A Year with Jesus Week 5: The Wisdom of God PDF File at bottom Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Colossians 2:2-3; James 3:13-18; Psalm 111:10. The wisdom of God is deeply embedded in his works in creation and in the story of redemption. The wisdom of God is evident in all his divine purposes and decrees, and it is perfectly embodied in his Son, the divine Logos, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3). God is “omnisapient,” all wise.[1] The wisdom of God is God fully exercising his infinite knowledge, and yet it is his delight to share this wisdom with his finite creatures. Wisdom is a communicable attribute of God. Humans therefore have the capacities for reason, logic, perception, creativity, anticipation, and many more. Wisdom is right reason, right logic, right perception, etc. We are promised blessings if we will use these capacities in wisdom. The Scripture teaches that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov 9:10; cf. Job 28:28; Ps 111:10). True discernment and godly insight come only from a right affection toward the ultimate source of these qualities.[2] 1. How would you define wisdom? 2. Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. 3. How is the “wisdom of the world” described in these verses? 4. How is God’s wisdom perceived by the world? Why? 5. Describe what Paul means by saying God’s wisdom is foolish to the world and the wisdom of the world is foolishness to God? 6. What role does God’s “foolish things” play in relation to the world? Why do you think God chose to use what the world considers foolish as his plan to redeem the world? 7. Read verses 30-31. How is the life, death, and teaching of Jesus foolishness to the world? How is Jesus, in reality, the wisdom of God? 8. Read Colossians 2:2-3. How is Jesus the key that unlocks God’s hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge? 9. Read James 3:13-18. How does James portray “earthly wisdom?” 10. How does James characterize “heavenly wisdom?” 11. How does Jesus embody or fulfill the heavenly wisdom James describes in James 3:17-18? 12. What are some ways you seek to grow in wisdom? Describe what you have learned in that pursuit? 13. What role does humility play in a person’s pursuit of wisdom? Why is it so important? 14. Read Psalm 111:10. Why is our relationship to God the key to growing in wisdom? [1] Olivero, M. (2018). God’s Wisdom. In M. Ward, J. Parks, B. Ellis, & T. Hains (Eds.), Lexham Survey of Theology. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press. [2] Olivero, M. (2018). God’s Wisdom. In M. Ward, J. Parks, B. Ellis, & T. Hains (Eds.), Lexham Survey of Theology. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
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