1 Corinthians 3:18-23

Contemporary English Version

¹⁸Don't fool yourselves! If any of you think you are wise in the things of this world, you will have to become foolish before you can be truly wise. ¹⁹^(A) This is because God considers the wisdom of this world to be foolish. It is just as the Scriptures say, “God catches the wise when they try to outsmart him.” ²⁰^(B) The Scriptures also say, “The Lord knows that the plans made by wise people are useless.” ^21-22So stop bragging about what anyone has done. Paul and Apollos and Peter^[a] all belong to you. In fact, everything is yours, including the world, life, death, the present, and the future. Everything belongs to you, ²³and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

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Footnotes

3.21,22 Peter: See the note at 1.12.

1 Corinthians 3:18-23

New International Version

¹⁸Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise^(A) by the standards of this age,^(B) you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. ¹⁹For the wisdom of this world is foolishness^(C) in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”^[a];^(D) ²⁰and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”^[b]^(E) ²¹So then, no more boasting about human leaders!^(F) All things are yours,^(G) ²²whether Paul or Apollos^(H) or Cephas^[c]^(I) or the world or life or death or the present or the future^(J)—all are yours, ²³and you are of Christ,^(K) and Christ is of God.