True wisdom belongs to God and may be given by him alone. It cannot be received by those who put confidence in worldly wisdom which is based upon human cleverness and insight without God's revelation and which will come to nothing.
True wisdom comes from God
It is given by God alone
Job 12:13 See also Exodus 28:3; Job 38:36; Ecclesiastes 2:26; James 3:17
Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.
It is received through God's word
Psalm 19:7 See also Psalm 119:99–100, Psalm 119:130; Ecclesiastes 8:5; Jeremiah 8:8–9; Hosea 4:6; Matthew 7:24; Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:15
The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.
It is received through submission to God
Proverbs 15:33 See also Isaiah 33:6
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
It is imparted by God's Spirit
Ephesians 1:17 See also Exodus 31:3 parallel Exodus 35:31; Job 32:8; Daniel 4:18, Daniel 5:14; Acts 6:3, Acts 6:10; 1 Corinthians 12:8; Ephesians 3:5
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
It is given in response to prayer
James 1:5 See also 1 Kings 3:9 parallel 2 Chronicles 1:10; Proverbs 2:3–6; Daniel 10:12; Colossians 1:9
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
The emptiness of worldly wisdom
Worldly wisdom is foolishness to God
1 Corinthians 3:19–20 See also Job 5:13; Psalm 94:11; Romans 1:21–23
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
God cannot be known by worldly wisdom
1 Corinthians 1:21 See also Ecclesiastes 8:16–17; Isaiah 55:9; Romans 11:33–34; 1 Corinthians 1:17, 1 Corinthians 2:4–5, 1 Corinthians 2:11–13
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Worldly wisdom builds pride and false hope
Isaiah 47:10 See also Proverbs 3:7, Proverbs 26:12, Proverbs 28:11; Isaiah 5:21; Jeremiah 9:23; COL 2:231CO Colossians 4:10; 2 Corinthians 11:18–19
You were secure in your wickedness; you said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge led you astray; you told yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’
Worldly wisdom will be confounded
Isaiah 29:14 See also 1 Corinthians 1:19–20; Job 5:12–13; Proverbs 21:30; Isaiah 19:11, Isaiah 44:25; Jeremiah 51:57; Ezekiel 28:6–7, Ezekiel 28:17; 1 Corinthians 1:25
Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden.”
The revelation of divine wisdom
It is revealed in Jesus Christ
1 Corinthians 1:23–24 God's wisdom, which is hidden from those who rely on human wisdom, is the message of Christ crucified. See also 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 2:6–8; Colossians 1:15–17
but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
It is rejected by the worldly-wise
1 Corinthians 2:14 See also 1 Corinthians 1:18, 1 Corinthians 1:22–23
The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
It is revealed to the unlearned
Matthew 11:25 parallel Luke 10:211 Corinthians 3:18 God's wisdom may be received only by those willing to give up all reliance on their own human insight and understanding. See also 1 Corinthians 1:26–27
At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.
It is revealed through the church
His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
God-given wisdom is superior to worldly wisdom
Luke 21:15 See also Genesis 41:15; Exodus 7:11–12; 1 Kings 4:30; Daniel 1:20, Daniel 5:7; Acts 6:10
For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.