1 Corinthians 3:18

Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world, let him become. fool, that he may become wise.

'Let no man deceive himself' -'A warning that implied that some of them were guilty of doing it.' (Robertson p. 99) 'By thinking himself wise enough to amend or modify God's truth.' (McGarvey p. 66) 'Let no one be under any illusion over this.' (Phi)

It appears that Paul now returns to the subject of God's wisdom verses the World's wisdom. Dividing into parties and following men, may have seemed "wise" to some. But Paul had revealed that such attitudes are destroying the church in Corinth, and those that pursue such attitudes will not only destroy the church, but they are self-deceived and. fearful judgement threatens them.

'If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world' -'imagines that he is wiser than the rest of you, in what this world calls wisdom.' (Gspd)

'Paul then goes on once again to pin down the root cause of this dissension and this consequent destruction of the temple of God.. that root cause is the worship of intellectual, worldly wisdom.. it is this very worldly wisdom which makes the Corinthians assess the worth and the value of different teachers and leaders. It is this pride in the human mind which makes them assess and evaluate and criticize the way in which the message is delivered..' [Note:. Barclay p. 38]

'let him become foolish that he may become wise' -'by receiving the gospel in its simplicity, and so becoming foolish in the world's sight.' (Alford p. 993) (Acts 26:24; 1 Corinthians 4:10) 'Let him discard this wisdom, have himself called "a fool" by the adherents of this wisdom.' (Lenski p. 151)

'This is simply. vivid way of urging. man to be humble enough to learn. No one can teach. man who thinks that he knows it all already.' (Barclay p. 39) (Proverbs 9:8; James 1:21)