Grounding Explanations in Scripture for Biblical Wisdom
Biblical wisdom is presented as a divine attribute and a foundational principle for creation and human understanding. The book of Proverbs states that wisdom is for gaining discipline and comprehending insight [2]. The Lord Himself is depicted as having founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens through understanding [3, 12]. This divine wisdom is described as perfect, mighty, universal, infinite, unsearchable, and beyond human comprehension [4].
Human wisdom, in contrast, is often contrasted with divine wisdom. The apostle Paul, for instance, notes that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, and that God knows the thoughts of the wise, "that they are vain" [14]. Simplicity, in a biblical sense, is opposed to "fleshly wisdom" and is necessary for understanding spiritual truths [5, 13]. The wisdom of saints is said to be derived from God, and those who possess simplicity are made wise by God and His word [5].
A key component of biblical wisdom is the "fear of the Lord." This concept is not merely terror, but a reverent awe and respect for God that leads to right living [7, 10]. It is described as a healthy fear that counteracts inner turmoil and brings peace [9]. Isaiah emphasizes that the issue is often "fear of the Lord versus fear of people" [7]. Those who fear the Lord find Him to be a sanctuary, ensuring their salvation, while fearing people can lead to destruction [7]. Peter similarly exhorts believers to "worship Christ as Lord," implying that by fearing Christ, they will be free from the fear of human persecutors [8]. This fear of the Lord involves honoring His holy name and regarding Him as the sole hope of safety [11]. Seeking God early and making Him the first and chief anxiety is also part of this wisdom [6].
The Bible uses various metaphors to illustrate wisdom and its importance. A "foundation" is the lowest part of a building upon which it rests, and this imagery is applied to the heavens, earth, world, and even cities and houses [1]. Just as a strong foundation is crucial for a building, divine wisdom serves as the bedrock for creation and for a stable life [1].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Foundation — The lowest part of a building, and on which it rests -- Lu 14:29; Ac 16:26. Figuratively applied to The heavens. -- 2Sa 22:8. The earth. -- Job 38:4; Ps 104:5. The world. -- Ps 18:15; Mt 13:35. The mountains. -- De 32:22. The ocean. -- Ps 104:8. Kingdoms. -- Ex 9:18. Laid for Cities. -- Jos 6:26; 1Ki 16:34. Walls. -- Ezr 4:12; Re 21:14. Houses. -- Lu 6:48. Temples. -- 1Ki 6:37; Ezr 3:10. Towers. -- Lu 14:28,29. Described as Of stone. -- 1Ki 5:17. Deep laid. -- Lu 6:48. Strongly laid. -- Ezr 6:3. Joined together by corner stones. -- Ezr 4:12; 1Pe 2:6; Eph”
- Proverbs “Proverbs 1:2 (BSB) — for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,”
- Proverbs “Proverbs 3:19 (Geneva1599) — The Lord by wisdome hath layde the foundation of the earth, and hath stablished the heauens through vnderstanding.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Wisdom of God, The — Is one of his attributes -- 1Sa 2:3; Job 9:4. Described as Perfect. -- Job 36:4; 37:16. Mighty. -- Job 36:5. Universal. -- Job 28:24; Da 2:22; Ac 15:18. Infinite. -- Ps 147:5; Ro 11:33. Unsearchable. -- Isa 40:28; Ro 11:33. Wonderful. -- Ps 139:6. Beyond human comprehension. -- Ps 139:6. Incomparable. -- Isa 44:7; Jer 10:7. Underived. -- Job 21:22; Isa 40:14. The gospel contains treasures of -- 1Co 2:7. Wisdom of saints is derived from -- Ezr 7:25. All human wisdom derived from -- Da 2:1. Saints ascribe to him -- Da 2:20. Exhibited in His works. ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Simplicity — Is opposed to fleshly wisdom -- 2Co 1:12. Necessity for -- Mt 18:2,3. Should be exhibited In preaching the gospel. -- 1Th 2:3-7. In acts of benevolence. -- Ro 12:8. In all our conduct. -- 2Co 1:12. Concerning our own wisdom. -- 1Co 3:18. Concerning evil. -- Ro 16:19. Concerning malice. -- 1Co 14:20. Exhortation to -- Ro 16:19; 1Pe 2:2. They who have the grace of Are made wise by God. -- Mt 11:25. Are made wise by the word of God. -- Ps 19:7; 119:130. Are preserved by God. -- Ps 116:6. Made circumspect by instruction. -- Pr 1:4. Profit by the correction o”
- Job (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 8:5: seek unto God betimes--early. Make it the first and chief anxiety (Psa 78:34; Hos 5:15; Isa 26:9; Pro 8:17; Pro 13:24).”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 8:11: 8:11-15 This text reveals the heart of Isaiah’s message. The issue was fear of the Lord versus fear of people (see 7:9; 8:6). When an individual fears people, the Lord becomes a trap and destruction is certain (cp. Prov 29:25; see “Fearing People” Theme Note). For those who fear the Lord, he becomes a sanctuary; their salvation is assured.”
- 1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 3:14: 3:14-15 or be afraid of their threats: See Isa 8:13, where God exhorts the prophet to fear nothing except the Lord. • worship Christ as Lord: By fearing Christ, they will be free from fear of their human persecutors.”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 15:16: 15:16 A healthy fear for the Lord counteracts inner turmoil and brings inner peace. • Better to have little: See also 16:8.”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 9:10: 9:10-12 Fear of the Lord: See study note on 1:7.”
- Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 8:13: Sanctify--Honor His holy name by regarding Him as your only hope of safety (Isa 29:23; Num 20:12). him . . . fear--"fear" lest you provoke His wrath by your fear of man and distrust of Him.”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 3:19: The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth,.... He has created all things, and made the world by his Son, the Wisdom of God, Eph 3:9, Heb 1:2; not using him as an instrument; but, he being an efficient cause with him, to him, as to the first cause, the creation of all things is ascribed, Joh 1:1; and particularly the laying the foundation of the earth, Heb 1:10; and though this is true of the divine perfection of wisdom, Jer 10:12; yet from the context it appears best to understand it of the essential Wisdom of God, Christ Jesus; the Jerusalem Targum of Gen 1:1; is, ”
- 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 1:12: For--reason why he may confidently look for their prayers for him. our rejoicing--Greek, "our glorying." Not that he glories in the testimony of his conscience, as something to boast of; nay, this testimony is itself the thing in which his glorying consists. in simplicity--Most of the oldest manuscripts read, "in holiness." English Version reading is perhaps a gloss from Eph 6:5 [ALFORD]. Some of the oldest manuscripts and versions, however, support it. godly sincerity--literally, "sincerity of God"; that is, sincerity as in the presence o”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 3:20: And again,.... Not in the same place, nor in the same book, but in the Psalms, in Psa 94:11. This form of citing Scriptures answers to and moreover, used by the Jewish doctors when the matter does not so clearly appear from the first proof, and therefore they produce another (q): and so here the apostle, for the further confirmation and illustration of this point, that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, to the testimony of Eliphaz, adds this of David, the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain; in the Psalms it is, "the Lord ”