This Spiritual Gift of Wisdom is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to know the mind of the Holy Spirit in such a way as to receive insight into how knowledge may best be applied to specific needs arising in the body of Christ. It allows the believer to sort through opinions, facts, and thoughts in order to determine what solution would be best for the individual believer or the community of believers. Furthermore, it is the ability to apply knowledge to life in such a way as to make spiritual truths quite relevant and practical in proper decision making and daily life situations. Wisdom shows us how to use our knowledge.
“Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10 NIV)
“A power of understanding and explaining the manifold wisdom of God in the grand scheme of gospel salvation.” (Wesley, 622-623)
Divine vs. Secular Wisdom
This divine wisdom is not to be confused with secular wisdom or the wisdom of the world which God sees as foolishness. Worldly wisdom comes from a person’s experience and not the Holy Spirit. While learning and gaining knowledge from experiences is important and can come from God, the spiritual gift of wisdom works beyond knowledge. When specifically faced with a problem, a person with the gift of wisdom would propose solutions that are outside of their life experiences or fields of secular study.
Hodge in his commentary on 1 Corinthians writes about the gifts of wisdom and knowledge regarding 1 Corinthians 12:8:
“…wisdom refers to what is perceived by intuition, i.e., what is apprehended (as they say) by the reason; and knowledge what is perceived by the understanding…. that wisdom is the gospel, the whole system of revealed truth, and the word of wisdom is the gift of revealing that system as the object of faith.” 1
Martin Luther on the Spiritual Gift of Wisdom
Martin Luther, the German theologian and leader of the Protestant Reformation, viewed the spiritual gift of wisdom as a special grace given by the Holy Spirit to believers for the building up of the church. He believed that wisdom was closely related to the fear of the Lord, and that it involved a deep understanding and reverence for God and His ways.
Luther saw wisdom as involving both knowledge and understanding, and believed that those who possessed the gift of wisdom were able to discern the will of God and apply it to their lives in practical ways. He believed that wisdom was a necessary gift for those in positions of leadership in the church, as it enabled them to make wise and discerning decisions and to guide others in the ways of the faith.
In addition to its practical application, Luther saw wisdom as a gift that was closely tied to the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. He believed that those who possessed the gift of wisdom were able to discern the leading of the Spirit and to cooperate with His work in their lives.
Overall, Martin Luther viewed the gift of wisdom as an essential part of the life of the church, and believed that those who possessed this gift had a vital role to play in guiding and instructing others in the ways of the faith. He saw wisdom as involving both knowledge and understanding, and emphasized the importance of discerning the will of God and cooperating with the work of the Holy Spirit in the ministry of wisdom.
John Wesley on the Spiritual Gift of Wisdom
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, believed that wisdom was closely related to knowledge and understanding, and that it involved a deep insight into the ways of God and the mysteries of the faith.
Wesley saw the gift of wisdom as involving both practical and spiritual aspects. He believed that those who possessed the gift of wisdom were able to discern the will of God and apply it to their lives in practical ways, but also to understand the deeper spiritual truths of the faith and to communicate them to others.
Wesley also emphasized the importance of humility and prayer in the ministry of wisdom. He believed that those who possessed the gift of wisdom should seek to cultivate a spirit of humility and dependence on God, and should continually pray for guidance and discernment in their lives.
The Catholic Church on the Spiritual Gift of Wisdom
In the Catholic Church, the spiritual gift of wisdom is considered one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is viewed as a supernatural gift that enables the believer to see things from God’s perspective and to make judgments and decisions in accordance with His will.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the gift of wisdom as “a participation in God’s own wisdom and judgment” (CCC 1831). It goes on to explain that this gift is not merely a matter of human intelligence or knowledge, but rather a special grace that enables the believer to understand the deeper things of God and to discern His will.
The gift of wisdom is closely related to the other gifts of the Holy Spirit, particularly understanding and counsel. It is seen as a gift that enables the believer to apply the knowledge and understanding that come from the other gifts in a practical and effective way.
The Catholic Church also emphasizes the importance of prayer and the sacraments in the development and exercise of the gift of wisdom. Through prayer, the believer can cultivate a deeper relationship with God and receive the guidance and discernment needed to exercise this gift effectively. And through the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist and Reconciliation, the believer can receive the grace needed to overcome obstacles to wisdom, such as pride and selfishness.
People with this Gift:
- Hear the Spirit provide direction for God’s best in a given situation
- Focus on the unseen consequences in determining the next steps to take
- Receive an understanding of what is necessary to meet the needs of the body
- Provide divinely given solutions in the midst of conflict and confusion
- Apply spiritual truth in specific and practical ways
- Uses meditation and deep prayer practices
- Are good listeners
Bible References
| 1 Kings 3:16-28 | Solomon’s wisdom displayed with the two prostitutes and the baby |
| Proverbs 2-4 | Solomon on Wisdom |
| Proverbs 8-9 | Solomon on Wisdom and Folly |
| Acts 6:1-16 | Apostles choose disciples specifically to tend to the widows so others can minister. |
| 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 | Christ the wisdom and Power of God |
| 1 Corinthians 2:6-13 | Wisdom from the Spirit |
| 1 Corinthians 3:18-22 | Wisdom of this age is foolishness in God’s eye |
| 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 | Paul specifically mentions the gift of wisdom |
| James 1:5-8 | Ask God for wisdom |
| James 3:13-18 | Two kinds of wisdom; of this world and of heaven |
| Colossians 1:9, 2:2-5 | Praying for wisdom |
The Spiritual Gifts Project is always looking for personal perspective about the spiritual gifts. If you would like to share your experiences and help further all of our understanding about a particular spiritual gift, please visit our feedback page.
- Graham, 191
- Zondervan, 1529
- Bryant, 154-155
Other Gifts
- Spiritual Gift of Knowledge
- Spiritual Gift of Discernment
- Spiritual Gift of Faith
- Spiritual Gift of Miracles
- Spiritual Gift of Tongues
- Spiritual Gift of Helping
- Spiritual Gift of Healing
- Spiritual Gift of Exhortation
- Spiritual Gift of Compassion and Mercy
- Spiritual Gift of Giving
- Spiritual Gift of Servanthood
- Spiritual Gift of Leadership
- Spiritual Gift of Administration
- Hodge, Charles, 1&2 Corinthians, Banner of Truth Trust, East Peoria, IL, 1974 [↩]
