1 Corinthians 3:18

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

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.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Isa 5:21 : 21 Beware, those who think they are wise, those who think they possess understanding.
  • Gal 6:3 : 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
  • Jas 1:22 : 22 But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.
  • Prov 3:5 : 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.
  • 1 Cor 1:18-21 : 18 The Message of the Cross For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.” 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching.
  • 1 Cor 6:9 : 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals,
  • 1 Cor 8:1-2 : 1 Food Sacrificed to Idols With regard to food sacrificed to idols, we know that“we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If someone thinks he knows something, he does not yet know to the degree that he needs to know.
  • Matt 18:4 : 4 Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
  • Mark 10:15 : 15 I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
  • Luke 18:17 : 17 I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
  • Jer 8:8 : 8 How can you say,“We are wise! We have the law of the LORD”? The truth is, those who teach it have used their writings to make it say what it does not really mean.
  • Isa 44:20 : 20 He feeds on ashes; his deceived mind misleads him. He cannot rescue himself, nor does he say,‘Is this not a false god I hold in my right hand?’
  • Prov 3:7 : 7 Do not be wise in your own estimation; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
  • Prov 5:7 : 7 So now, children, listen to me; do not turn aside from the words I speak.
  • Prov 26:12 : 12 You have seen a man wise in his own opinion– there is more hope for a fool than for him.
  • Luke 21:8 : 8 He said,“Watch out that you are not misled. For many will come in my name, saying,‘I am he,’ and,‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them!
  • Rom 11:25 : 25 For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
  • Rom 12:16 : 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.
  • 1 Cor 15:33 : 33 Do not be deceived:“Bad company corrupts good morals.”
  • 1 Cor 4:10 : 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored!
  • Jas 1:26 : 26 If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.
  • 1 John 1:8 : 8 If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
  • Gal 6:7 : 7 Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows,
  • Eph 5:6 : 6 Live in the Light Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience.
  • 2 Tim 3:13 : 13 But evil people and charlatans will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves.
  • Titus 3:3 : 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another.
  • Jer 37:9 : 9 Moreover, I, the LORD, warn you not to deceive yourselves into thinking that the Babylonian forces will go away and leave you alone. For they will not go away.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • 1 Cor 3:19-21
    3 verses
    87%

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

    20And again,“The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”

    21So then, no more boasting about mere mortals! For everything belongs to you,

  • Gal 6:3
    79%

    3For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

  • 1 Cor 1:18-21
    4 verses
    79%

    18The Message of the Cross For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

    19For it is written,“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.”

    20Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish?

    21For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching.

  • 2 Cor 11:16-17
    2 verses
    78%

    16Paul’s Sufferings for Christ I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

    17What I am saying with this boastful confidence I do not say the way the Lord would. Instead it is, as it were, foolishness.

  • Rom 1:22
    77%

    22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools

  • 1 Cor 1:25
    76%

    25For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

  • Jas 3:13
    75%

    13True Wisdom Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.

  • Prov 14:7-8
    2 verses
    75%

    7Walk abreast with a foolish person, and you do not understand wise counsel.

    8The wisdom of the shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception.

  • 2 Cor 11:19
    75%

    19For since you are so wise, you put up with fools gladly.

  • Prov 18:2
    75%

    2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in disclosing what is on his mind.

  • Prov 26:4-5
    2 verses
    74%

    4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him.

    5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own opinion.

  • Eccl 10:3
    74%

    3Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is.

  • Prov 12:15
    74%

    15The way of a fool is right in his own opinion, but the one who listens to advice is wise.

  • Eph 5:15
    73%

    15Live Wisely Therefore consider carefully how you live– not as unwise but as wise,

  • 1 Cor 3:17
    73%

    17If someone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, which is what you are.

  • Prov 13:16
    73%

    16Every shrewd person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.

  • Prov 26:12
    73%

    12You have seen a man wise in his own opinion– there is more hope for a fool than for him.

  • Col 2:4
    73%

    4I say this so that no one will deceive you through arguments that sound reasonable.

  • 1 Cor 8:2
    73%

    2If someone thinks he knows something, he does not yet know to the degree that he needs to know.

  • Prov 8:5
    73%

    5You who are naive, discern wisdom! And you fools, understand discernment!

  • 1 Cor 2:6
    73%

    6Wisdom from God Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing.

  • Prov 19:3
    72%

    3A person’s folly subverts his way, and his heart rages against the LORD.

  • 1 Cor 4:10
    72%

    10We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored!

  • Job 15:31
    72%

    31Let him not trust in what is worthless, deceiving himself; for worthlessness will be his reward.

  • 1 Cor 4:6
    72%

    6I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn“not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other.

  • 1 Cor 1:27
    72%

    27But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong.

  • Jas 1:22
    72%

    22But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.

  • Prov 14:33
    72%

    33Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; it is not known in the inner parts of fools.

  • 2 Thess 2:3
    72%

    3Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.

  • Prov 28:26
    72%

    26The one who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but the one who walks in wisdom will escape.

  • Prov 14:16
    71%

    16A wise person is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is overconfident.

  • Eph 5:6
    71%

    6Live in the Light Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience.

  • 1 Cor 2:14
    71%

    14The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

  • 2 Cor 10:12
    71%

    12Paul’s Mission For we would not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.

  • Prov 15:21
    71%

    21Folly is a joy to one who lacks sense, but one who has understanding follows an upright course.

  • 1 Cor 14:38
    71%

    38If someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

  • 1 Cor 1:29
    71%

    29so that no one can boast in his presence.

  • 2 Cor 12:6
    71%

    6For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me,

  • 1 Cor 10:12
    71%

    12So let the one who thinks he is standing be careful that he does not fall.

  • Eph 5:17
    71%

    17For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is.

  • Col 2:18
    71%

    18Let no one who delights in false humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind.

  • Eccl 7:16
    71%

    16So do not be excessively righteous or excessively wise; otherwise you might be disappointed.