ourselves when we have too high an opinion of human wisdom and arts; plain and pure Christianity will be likely to be despised by those who can suit their doctrines to the corrupt taste of their hearers, and set them off with fine language, or support them with a show of deep and strong reasoning. But he who seems to be wise must become a fool that he may be wise. He must be sensible of his own ignorance, and lament it; he must distrust his own understanding, and not lean on it. To have a high opinion of our wisdom is but to flatter ourselves, and self-flattery is the very next step to self-deceit. The way to true wisdom is to sink our opinion of our own to a due level, and be willing to be taught of God. He must become a fool who would be truly and thoroughly wise. The person who resigns his own understanding, that he may follow the instruction of God, is in the way to true and everlasting wisdom. The meek will he guide in judgment, the meek will he teach his way, Psa 25:9. He that has a low opinion of his own knowledge and powers will submit to better information; such a person may be informed and improved by revelation: but the proud man, conceited of his own wisdom and understanding, will undertake to correct even divine wisdom itself, and prefer his own shallow reasonings to the revelations of infallible truth and wisdom. Note, We must abase ourselves before God if we would be either truly wise or good: For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, Co1 3:19. The wisdom which worldly men esteem (policy, philosophy, oratory) is foolishness with God. It is so in a way of comparison with his wisdom. He chargeth his angels with folly (Job 4:18), and much more the wisest among the children of men. His understanding is infinite, Psa 147:5. There can be no more comparison between his wisdom and ours than between his power and being and ours. There is no common measure by which to compare finite and infinite. And much more is the wisdom of man foolishness with God when set in competition with his. How justly does he despise, how easily can he baffle and confound it! He taketh the wise in their own craftiness (Job 5:13), he catches them in their own nets, and entangles them in their own snares: he turns their most studies, plausible, and promising schemes against themselves, and ruins them by their own contrivance. Nay, He knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain (Co1 3:20), that they are vanity, Psa 94:11. Note, God has a perfect knowledge of the thoughts of men, the deepest thoughts of the wisest men, their most secret counsels and purposes: nothing is hidden from him, but all things are naked and bare before him, Heb 4:13. And he knows them to be vanity. The thoughts of the wisest men in the world have a great mixture of vanity, of weakness and folly, in them; and before God their wisest and best thoughts are very vanity, compared, I mean, with his thoughts of things. And should not all this teach us modesty, diffidence in ourselves, and a deference to the wisdom of God, make us thankful for his revelations, and willing to be taught of God, and not be led away by specious pretences to human wisdom and skill, from the simplicity of Christ, or a regard to his heavenly doctrine? Note, He who would be wise indeed must learn of God, and not set his own wisdom up in competition with God's.
Cross-references: 1Cor 3:18 · Ps 25:9 · 1Cor 3:19 · Job 4:18 · Ps 147:5 · Job 5:13 · 1Cor 3:20 · Ps 94:11 · Heb 4:13