1 Corinthians 3:18

3:18 Guard against self-deception, each of you. ¹  If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise.

1 Corinthians 4:10

4:10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored!

Proverbs 14:8

14:8 The wisdom of the shrewd person ²  is to discern ³  his way,

but the folly of fools is deception. ⁴ 

James 1:5

1:5 But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.

James 3:13-18

True Wisdom

3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings. ⁵  3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth. 3:15 Such ⁶  wisdom does not come ⁷  from above but is earthly, natural, ⁸  demonic. 3:16 For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice. 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, ⁹  full of mercy and good fruit, ¹⁰  impartial, and not hypocritical. ¹¹  3:18 And the fruit that consists of righteousness ¹²  is planted ¹³  in peace among ¹⁴  those who make peace.

[3:18]  ¹ tn Grk “let no one deceive himself.”

[14:8]  ² tn Or “the prudent [person]” (cf. KJV, NASB, NIV).

[14:8]  ³ tn The Hiphil infinitive construct denotes purpose. Those who are shrewd will use it to give careful consideration to all their ways.

[14:8]  ⁴ tn The word means “deception,” but some suggest “self-deception” here (W. McKane, Proverbs [OTL], 466; and D. W. Thomas, “Textual and Philological Notes on Some Passages in the Book of Proverbs,” VTSup 3 [1955]: 286); cf. NLT “fools deceive themselves.” The parallelism would favor this, but there is little support for it. The word usually means “craft practiced on others.” If the line is saying the fool is deceitful, there is only a loose antithesis between the cola.

[3:13]  ⁵ tn Grk “works in the gentleness of wisdom.”

[3:15]  ⁶ tn Grk “This.”

[3:15]  ⁷ tn Grk “come down”; “descend.”

[3:15]  ⁸ tn Grk “soulish,” which describes life apart from God, characteristic of earthly human life as opposed to what is spiritual. Cf. 1 Cor 2:14; 15:44-46; Jude 19.

[3:17]  ⁹ tn Or “willing to yield,” “open to persuasion.”

[3:17]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “fruits.” The plural Greek term καρπούς has been translated with the collective singular “fruit.”

[3:17]  ¹¹ tn Or “sincere.”

[3:18]  ¹² tn Grk “the fruit of righteousness,” meaning righteous living as a fruit, as the thing produced.

[3:18]  ¹³ tn Grk “is sown.”

[3:18]  ¹⁴ tn Or “for,” or possibly “by.”