Jesus is Wisdom
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Of special importance to today’s post is the point Apostle Paul makes that Christ Jesus is made by GOD to us Wisdom. Wisdom is Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ is Wisdom. This is the highest and most accurate definition of wisdom just like the highest and most accurate definition of righteousness, sanctification, and redemption is also Jesus Christ. He is everything. It’s ALL about Him.
Jesus is the Son of GOD. The Son of God is God’s Word. God and His Word are One and the same according to John 1:1. God’s Word is His Wisdom. By God’s Word [or Wisdom] all things were created including heaven and earth.
Col 1:16-18 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (18) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
This is such an awesome scripture. It begins by letting us know without a shadow of a doubt that ALL things visible and invinsible including ALL spiritual phenomena were created by God’s Word a.k.a. Jesus Christ.
Let us simplify it to our level. How do we know how wise a person is? By the content of their conversation or discussion. Their words show us the content of their heart and showcase to us their wisdom or folly.
The word that GOD speaks is spirit and life (John 6:63). GOD like His Word is Spirit. This Spirit we know as Holy Ghost or the Ghost of Jesus that he gave up when he was crucified BUT this Spirit or Ghost is also known throughout Scripture by a variety of other names including the Spirit of Wisdom, Spirit of knowledge, Spirit of Understanding, Spirit of Might, Spirit of Counsel, Spirit of fear of the Lord, Spirit of Grace, Spirit of Holiness etc.
Moving on, consider verse 18 of Col 1 quoted above. It paints the picture of the one new man in Christ. The head is Jesus and the body of Christ is the Church—the head and body are parts of the same—the new creation. Now it makes perfect sense that the head is the wisdom or the nerve center from which wisdom is supplied to the body. Christ is not separate from his church. Together they are One and as the head, He is her wisdom—the wisdom, and righteousness, sanctification, and redemption of his body.
Definition of Wisdom
With the foundation that Christ Jesus is made unto us by GOD Wisdom, now let us consider how a bible dictionary defines wisdom. First we must know that there are a number of words which are defined in scripture as wisdom but our focus today is the word used in the following scripture:
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Sophia
The word Apostle Paul used in the 1Co 1:30 passage is transliterated Sophia. What is Sophia? We know it’s Jesus but what is Jesus made unto Christians according to this scripture?
The Strong’s Heberew and Greek dictionaries and the Thayer’s Greek dictionaries use the reference number G4678 for Sophia.
What does Sophia mean?
Here is a direct quote from Thayer’s Greek Definitions:
Sophia is:
1) wisdom, broad and full of intelligence; used of the knowledge of very diverse matters
1a) the wisdom which belongs to men
1a1) spec. the varied knowledge of things human and divine, acquired by acuteness and experience, and summed up in maxims and proverbs
1a2) the science and learning
1a3) the act of interpreting dreams and always giving the sagest advice
1a4) the intelligence evinced in discovering the meaning of some mysterious number or vision
1a5) skill in the management of affairs
1a6) devout and proper prudence in intercourse with men not disciples of Christ, skill and discretion in imparting Christian truth
1a7) the knowledge and practice of the requisites for godly and upright living
1b) supreme intelligence, such as belongs to God
1b1) to Christ
1b2) the wisdom of God as evinced in forming and executing counsels in the formation and government of the world and the scriptures
Citing in TDNT: 7:465, 1056
Explanation or Breakdown of Sophia
So what is Sophia and why is it important to the believer?
Sophia is broad and full of intelligence. This supersedes anything the world has to offer. This is what Daniel had that made him way more intelligent and successful than all the wise men of Babylon. Sophia is knowledge of very diverse matters. Sophia encompasses varied knowledge of things human and divine, acquired by acuteness and experience, and summed up in maxims and proverbs. Sophia contains science and learning. No Christian student should ever fail any academic paper again because Christ is made unto them all knowledge, know-how, science and learning.
Sophia consists of the ability [like Daniel and Joseph] to interpret dreams and always give the sagest advice. Sophia causes the believer to dissolve all doubts and speak in a way that cannot be contradicted or resisted. Sophia is intelligence evinced in discovering the meaning of some mysterious number or vision. It is supernatural skill in the management of affairs. This is how Joseph was able to manage the affairs of Potiphar and later Pharaoh flawlessly. Sophia is devout and proper prudence in intercourse with unbelivers. Sophia is skill and discretion in imparting Christian truth. It is the knowledge and practice of the requisites for godly and upright living. It is SUPREME INTELLIGENCE, such as belongs to God and Christ. Can you believe that? God has made the supreme intelligence he possesses at the disposal of his children. How awesome! Why then do GOD’s children perish or suffer? He answered this himself in Hosea 4:6. Sophia is also the wisdom of God as evinced in forming and executing counsels in the formation and government of the world and the scriptures.
WOW! WOW! WOW! Need I say more?
I have just given you the Thayer’s Greek dictionary’s definition of Sophia. Christ Jesus is made by GOD to us all the above. What an awesome gift for GOD to give to His Children. All we need is to believe and study his word to apply it in our lives. May we believe His Word and appreciate God’s gift of Wisdom. Amen!