The Word of Wisdom

It is one of the nine charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned by the Apostle Paul in 1 Cornth.12:8.  Here are three Bible scholars explaining this gift.

Colin Dye defines the word of wisdom as a supernatural skill to resolve or assist a situation. It is not gained through experience or training, but by glimpsing the Spirit’s wisdom.

 R.T Kendall: it is the greatest gift and is the most accessible one. Simply it is the ability of having 20/20 foresight vision. It keeps us from making mistakes. It keeps us from making fools of ourselves. It is God’s will for us to have this gift, but we need to ask Him.  James 1:5 says that, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”   Kendall continues by saying that sexual purity is one of the first qualifications for having wisdom. The first seven chapters in the book of “Proverbs” are given to warn us against adultery and sexual infidelity. He concludes that the fear of the Lord, especially in this area, is the source of all wisdom.

Gordon Fee explains why Paul uses the word “message.”   It means either (1) “a message/utterance of full wisdom,” or (2) “an utterance characterized by wisdom.” Both meanings are correct. Fee explains the first meaning by saying that the message of wisdom in the context of 1 Corinthians2:10-13, is the full wisdom for man to understand the mind of God, regarding Christ’s crucifixion to redeem His fallen creature. It is the highest wisdom revealed to man.     

  For the second meaning, Kendall explains the “utterance characterized by wisdom” by saying, not everyone who was converted and filled with the Holy Spirit has such gift of wisdom. People might have natural wisdom before they were converted. It is there in their genes. However, according to James 1:5, it is mandatory for every Christians to ask for the gift of wisdom. When given, it is for a particular situation. In counseling, for example, a counselor should ask for the Spirit of wisdom to help a counselee in solving out a specific problem.  So this gift is not a universal wisdom.

*Adopted from the book “Mustard Seed Counseling” by Ibrahim Youssef, AuthorHouse publication 2016.