Last week I wrote an article on the difference between wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, but I mostly focused on the Old Testament usages of the words. In the New Testament the words are similar but different to their Old Testament counterparts…

In the New Testament, the word “understanding” is translated from a few different Greek words, but as it relates to wisdom and knowledge, the word “understanding” is used to mean “intellect,” or “intelligence gained however it is gained.” It can come either by book learning or by years of experience, the Greeks make no distinction. To them, merely the fact that you understand something is more important than how you came to understand it, which is how it should be.

In the New Testament, the word “wisdom” is, in the Greek, “sophia,” (which gives meaning to the lady’s name). This word is used specifically for someone who has a wide pool of knowledge and understanding. This is not the person who knows a lot about a little, but rather he knows a little about a lot. There’s value in that, though it can only take you so far.

Finally, in the New Testament, the word “knowledge” is “g’nosko” (the ‘g’ is not silent) and the best definition I can give to it is “to be sure of something.” It’s a very specific kind of knowledge and the word was much more specifically-applied than in our language. For example, today we might ask someone “do you know my mother?” but all we mean is “have you met her?” We’re not asking someone if they’re aware of her existence or if they’re sure we actually have a mom. We use “know” to mean all kinds of things pertaining to wisdom or understanding; the Greeks were more selective about which word they used.

In the late-first century, there was a big heresy that spread throughout Christendom, with false teachers who called themselves “the knowing ones” or “the gnostics” (the ‘g’ is silent). They claimed, among other things, that through their philosophy, they had wisdom and understanding of spiritual matters, and that without them a person could never be certain (could never “know”) anything. John took them to task in his first epistle, spending the bulk of that letter writing all about how Christians can “know” God, and have “certainty” in their salvation, etc…

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
(1 John 2:3)

And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
(1 John 3:24)

Knowledge, wisdom, and understanding are all different words, but their differences are subtle, and we should pray that God bless us with each:

When we pray for understanding, we should be praying that God provide us with the right resources for us to expand our thinking. When we pray for wisdom, we should be praying that God temper our pride and allow us to apply the various things we are wise about the right way. When we pray for knowledge, we should be praying that we have the maturity to examine the world around us from all angles and not be quick to assume one thing or another, but rather have certainty in what is truth.

My prayer for you all is that you be filled with all wisdom, understanding, and knowledge…which is exactly what Paul prayed for the church as well (Colossians 1:9).

Have a great day!

~ Matthew