Difference Between Knowledge and Wisdom

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10

Difference Between Knowledge & Wisdom

The terms knowledge and wisdom are closely related but aren't the same thing. Knowledge is defined as “information gained through reasoning, experience, or association." In contrast, wisdom is defined as “the ability to discern or judge what is good, right, and true.” It's possible and also quite common to have knowledge without wisdom, but not vice versa. A person can be highly knowledgeable about something while still lacking much wisdom. Knowledge is knowing how to operate a car; wisdom is understanding when and where to drive it. Knowledge identifies the busy street; wisdom waits patiently until it's clear to cross.

It Begins with Knowledge

It begins with knowledge. God desires us to know of Him and His expectations of us, so He has graciously given us His Word. To be able to trust, love, and obey God, we must first know what He commands. As believers, we know that God's supreme command in all of Scripture is to repent and trust in Christ alone for our salvation, which is the most important thing we could ever possibly know. We can't obey that command until we know that knowledge even exists. Thankfully, it’s given to us all throughout Scripture and also sent to us through Christians witnessing and preaching the gospel. So faith comes by hearing and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17)

As important as that knowledge is, wisdom is just as important. Wisdom goes beyond just knowing facts about God, the Bible, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Wisdom is a gift from Above, given along with the gift of faith in Jesus. Wisdom is also generously given to us whenever we ask for it (James 1:5). The Lord grants us wisdom so we may glorify Him through applying the knowledge He’s given us. And what a benefit it is to us to walk in His wisdom!

Jesus is Wisdom

The Book of Proverbs is one of the most well-known books on wisdom. Proverbs 1:7 talks about both knowledge and wisdom: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 9:10 says, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. To fear the LORD means to reverence Him, which begins us on the path to knowledge and wisdom. Furthermore, wisdom is personified in Proverbs 1 and described as someone who we can “get to know” (Proverbs 1:20-33). Scripture says that Jesus Christ is “wisdom from God” (1 Corinth 1:30). Wisdom comes from knowing Jesus (The Holy One), as He is described as wisdom itself. Only when we come to know Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior can we begin to have true understanding and good judgment in this life, bringing about eternal life, by grace through faith.

It's By His Doing

The world’s way of getting wisdom is different from God’s way. The "wise of the world" gain knowledge in order to solve human problems, create human philosophies, and "get ahead" in life through human reasoning, which is all finite and holds no eternal value. But God's wisdom is not like the wisdom of this world. His knowledge and wisdom are infinite and eternal. In 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, it says the “wisdom of the wise” is frustrated by God, who grants wisdom to the “weak” or to “little children” by way of a relationship with Jesus Christ through faith. That way, “no human being can boast in the presence of God” (Corinth 1:29). We learn to be truly wise by knowing Jesus Christ, and it's all a gift; It’s by His doing. Scripture says, “It is by His doing that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinth 1:30).

Eternal Life is a Gift

Knowledge is gained over time through the diligent study of Scripture and meditating on what we gather. Wisdom acts on the knowledge we gain. Wisdom is how we apply that knowledge to our everyday lives, relationships, and circumstances. Knowledge memorizes passages of Scripture; wisdom obeys them. Knowledge learns about who Jesus is and what Jesus did for us; wisdom loves Him, obeys Him, and goes on to tell others about Him. Wisdom wants others to have wisdom.

Wisdom delights in telling others the Good News it has read in the Bible about Jesus Christ: Jesus is Lord of all and Savior to all who believe in Him. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live and suffered and died on the cross for our sins. In three days, He rose again from the grave, ultimately triumphing over sin, Satan, and death so that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life, joy, and peace instead. Because Scripture says so, we know we can do nothing to earn or keep our salvation. We know it's only according to His mercy (Titus 3:5-7). We know that Jesus paid our debt in full. We know that He did all the work for us. We know that eternal life is a free gift (Romans 6:23). How could knowing all that not make us want to walk in wisdom? Especially when we have been given the Holy Spirit, who is our Teacher, Helper, and Guide.

There is no amount of human wisdom or effort that could ever obtain our salvation, otherwise we'd really have something to boast about! We could say, "Wow, look at how wise I was to choose eternal life by my own intellect and logical reasoning. What smart choices I make!" Or, "Look at how good and righteous I was to earn my way to Heaven." No. As believers, we know that Scripture says, For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9.

May the knowledge we are given from God's Word not make us conceited but make us wise and loving so that we become more like Jesus. As believers, we know that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and eternal life is a gift. What amazing knowledge the Lord has given to us so that we may trust, love, and obey Jesus, all to His glory and all by His grace.

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But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved Ephesians 2:4-5

He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of His grace He made us right in His sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. Titus 3:5-7

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. James 1:17

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. 1 Corinthians 8:1