What's the difference between wisdom and knowledge?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Knowledge and wisdom are related, but different. Knowledge is understanding something. It is something acquired, often through study. But you can collect it for its own sake, without intending to use it. Wisdom, on the other hand, applies knowledge to a particular end. For example, knowing a lot about the Bible is basic knowledge. Taking that knowledge and carefully applying it to one’s life is wisdom. Thus, wisdom always requires knowledge, but knowledge does not mean there’s wisdom. Because everyone sins (Romans 3:23), no matter how perfectly a person understands something (has knowledge of it), their reasoning is corrupted, and their application will be imperfect. Likewise, because the human mind is finite, no one knows everything; therefore, their knowledge will always have gaps, and thus their applied wisdom will always be faulty to some degree. God, on the other hand, knows everything (Psalm 139:2–6; 147:5). Additionally, He is sinless (Habakkuk 1:13) and always does what is righteous (Deuteronomy 32:4). Therefore, His wisdom is perfect, applying all knowledge rightly to every situation.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Wisdom is knowledge applied well. Books such as Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes demonstrate and promote the wise application of biblical knowledge in one’s life.
• Proverbs refers to wisdom as inclining one’s ear and being attentive, seeking the knowledge of the LORD, and thus learning to be wise like Him (Proverbs 2:1–5). Wisdom is more than knowing things; it’s applying them. But true wisdom is more than applying things for one’s own benefit; it is applying them righteously, in the fear of the Lord.
• Job asks where wisdom can be found, noting that no money (or learning) can bring it (Job 28:12–19). Instead, true wisdom is hidden (Job 28:20–22), and only “God understands the way to it” (Job 28:23), which is why “[God] said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding’” (Job 28:28).
• Solomon was gifted wisdom from God (1 Kings 3:12; 4:29). That, plus all his knowledge, money, and relationships, led to one conclusion: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14). Wisdom is fearing God and applying knowledge in God-honoring ways.
• God is the source of wisdom (Proverbs 2:6) because wisdom is built on knowledge, and He knows everything (e.g., Psalm 139:2–6; 147:5). However, more than knowing everything, God only does what is right (Habakkuk 1:13; Deuteronomy 32:4). Thus, He applies His perfect knowledge perfectly. Because of this, He is perfectly wise. For example, creation is but one evidence of His perfect wisdom: “The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew” (Proverbs 3:19–20).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Every human is sinful (Romans 3:23) and corrupted (cf. Psalm 14:3). That corruption is certainly moral corruption, meaning we never do anything in perfect fear of the LORD. But it also means that our mental faculties are corrupted (theologians call this the noetic effect of the fall). As a result, even when we strive to obey God and even when we know much of the Bible, “we see in a mirror dimly” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Thus, we fail to apply knowledge perfectly and, therefore, fail to be perfectly wise.
• In contrast, because God is perfectly wise, Paul could exclaim, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Romans 11:33). His great knowledge and wisdom are unsearchable, such that we are unable to know the mind of God (Romans 11:34). Our knowledge and then application of knowledge will always be far less than God’s knowledge and wisdom.
• However, God offers wisdom to those who ask. James said, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Nathan Leopold had a high IQ and, by the time he died at 66, knew some 27 languages. But it was at the age of 19 that he became famous by murdering a 14-year-old, with the help of another young man, Richard Loeb, to prove they could commit the perfect murder. Ironically, they failed miserably because they left behind a pair of eyeglasses. Leopold was intelligent, but not wise. Knowing a lot, then, is different from living wisely. Because he applied his knowledge evilly, a child was killed, and he spent most of his life in prison.

Knowledge and wisdom, then, are distinctly different. Knowledge can lead to arrogance (1 Corinthians 8:1), but wisdom comes from fearing the Lord (Proverbs 9:10), something He gives generously to those who ask (James 1:5). True wisdom, then, isn’t grounded in high intellect, but in obeying God. Indeed, God makes fools out of the wise of this world (1 Corinthians 1:20) by working through even the simple when they obey Him (1 Corinthians 1:27–29).

This does not mean God is anti-intellectual. We are called to study and know Him in Scripture (2 Timothy 2:15). Paul, for his part, was greatly intelligent. But what made him wise was abandoning confidence in his credentials (Philippians 3:7–8) and submitting to God in all things (Galatians 2:20). Let us also use our knowledge for God’s glory by submitting our thoughts, desires, and plans to Him!

UNDERSTAND

• Knowledge is understanding something; wisdom is applying that knowledge rightly. Wisdom always requires knowledge, but knowledge does not automatically make one wise.
• Human wisdom is always imperfect because everyone is sinful and finite.
• God alone is perfectly wise, and thus the fear of Him is the beginning of true wisdom.

REFLECT

• How does realizing that knowledge of Scripture doesn't equate to wisdom challenge you to reconsider how best to evaluate spiritual maturity?
• Knowing that sin affects your reasoning, how should that change your approach to decisions, biblical interpretation, and confidence in your conclusions?
• How do you seek to grow in wisdom?

ENGAGE

• How should Job's conclusion that wisdom is hidden from human discovery and only accessible through fearing the LORD challenge or encourage us?
• What is the difference between human wisdom and godly wisdom?
• How does our need for God play a role in the acquiring of wisdom?