I have a discussion with my dad about what wisdom is. He hated that I didn't give a simple answer but rather I decided to use Proverbs 9:10 as the definition.
He wanted more of a textbook answer. The ability to access a situation and make beneficial decisions. He saw the fear of the Lord as just a start before wisdom. I see it as part of wisdom, as in you cant have wisdom without fearing God.
Is wisdom something seperate from the fear of the Lord?
Related to prudence, wisdom is practical mastery of life and its situations (cf.
Prov. 1:5), whether in wealth or poverty, joy or pain. It knows how to deal with others and how to enjoy life. It recognizes God's rule, knows good and evil, and is aware of the ways of the world.
The concept of wisdom in the OT often has rules of conduct in view (cf.
Job 33:33;
Prov. 2:2). Possessing knowledge, the wise impart it (
Prov. 14:24;
15:2,
7). Fools betray themselves when they try to offer counsel. Instructive words from the heart are like a springing well (16:21ff.; 18:4). Wise people listen to such words (15:12) and may go on to nourish others with their instruction (6:23; 10:17; 13:14; 15:24).
Right conduct presupposes understanding, which only reverent seeking can attain. To achieve understanding one must shun such corrupting influences as strong drink, bad company, strange women, unlawful gain, and violent speech (cf.
Prov. 23:20-21;
2:12ff., 16ff.;
Eccl. 7:7;
Job 15:2). The divine law is the source of ethical conduct; it involves uprightness, liberality to the poor, and a right attitude to others in a life governed by wise rules.
Wisdom in the OT may also denote piety, for the wise know God, understand his words and ways, and humbly perceive their sin and the divine lordship. Fear of God is the starting point of true wisdom (
Prov. 9:10;
Ps. 111:10). It is not itself wisdom but leads to it as a reverence that comes to expression, not in the cultus, but in conduct. Expressing the fear of God in daily life offers valuable insight into life itself. Its correlative is not doing evil (
Job 1:1), i.e., its careful avoidance. Wisdom sees that God tests the heart (
Prov. 16:2), that he takes pleasure in good and not in evil (11:1), and that he controls human potentialities (16:9, 19; 19:21). It thus comes to put its trust in God (22:19).
Among the rabbis wisdom coincides with the law, and wisdom comes through its study, so that the scribes are the wise, and rabbinic teaching is wisdom. Preexistent wisdom is the law. The good things that wisdom confers are fruits of teaching the law.
In
Col. 1:9 and
Eph. 1:8 growth in Christian knowledge, which includes knowledge of God's will and worthy conduct, is called sophía. This wisdom comes by grace (
Eph. 1:7). It embraces knowledge of eschatological blessings in Christ (1:17-18). It is understanding of the mystery of Christ, in whom all the treasures of wisdom are hid (
Col. 1:26-27).
From: Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged -“Little Kittel”).
