PART 2 · A NEW STUDY BUILT ON FOUNDATIONAL BIBLICAL DOCTRINE
Wisdom — Foundational Biblical Doctrine
OPENING WORD
Where does wisdom begin? Scripture answers plainly: the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Not the schools of men, not the wisdom of this world; the fear of the LORD. The Hebrew word is chokmah (H2451, wisdom); the Greek word is sophia (G4678, wisdom); and the door to both of them is yare (H3374, fear). That foundation is already laid. Now come fresh witnesses: Job, who feared God; Solomon, who asked for an understanding heart; James, who says to ask of God; and Paul, who shows us Christ, the wisdom of God. If any of you lack wisdom, you know whom to ask. Search it out.
THREE QUESTIONS THIS STUDY ANSWERS:
1. Where is the beginning of wisdom?
2. If any of you lack wisdom, whom should you ask?
3. Where are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden?
THE FOUNDATION ALREADY LAID — WISDOM
THE FOUNDATION → THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM (PSALM 111:10).
THE FOUNDATION → A GOOD UNDERSTANDING HAVE ALL THEY THAT DO HIS COMMANDMENTS (PSALM 111:10).
THE FOUNDATION → THEN SHALT THOU UNDERSTAND THE FEAR OF THE LORD, AND FIND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD (PROVERBS 2:5).
THE FOUNDATION → THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS TO HATE EVIL (PROVERBS 8:13).
THE FOUNDATION → THE LORD GIVETH WISDOM (PROVERBS 2:6).
THE FOUNDATION → CHRIST, WHO OF GOD IS MADE UNTO US WISDOM (1 CORINTHIANS 1:30).
This Part 2 confirms the same truth from a fresh set of witnesses.
OPENING ANCHOR
Proverbs 9:10Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
THE FEAR OF THE LORD = THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM + THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY = UNDERSTANDING.
(My personal thoughts — wisdom has a door, and the door is yare (H3374, fear) — the fear of the LORD. Not a dread that runs away from him, but a bowed heart that listens to him. Begin at the door; chokmah (H2451, wisdom) is inside.)
1. THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM
1.Proverbs 1:7Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
THE FEAR OF THE LORD = THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE + FOOLS DESPISE WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION.
2.Job 28:28Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
THE FEAR OF THE LORD = WISDOM + TO DEPART FROM EVIL = UNDERSTANDING.
2. ASK OF GOD, THAT GIVETH TO ALL MEN LIBERALLY
1.James 1:5Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
IF ANY OF YOU LACK WISDOM → LET HIM ASK OF GOD → IT SHALL BE GIVEN HIM.
2.1 Kings 3:9Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern [H995 biyn] between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
GIVE THY SERVANT AN UNDERSTANDING HEART → THAT I MAY DISCERN BETWEEN GOOD AND BAD.
3.1 Kings 3:12Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise [H2450 chakam] and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
LO, I HAVE GIVEN THEE A WISE AND AN UNDERSTANDING HEART → NONE LIKE THEE BEFORE THEE.
4.Proverbs 2:6Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
THE LORD GIVETH WISDOM → OUT OF HIS MOUTH COMETH KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING.
(My personal thoughts — Solomon asked, and God gave. James says the same door stands open: ask of God, who gives to everyone generously and without finding fault. The one who gave a wise heart to the king will give to you as well. Ask in faith.)
3. NOT THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD
1.1 Corinthians 1:25Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
THE FOOLISHNESS OF GOD = WISER THAN MEN + THE WEAKNESS OF GOD = STRONGER THAN MEN.
2.1 Corinthians 3:19Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD = FOOLISHNESS WITH GOD.
3.James 3:15Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
THE WISDOM THAT DESCENDETH NOT FROM ABOVE = EARTHLY + SENSUAL + DEVILISH.
4.James 3:17Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
THE WISDOM THAT IS FROM ABOVE = FIRST PURE + THEN PEACEABLE + GENTLE + FULL OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUITS.
(My personal thoughts — James shows wisdom of two kinds: one from below, one from above. Sophia (G4678, wisdom) from above is first pure, then peaceable. If it produces conflict and envy, it did not come down from the Father. Know it by its fruit.)
4. CHRIST, THE WISDOM OF GOD
1.1 Corinthians 1:24Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
CHRIST = THE POWER OF GOD + THE WISDOM OF GOD.
2.1 Corinthians 1:30Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
CHRIST JESUS OF GOD IS MADE UNTO US WISDOM + RIGHTEOUSNESS + SANCTIFICATION + REDEMPTION.
ALL THE TREASURES OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE = HID IN CHRIST.
(My personal thoughts — do not look for the treasure apart from the treasury. God has hidden all sophia (G4678, wisdom) and all gnosis (G1108, knowledge) in his Son. Hidden, not lost — hidden where you can find it. Find Christ, and you have found wisdom.)
5. WISDOM IS THE PRINCIPAL THING — HER WORTH AND HER WORKS
1.Proverbs 3:13Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
HAPPY IS THE MAN THAT FINDETH WISDOM + THE MAN THAT GETTETH UNDERSTANDING.
2.Proverbs 3:18Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
SHE = A TREE OF LIFE TO THEM THAT LAY HOLD UPON HER + HAPPY IS EVERY ONE THAT RETAINETH HER.
3.Proverbs 4:7Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
WISDOM = THE PRINCIPAL THING → GET WISDOM + WITH ALL THY GETTING GET UNDERSTANDING.
4.James 3:13Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
A WISE MAN → LET HIM SHEW OUT OF A GOOD CONVERSATION HIS WORKS WITH MEEKNESS OF WISDOM.
(My personal thoughts — wisdom is more than knowing; she is a tree of life, and a tree is known by its fruit. Get her first, and then show her through a good way of life, with humility.)
MOUTH OF TWO
Proverbs 9:10Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
THE FEAR OF THE LORD = THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM.
Psalm 111:10Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
THE FEAR OF THE LORD = THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM + A GOOD UNDERSTANDING HAVE ALL THEY THAT DO HIS COMMANDMENTS.
Proverbs 1:7Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
THE FEAR OF THE LORD = THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE.
Ecclesiastes 4:12Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
A THREEFOLD CORD IS NOT QUICKLY BROKEN.
THE SHADOW AND THE FULFILLMENT
5.1 Kings 3:12Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
I HAVE GIVEN THEE A WISE AND AN UNDERSTANDING HEART → NEITHER AFTER THEE SHALL ANY ARISE LIKE UNTO THEE.
6.Matthew 12:42Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
SHE CAME FROM THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH TO HEAR THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON → BEHOLD, A GREATER THAN SOLOMON IS HERE.
(My personal thoughts — the wisest king was only a shadow. The queen came from the farthest parts of the earth to hear Solomon; someone greater than Solomon stands here — Christ, the wisdom of God.)
CLOSING
James 3:17Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE = FULL OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUITS + WITHOUT PARTIALITY + WITHOUT HYPOCRISY.
IN WHOM ARE HID ALL THE TREASURES OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE.
(My personal thoughts — one road, three steps. It begins with yare (H3374, fear), the fear of the LORD. It continues by asking, because he gives to everyone generously. And it ends in Christ, in whom all the treasures of sophia (G4678, wisdom) and gnosis (G1108, knowledge) are hidden. One gift, one Giver. Ask, and it will be given.)
GREEK KEYWORDS
These are the keywords for this study. Tap any dotted word in the verses above to see its meaning here.
“wisdom” — G4678 sophia — wisdom, worldly or spiritual
Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God
“wise” — G4680 sophos — wise, skilled
the foolishness of God is wiser than men
“prudence” — G5428 phronesis — prudence, moral insight
he has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence
“knowledge” — G1108 gnosis — knowledge, knowing
in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge
PRACTICE QUIZ
1. Proverbs 9:10 — The fear of the LORD is the beginning of:
a) knowledge
b) wisdom
c) days
2. Job 28:28 — To depart from evil is:
a) understanding
b) wisdom
c) riches
3. James 1:5 — If any of you lack wisdom, let him:
a) seek the wise men of this world
b) ask of God, if perhaps he will give
c) ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally
4. 1 Kings 3:12 — Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee:
a) a wise and an understanding heart
b) riches and honour
c) long life
5. 1 Corinthians 3:19 — The wisdom of this world is:
a) hid with God
b) foolishness with God
c) weakness with God
6. Colossians 2:3 — In whom are hid:
a) in the wisdom of this world
b) in the church
c) all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
7. James 3:17 — The wisdom that is from above is first:
a) pure
b) peaceable
c) gentle
ANSWER KEY: 1-b, 2-a, 3-c, 4-a, 5-b, 6-c, 7-a
HOW THIS STUDY BRANCHES
→ How wisdom speaks as a person: in Proverbs 8:23 wisdom says, I was set up from everlasting; and 1 Corinthians 1:24 names Christ the wisdom of God. Search whether the wisdom that cries out in Proverbs be a shadow of the Son.
→ How the Spirit gives wisdom: Bezaleel was filled with the spirit of God in wisdom (Exodus 31:3), and Paul prays that God may give to you the spirit of wisdom (Ephesians 1:17). Search how wisdom comes by the Spirit.
→ How the Preacher ends where wisdom begins: Ecclesiastes 12:13 says, Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Search how the end of the book meets the beginning of wisdom.
→ How the greater-than thread runs on: a greater than Solomon (Matthew 12:42), a greater than Jonas (Matthew 12:41), one greater than the temple (Matthew 12:6). Search who is greater than the king, the prophet, and the temple.
