What is wisdom based on the Bible? Is it different from worldly wisdom? Is there a transparent definition of wisdom from the Bible? Is it different from knowledge? Are there certain people praised within the Bible for possessing wisdom? Do the Scriptures advise learn how to get wisdom?
In fact, the Bible does provide answers to all these questions. The subject is complex, but we will find the knowledge we seek if we glance closely enough.
Does Any Bible Verse Give a Definition of Wisdom?
Wisdom shouldn’t be a straightforward concept. It shouldn’t be summed up by one verse. Across the Bible, we see several verses that give definitions of wisdom.
James 3:17 states, “But the wisdom that comes from God is like this: First, it’s pure. It can be peaceful, gentle, and straightforward to please. This wisdom is at all times able to help individuals who have trouble and to do good for others. This wisdom is at all times fair and honest.”
1 Corinthians 1:30 has a rather more personal definition of wisdom. It states, “And Christ has turn into for us wisdom from God.” According to this verse, wisdom shouldn’t be defined by traits. Wisdom is a being: Jesus. Wisdom from God is God himself. 1 Corinthians 1:24 is slightly more specific, though, saying that Jesus is God’s power and wisdom to the people God has chosen—each Jews and Greeks (or Gentiles).
Job also gives his tackle wisdom. In Job 28:28, he states, “To fear and respect the Lord is wisdom.” Here, wisdom is an attitude. King Solomon essentially agrees, saying that wisdom begins with fear and respect for God (Proverbs 9:10).
King Solomon, the wisest person to ever live, naturally has lots more to say on wisdom. In his twenty-second smart saying, Solomon states that wisdom is unable to be understood by fools (Proverbs 24:7). He also says that stubborn fools hate wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). In his twenty-sixth smart saying, Solomon states that wisdom is nice for you (Proverbs 24:14).
Solomon also wrote that wisdom is price greater than high-quality jewels (Proverbs 3:15) and rather more than gold (Proverbs 16:16). Along with careful planning, it’s a bringer of an extended life stuffed with honor (Proverbs 3:22).
How Does the Bible’s Definition of Wisdom Separate It from Knowledge?
Wisdom and knowledge share many similarities. However, the Bible defines wisdom in a different way from knowledge. Knowledge involves intelligence, while wisdom is deeper than that. It involves understanding and discernment.
Also, within the Bible, wisdom isn’t considered something bad. Knowledge, too, is seen as something good within the Bible. But 1 Corinthians 8:1 states, “It is actually true that ‘all of us have knowledge,’ as you say. But this information only fills individuals with pride.” Here, knowledge shouldn’t be seen as sin but presented as something used poorly that may result in sin.
Based on several Bible verses, there are specific things that wisdom is that knowledge shouldn’t be. Knowledge shouldn’t be necessarily pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to please, able to help individuals who have trouble and do good to others, fair, honest, Jesus (especially to people God has chosen, each Greeks and Jews), fearing and respecting God, price greater than high-quality jewels and rather more than gold, or a bringer of an extended life stuffed with honor. These are things that wisdom is, though.
Who Does the Bible Praise for Having Great Wisdom?
The Bible mainly praises two people for having great wisdom: Jesus and Solomon.
In 1 Kings 3, God gives Solomon wisdom. 1 Kings 3:12 states, “So I offers you what you asked for. I’ll make you smart and intelligent. I’ll make you wiser than anyone who ever lived or ever will live.” The Bible states that Solomon officially was and at all times will likely be the wisest person ever.
1 Kings 10:23 states that Solomon had greater wisdom “than another king on earth.” 1 Kings 4:29 takes it further: due to God, Solomon’s wisdom was beyond what we will imagine.
The Bible also praises Jesus for his great wisdom. Luke 2:52 states, “As Jesus grew taller, he continued to grow in wisdom.” While Solomon was praised for having great wisdom, Jesus is stated to be wisdom itself in 1 Corinthians 10:30 and 1 Corinthians 1:24. Jesus became wisdom. He is the embodiment of God’s wisdom.
Does the Bible Tell Us How to Gain Wisdom?
Proverbs 2:6 states, “The Lord is the source of wisdom; knowledge and understanding come from his mouth.” Wisdom comes from God. But how will we gain this wisdom from God? Jesus and Solomon have the answers.
Wisdom begins with fearing and respecting God (Proverbs 9:10, Psalms 111:10). Solomon wrote about it and lived it out. Jesus also lived it out, as in verses Hebrews 5:7, where he sought God’s help and advice. Jesus respected God and modeled wisdom. He was wisdom itself (1 Corinthians 1:30).
Solomon feared and revered God. 1 Kings 3:6-8 states,
Solomon answered, ‘You were very kind and constant to your servant, my father David. He was faithful to you and lived a superb, honest life. And you showed him the best kindness if you let his son take his place as king. Lord my God, you’ve got made me the king in my father’s place, but I’m like a small child. I don’t have the wisdom I would like to do what I need to do. I’m your servant here amongst your chosen people. There are so many who they can’t be counted.’”
Fearing and respecting God is step one to receiving wisdom. Another first step is to search for wisdom (Proverbs 4:7).
But those are only the primary steps, the start. Just fearing and respecting God and on the lookout for wisdom shouldn’t be all it takes to receive wisdom from him. We must take motion to achieve wisdom.
To gain wisdom, we must ask God for it (James 1:5). 1 Kings 3:9-12 shows what happened after Solomon for wisdom:
“The Lord was completely satisfied that Solomon asked for wisdom. So God said to him, ‘You didn’t ask for long life and riches for yourself. You didn’t ask for the death of your enemies. You asked for the wisdom to listen and make the correct decisions. So I offers you what you asked for. I’ll make you smart and intelligent. I’ll make you wiser than anyone who ever lived or ever will live.’”
Solomon asked for wisdom, and subsequently, he received it from God.
As Proverbs 4:7 says, we must search for wisdom, and there are numerous ways to do that. According to Proverbs 1:5, we could turn into wiser by listening to the proverbs of the Bible, where there are probably the most examples of God’s wisdom definition. 2 Timothy 3:15 has an analogous take: it says that knowing the Scriptures could make one smart. Deuteronomy 4:6 states that obeying God’s laws shows others that one is smart. According to Proverbs 13:20, being friends with smart people will make one smart.
Wisdom may come from outside help. 1 Corinthians 1:9 states, “Since the day we heard these items about you, we have now continued praying for you. This is what we pray: that God will make you completely sure of what he wants by supplying you with all of the wisdom and spiritual understanding you would like.” So, wisdom comes from God and may come from others praying for one.
While all these steps are useful, we remember what the New Testament says about Jesus and wisdom: following Jesus is following wisdom itself Only by pursuing a relationship with him, in search of to turn into “little Christs” (what the word “Christian” originally meant) is how we turn into smart.
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Jared Salomon is a author and editor, with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Writing from Taylor University. He is an associate product developer for Childress Ink. He writes Christian fiction, realistic fiction, and fantasy. In his free time, Jared enjoys hanging out together with his friends and playing sports (especially tennis).
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