What is Wisdom?

[OP_Carl]

Wisdom is never criticizing another until you've walked a mile in their shoes.



That way, when you start criticizing them, you're a mile away, and you have their shoes!

[Michael The Disciple]

Try looking here.

http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com...ad.php?t=12760

[izzyschwartz]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Try looking here.

http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com...ad.php?t=12760

But Wisdom is a female personification, doesn't seem to fit with the son of God... He is God, so all the fullness dwells in him, so, if Wisdom is an attribute of God that would fit, but why then the female personification?

[TK Burk]

Originally Posted by izzyschwartz

I am interested in peoples thoughts on Wisdom. What is Wisdom?

There are three steps to achieving wisdom: (1) Knowledge (2) Understanding (3) Wisdom

Knowledge = facts
Understanding = evaluated facts
Wisdom = evaluated facts in action

Solomon lists these here:

Proverbs 24:3-4 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: (4) And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

James speaks of this as well:

James 1:3-7 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (5) 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. (6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (7) For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

James starts with "faith." Faith comes from hearing God's Word. This speaks of KNOWLEDGE. The trying of faith causes one to evaluate his knowledge and this causes UNDERSTANDING. Then James says a man can ask God for help living these EVALUATED FACTS. If a man, James says, lacks these qualities, he should not expect anything from God.

[jaxfam6]

Originally Posted by izzyschwartz

What Is Wisdom

I am interested in peoples thoughts on Wisdom. What is Wisdom?

The Word (especially the book of Proverbs) seems to personify "her" and we are told to exalt her:
Proverbs 4:8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

We are instructed to love her:
Proverbs 8:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

These and other passages seem to attribute power and rewards (blessings) to those that seek Wisdom.

In light of this, what is Wisdom?

Job 28:28
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding

Psalm 111:10
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.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

Isaiah 33:6
6And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by izzyschwartz

But Wisdom is a female personification, doesn't seem to fit with the son of God... He is God, so all the fullness dwells in him, so, if Wisdom is an attribute of God that would fit, but why then the female personification?

I cant answer that question. But I can see that Jesus DID equate himself with it.

Jesus identified himself as Wisdom.

Notice what Jesus says here:

46: And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
47: Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
48: Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.
49: Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
50: That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
51: From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. Luke 11:46-51

Verse 49 Jesus says "therefore said the wisdom of God". Who is this "wisdom of God"?

In a parallel version we read:

33: Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
34: Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
35: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Matt. 23:33-35

In one version the Wisdom Of God sends prophets and messengers. In the other version Jesus sends them. Why? Because Jesus is/was the Wisdom of God.

[Barb]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

I cant answer that question. But I can see that Jesus DID equate himself with it.

Jesus identified himself as Wisdom.

Notice what Jesus says here:

46: And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
47: Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
48: Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.
49: Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
50: That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
51: From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. Luke 11:46-51

Verse 49 Jesus says "therefore said the wisdom of God". Who is this "wisdom of God"?

In a parallel version we read:

33: Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
34: Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
35: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Matt. 23:33-35

In one version the Wisdom Of God sends prophets and messengers. In the other version Jesus sends them. Why? Because Jesus is/was the Wisdom of God.

Amen...consider this...


Prov 8:22-31
The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;


KJV

[izzyschwartz]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

I cant answer that question. But I can see that Jesus DID equate himself with it.

Jesus identified himself as Wisdom.

In one version the Wisdom Of God sends prophets and messengers. In the other version Jesus sends them. Why? Because Jesus is/was the Wisdom of God.

I do not agree, at least not as you describe it here... Jesus, as separate from God, did not exist prior to the sonship, at Bethlehem... This is a Trinitarian point of view espoused by Scofield and others; that these verses in Proverbs describe a preexistent son. They feel that they must explain the "eternal person" of the son in order to reconcile passages describing Jesus as the creator. There is no reason in Oneness theology to place the son as preexistent

If Jesus as the Logos can be referred to as Wisdom as part of this thought process of God, and if that is how he was involved with creation, then perhaps Wisdom is simply an attribute of the thought process or mind of God.