What is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in Ephesians 1:17?

TL;DR:

The “Spirit of wisdom and revelation” Paul speaks of in Ephesians 1:17 points us to growing in the knowledge of God’s character and work. As we yield our life to the Holy Spirit, we grow in wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

what does the bible say?

In Ephesians 1:17–21, Paul prays for the Ephesian believers to receive “the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” Whether “Spirit” is capitalized depends on the Bible translation; those that capitalize it take it to mean the Holy Spirit. Either way, that verse communicates Paul’s desire for the Ephesians to understand and grow in their knowledge of God; doing so is ultimately God's work. The Bible teaches that God temporarily in-filled certain Old Testament believers with the Holy Spirit, filling them with wisdom and knowledge of God to do His will. New Testament saints and believers today have the permanent indwelling Holy Spirit, received upon salvation (Ephesians 1:13–14; John 14:17). Just as Paul prayed for the Ephesians to grow in their understanding of God, Christians should yield their lives to the Spirit to grow in wisdom and understanding of God. Doing so helps us grow in spiritual maturity (Romans 8:1–30; Galatians 5:16–25; Philippians 2:12–13; 2 Peter 3:18). The more we learn about God, the more we become Christ-like (Romans 8:29–30) and grow in our love for and trust in Him (1 John 4:19; Proverbs 3:5; Isaiah 26:3).

from the old testament

In 1 Kings 3:9, Solomon prays to the Lord for wisdom to lead God’s chosen nation: “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” Old Testament figures like Solomon did not have the indwelling Holy Spirit that we are given, but God did fill them with the Spirit to equip them for His use.
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians in 1:17 was based on his trust in the wisdom God grants those who seek Him. Proverbs 2:6 presents this, too: “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Those who want wisdom should seek God. Learning about God increases our wisdom.

from the new testament

In Ephesians 1:17, Paul says he prays for the Ephesian believers to grow in their knowledge of Christ: “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him.” In verses 18–20, Paul explains that “the spirit of wisdom and revelation” provides believers with enlightened hearts and awareness of our hope in Christ. With this Spirit, we become wiser in our knowledge of who God is.
Matthew 16:17 reveals how Peter knew the significance of who Christ is. When Peter identified Jesus as “Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16), Jesus explained how Peter knew: “And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.’” This passage shows that certain truths about God won’t be known through our own efforts but through the Lord’s revelation.
Paul was praying for God to give the Ephesians the type of spiritual nourishment that Peter speaks of in 1 Peter 2:2: “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—.” Our Heavenly Father supplies us with the spiritual nourishment we crave and need (2 Peter 1:3–11).

implications for today

People in close relationships learn a lot about each other. Long-time friends come to know each other’s hobbies, favorite ice-cream flavor, and even some closely guarded secrets. Married couples can usually finish each other's sentences. But the most important relationship in our lives is the one we have with God, although we can never fully know Him (Isaiah 55:8–9; Romans 11:33–34). God's holiness and majesty are beyond our full understanding (Job 11:7–9). This means we could devote our whole lives to learning about God and still crave more knowledge of Him. Our relationship with the Lord never gets stale, and God reveals Himself to those who want to know Him more (Proverbs 8:17). Paul prayed for God to give the Ephesians “the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,” and we should also pray this for ourselves. God has given us His Word and hears our prayers, which encourages us to read His Word and come to Him in prayer to learn more of Him. The more we learn about God, the more Christ-like we become (Romans 8:29–30) and the more we grow in our love for and trust in Him (1 John 4:19; Proverbs 3:5; Isaiah 26:3). We grow in wisdom, revelation, and understanding as we seek Him.

understand

The Spirit of wisdom and revelation enables believers to grow in understanding of God's character and work.
The Spirit of wisdom and revelation reveals truths about God that cannot be understood through human effort alone.
The Spirit of wisdom and revelation points us back to God and gives us hope.

reflect

How have you experienced growth in wisdom and in your understanding of God through the Holy Spirit in your life?
What does it mean for you to yield your life to the Holy Spirit in the context of gaining wisdom and revelation?
How does Paul’s prayer for believers to receive the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him encourage or challenge you?

engage

What is the connection of wisdom, revelation, and God’s Holy Spirit?
How can we encourage others to seek a deeper understanding of God and His truths?
What are some specific practices (e.g., prayer, study, fellowship) that can help us grow in the spirit of wisdom and revelation together?