In his teaching on spiritual gifts, Paul groups these gifts together in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, without giving much commentary. He lists nine of them in particular, but in light of verses 4-7, we already know that these gifts may operate differently through different personalities. We’ll look at them one at a time.

“For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom…” (1 Corinthians 12:8). The NIV and Amplified Bible translate it a little clearer with the phrase: ‘message of wisdom‘, but The Message Bible (“wise counsel“) and J. B. Phillips Version (“speak with wisdom“) both weaken it as to all but remove any spiritual gift. I know totally unregenerated educated people who can give wise counsel in areas and speak with wisdom in another area. That’s human wisdom, not God’s word of wisdom.

This first of the spiritual gifts is referring to God revealing a thought or a ‘word’ that reveals God’s wisdom. Its like the wisdom of Solomon when he discovered who the true mother was by telling them both to cut their baby in half. That strategy was wisdom (1 Kings 3:24-27). This gift of how to do it might work in harmony with Discernment of Spirits or other gifts.

I have often been baffled on how to say something or how to resolve an issue, and God just dropped this idea in my mind. Or sometimes God gives me insight for someone else. That’s the word of wisdom operating. It doesn’t require a bunch of religious Holy Ghost fanfare, just act of it.

What real experiences do you have with the word of wisdom given by the Spirit?

Tags: spiritual gifts, wisdom