Does God have wisdom?

We discuss many other attributes of God which have a direct similarity in man but are more excellent with God. For example,

• Mortals understand limited ways to love but understand that God is better at love.
• Some humans can maintain massive amounts of information in their brains, but God can store an infinite amount.
• Humans have built technology that allows us to be in many places at once, but God can extend His reach to all locations.
• Humans wield massive power, but God can have even more power and manage it appropriately.¹

However, when we get into conversations about wisdom as an attribute of God and man, it appears to take on two separate definitions. I think this splitting of wisdom revolves around traditional Christianity’s assumption about God’s ‘fixed future omniscience.’ I propose that there is one definition of Wisdom for God and man and that it follows the same concept as the attributes listed above.

Theological definition of wisdom

Remixing multiple cited definitions from my previous posts, here is my interpretation of wisdom.²

Wisdom does not exist in a vacuum as it is requires the balancing of various self-interests with the interests of others and other aspects of our surroundings (intrapersonal - interpersonal - extrapersonal). Wisdom is displayed by individuals that can project the consequences of their solutions far into the future to decide what is good for the greatest number of people in the long run. Wisdom displays a willingness and exceptional ability to formulate sound, executable judgments within the relative indeterminacy and unpredictability of life.

However, all of the previous posts were explicitly defining wisdom within the realm of psychology and not theology. It is hard to find a clear definition of the attribute of wisdom in God among leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the Guide to the Scriptures, wisdom is explained as, ‘The ability or gift from God to judge correctly. A person gains wisdom through experience and study and by following God’s counsel.’ However, this definition is about the attribute in mortals.

Latter-day Apostolic explanations

In 1983 Marion G. Romney shared a message titled Converting Knowledge into Wisdom that explains wisdom within a religious context.

Our fatal weakness is, as already indicated, the inability to put to beneficial use knowledge which relates to our own personal conduct and to our dealings one with another on the local, national, or international level.

Since knowledge is an “acquaintance with, or clear perception of, facts”; and “wisdom is the capacity of judging soundly and dealing broadly with facts; especially in their practical” application “to life and conduct,” it follows that wisdom, although more than, is nevertheless a product of, and is dependent upon knowledge.

Wisdom will not only lead individuals to a solution of their personal problems, but if enough persons gain wisdom, it will lead mankind to a solution of the larger problems facing this generation.

The Book of Mormon specifically relates God’s wisdom to his knowledge. Speaking of God’s plan for the salvation of men, Lehi says: “All things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.” (2 Ne. 2:24.) Thus, as God’s perfect wisdom is a product of His knowledge of all things, so man’s wisdom is dependent upon his knowledge. But since man does not know all things, it is possible, as already indicated, for him to be knowledgeable about many things and still be short on wisdom - that is to say, the [known] facts … in their practical relations to life and conduct."

Traditional Christian theological definitions

Some Christian theologians have attempted to define the wisdom of God. A.W. Tozer in The Knowledge of the Holy defined God’s wisdom.

In the Holy Scriptures, wisdom, when used of God and good men, always carries a strong moral connotation. It is conceived as being pure, loving, and good.… Wisdom, among other things, is the ability to devise perfect ends and to achieve those ends by the most perfect means. It sees the end from the beginning, so there can be no need to guess or conjecture. Wisdom sees everything in focus, each in proper relation to all, and is thus able to work toward predestined goals with flawless precision.

All God’s acts are done in perfect wisdom, first for His own glory, and then for the highest good of the greatest number for the longest time. And all His acts are as pure as they are wise, and as good as they are wise and pure. Not only could His acts not be better done: a better way to do them could not be imagined.

Also, J. Packer in Knowing God provides a similar definition.

Wisdom is the power to see, and the inclination to choose, the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it. Wisdom is, in fact, the practical side of moral goodness. As such, it is found in its fulness only in God. He alone is naturally and entirely and invariable wise.

John Piper in a Sermon titled, “The Great Work of the Only Wise God” which he bases on Romans 16:25-27 defines wisdom as well.

Wisdom is knowing the greatest goal in any situation, and the best way to achieve that goal.

Scripture context of the wisdom of God

In Luke 2, Luke explains that ‘Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.’ to clearly state that Jesus was growing in wisdom through his tacit experiences, which is in stark contrast to the explanation of the supposed wisdom that men have in 2 Nephi 9:28.

O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.

Proverbs 3:13-18 tells us the importance of wisdom in our lives;

Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left. She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying. Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.

That D&C 11:7 echos,

Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.

Both the Doctrine and Covenants and Proverbs seem to be telling us that wisdom is the precious attribute that brings us to the tree of life. Do we agree that wisdom is the path to eternal life? How can wisdom be the attribute that brings salvation? Wisdom provides salvation and eternal life because it is the cementing attribute of obedience, knowledge, faith, hope, and charity. It can’t exist without them. But the other characteristics don’t save unless they have been cemented together with wisdom.

One more scripture reference

Warning: you might skip this section because talking about 2 Nephi 2:10-12 can make your brain hurt.

2 Nephi 2:10-12 explains that wisdom and a few other attributes of God couldn’t exist if we were to lose an ‘opposition in all things’ in the creation. I will only cite verse 12.

Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God.

Why would opposition not existing destroy the wisdom of God? Below, I have bulleted the attributes of God that are listed as destroyed in God with conjectured reasons why.

• His justice is destroyed: There is no law that would require justice.
• His mercy is destroyed: no wickedness would expect no mercy or Christ.
• His power is destroyed: I think this means that His faith is destroyed. According to Hebrews 11:3, creation is the result of His power and faith, and having all things be a compound in one would allow for no creation.
• His eternal purposes are destroyed: Moses 1:39 explains that His purpose is to provide immortality and eternal life to man. Without creation, we would not exist.
• His wisdom is destroyed: the ’thing of naught’ the formless is what destroys his wisdom. Wisdom needs tensions within which one can choose different goals.³

A compound in one or thing of naught must reference this idea of unchanging. Things that change and progress are eternal things. Eternal things must live in time our they would be ’things of naught’. A formless thing that is timeless and unchanging would not require God to exert wisdom. From Lehi’s words I conjecture the following about wisdom;

1. It exists in relation to dynamic and varied things (see my definition of wisdom above).
2. It is the optimization of the choices within those disparities.
3. It is about the ‘in-betweens’ as life progresses, which is something we often call discernment.
4. It is not about making right and wrong choices because the options are not black and white. It is about navigating our ship on waves that are neither evil or good; they just exist in their chaos.

Conlusion

A.W. Tozer added a few more insights about the wisdom of God.

It is vitally important that we hold the truth of God’s infinite wisdom as a tenet of our creed; but this is not enough. We must, by the exercise of faith and by prayer, bring it into the practical world of our day-by-day experience.

To believe actively that our Heavenly Father constantly spreads around us providential circumstances that work for our present good, and our everlasting well-being brings to the soul a veritable benediction. Most of us go through life praying a little, planning a little, jockeying for position, hoping but never being quite certain of anything, and always secretly afraid that we will miss the way. This is a tragic waste of truth and never gives rest to the heart. There is a better way. (A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy, Pg. 63)

Finally, I see that wisdom is best exemplified in groups. We grow in wisdom when we are around wise people. Working with wise people builds a wise community. Working with a wise God makes Zion because wisdom is like glory. God’s wisdom is a mystery that has been hidden (1 Corinthians 2:7) but is needed to bring us and Zion salvation. After four previous posts and this long post, here is my explanation of the attribute of wisdom in God.

God’s wisdom exists because we have agency. He is balancing His self-interests with our interests and the other needs of the plan. He can project the consequences of His proposed solutions far into the future to decide what is good for the most significant number of people in the long run. He is willing and able to formulate sound, executable judgments within the relative indeterminacy and unpredictability of His creation and our eternal progression.

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This post is part of a series on wisdom.

• wisdom
• openness
• time
• commentary