Wisdom Beyond Your Years!

Many see the Word of God. . .few observe!

Jesus grew as a child and teenager in a balanced manner. He grew mentally, physically, socially and spiritually during those years. Luke gives us the details in his Gospel account.

Luke 2:52 (NIV) 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Take a closer look at the wisdom demonstrated by this child and young man. This was not just knowledge reserved for the son of God but the same qualities we should develop today. The Greek word sophia has common ideas when you look at the meanings. The true sense of sophia gives the basic idea behind the origin of the word.


Here is an entry from The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament:

4678. σοφία sophía; gen. sophías, fem. noun from sophós (4680), wise. Wisdom, skill, tact, expertise in any art.

In the NT, it refers to wisdom:

(I) Skill in the affairs of life, practical wisdom, wise management as shown in forming the best plans and selecting the best means, including the idea of sound judgment and good sense (Acts 6:3; 7:10: Col. 1:28; 3:16; 4:5). Stóma(4750), mouth, and sophían in Luke 21:15 means wise utterance. See Sept: 1 Kgs. 2:6.[1]

This is a second entry from A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature:

σοφία, ας, ἡ (s. σοφίζω, σοφός; Hom., Pre–Socr. et al.; LXX, TestSol; TestJob 37:6; Test12patr, JosAs; AscIs 3:23; AssMos Fgm. e; EpArist, Philo, Joseph., Just.,Tat., Ath.)

① the capacity to understand and function accordingly, wisdom.[2]

A third entry comes from the Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament:

σοφία, ας, ἡ    wisdom; (1) generally, the ability to use knowledge for correct behavior insight, understanding (CO 4.5) or in a clever way skill, cleverness (1C 1.17); [3]

Jesus would have experienced home schooling to learn how to read and write. Formal schools only operated in Jerusalem. Certainly the synagogue in Nazareth was a contributor to his opportunites to learn. But it was not just the acqusition of information and knowledge. It was the ability to use knowledge for correct behavior. It was skill in the affairs of life, practical wisdom. It was sound judgement and good sense.

God the father stated at the baptism of Jesus that this is my son in whom I am well pleased. Pleased with what? No formal ministry had transpired yet! I think one of the items he was pleased with was his skill, insight and understanding.

Cathy and Danny Sartin

Deeper Still Missions

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gen (genitive)


NT (New Testament)


Sept (Septuagint)


[1] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.


Hom Hom , VIII b.c.—List 5


et al. et al. = et alii (and others)


LXX LXX = Septuaginta, ed. ARahlfs, unless otherwise specified—Lists 2, beg.


TestSol TestSol = Testament of Solomon, I–III a.d.—List 2


TestJob TestJob = Testament of Job—List 2


JosAs JosAs = Joseph and Aseneth—Lists 2, 5


AscIs AscIs = Ascension of Isaiah—List 2


AssMos AssMos = Assumption of Moses—List 2


Fgm. Fgm. = fragment, fragmentary


EpArist EpArist = Epistle of Aristeas, II b.c.—List 5


Philo Philo = P. of Alexandria, I b.c.–I a.d.—List 5


Joseph Joseph  This abbr. used when no specific texts are cited (s. Jos.); I a.d.—List 5


Just Just , II a.d.—List 5


Tat Tat , II a.d.—List 5


Ath. Ath. = Athenagoras, II a.d.—List 5


[2] Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (2000). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.


[3] Friberg, T., Friberg, B., & Miller, N. F. (2000). Analytical lexicon of the Greek New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.