Definition and Scope:
Intelligence, in a biblical context, refers to the capacity for understanding, reasoning, and discerning truth. It encompasses wisdom, knowledge, and the ability to apply these attributes in a manner that aligns with God's will. Intelligence is often seen as a gift from God, enabling individuals to comprehend His creation and His commandments.

Biblical References:

1. Divine Source of Intelligence:
Intelligence is portrayed as a divine endowment. In the Book of Daniel, it is noted that God gave Daniel and his friends "knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning" (Daniel 1:17). This suggests that true intelligence is a gift from God, intended for His purposes.

2. Wisdom and Understanding:
The Bible frequently associates intelligence with wisdom and understanding. Proverbs 2:6 states, "For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding" . This verse highlights that intelligence is not merely an intellectual pursuit but is deeply connected to spiritual insight and moral discernment.

3. The Role of the Holy Spirit:
The New Testament emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in imparting intelligence. In 1 Corinthians 2:10-12, Paul explains that the Spirit reveals the deep things of God, granting believers the ability to understand spiritual truths. This underscores the belief that intelligence, particularly in spiritual matters, is facilitated by the Holy Spirit.

4. Human Responsibility:
While intelligence is a gift, humans are called to cultivate and apply it responsibly. Proverbs 4:7 advises, "Wisdom is supreme; therefore acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding" . This implies an active pursuit of knowledge and discernment, aligning one's intellect with God's principles.

5. The Limitations of Human Intelligence:
The Bible also acknowledges the limitations of human intelligence. In Isaiah 55:8-9, God declares, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways" . This serves as a reminder that human understanding is finite and should be humbly submitted to God's infinite wisdom.

6. Intelligence and Humility:
Intelligence should be accompanied by humility. James 3:13-17 contrasts earthly wisdom, characterized by envy and selfish ambition, with heavenly wisdom, which is pure, peace-loving, and full of mercy. This passage encourages believers to exercise their intelligence with humility and righteousness.

Applications in Christian Life:

· Discernment:
Christians are encouraged to use their intelligence to discern truth from falsehood. 1 John 4:1 advises believers to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God" , highlighting the need for critical thinking and spiritual discernment.

· Teaching and Learning:
Intelligence is vital in teaching and learning within the Christian community. Paul instructs Timothy to "devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching" (1 Timothy 4:13), emphasizing the role of intelligence in understanding and communicating God's Word.

· Moral and Ethical Decision-Making:
Intelligence aids in making moral and ethical decisions that reflect God's character. Philippians 1:9-10 encourages believers to "abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best" , linking intelligence with moral clarity.

Conclusion:
While intelligence is a valuable gift, it is to be used in service to God and others, guided by wisdom, humility, and the Holy Spirit.1. (n.) The act or state of knowing; the exercise of the understanding.

2. (n.) The capacity to know or understand; readiness of comprehension; the intellect, as a gift or an endowment.

3. (n.) Information communicated; news; notice; advice.

4. (n.) Acquaintance; intercourse; familiarity.

5. (n.) Knowledge imparted or acquired, whether by study, research, or experience; general information.

6. (n.) An intelligent being or spirit; -- generally applied to pure spirits; as, a created intelligence.

INTELLIGENCE

in-tel'-i-gens (bin): Occurs only once in the King James Version as the translation of bin, "to discriminate" (frequently translated "to understand"), in Daniel 11:30 the King James Version, "(he shall) have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant," the Revised Version (British and American) renders "have regard unto them." "Intelligence" occurs in 2 Maccabees 3:9 the King James Version, in the sense of information (so the Revised Version (British and American)).

4908. sunetos -- intelligent
... more neutral. But even here it doesn't reflect the prudence (intelligence)
that comes directly from the Holy Spirit.]. Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4908.htm - 7k

5429. phronimos -- practically wise, sensible
... ie Sagacious or discreet (implying a cautious character; while sophos denotes practical
skill or acumen; and sunetos indicates rather intelligence or mental ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5429.htm - 8k

4907. sunesis -- a running together, spec. understanding
... knowledge, understanding. From suniemi; a mental putting together, ie Intelligence
or (concretely) the intellect -- knowledge, understanding. see GREEK suniemi. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4907.htm - 7k

50. agnoeo -- to be ignorant, not to know
... From a (as a negative particle) and noieo; not to know (through lack of information
or intelligence); by implication, to ignore (through disinclination) -- (be ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/50.htm - 7k

4441. punthanomai -- to inquire, by impl. to learn
... a search for something hidden; and from deomai, which involves the idea of urgent
need); by implication, to learn (by casual intelligence) -- ask, demand ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4441.htm - 7k

4678. sophia -- skill, wisdom
... Feminine Transliteration: sophia Phonetic Spelling: (sof-ee'-ah) Short Definition:
wisdom Definition: wisdom, insight, skill (human or divine), intelligence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4678.htm - 7k

946. Bunah -- "intelligence," a man of Judah
... 945, 946. Bunah. 947 . "intelligence," a man of Judah. Transliteration:
Bunah Phonetic Spelling: (boo-naw') Short Definition: Bunah. ...
/hebrew/946.htm - 6k

7919a. sakal -- to be prudent
... giving attention (1), had...regard (1), have insight (4), have success (2), insight
(1), instruct (2), instructed (1), instructs (1), intelligence (1), prosper ...
/hebrew/7919a.htm - 6k

3820. leb -- inner man, mind, will, heart
... heart (1), encouragingly* (1), heart (396), heart's (2), hearts (40), Himself (1),
himself (6), imagination (1), inspiration (2), intelligence (1), kindly (5 ...
/hebrew/3820.htm - 7k

4486. manda -- knowledge, the power of knowing
... knowledge, reason, understanding. (Aramaic) corresponding to madda'; wisdom or
intelligence -- knowledge, reason, understanding. see HEBREW madda'. 4485, 4486 ...
/hebrew/4486.htm - 6k

7922. sekel -- prudence, insight
... Or sekel {say'-kel}; from sakal; intelligence; by implication, success -- discretion,
knowledge, policy, prudence, sense, understanding, wisdom, wise. ...
/hebrew/7922.htm - 6k

8394. tebunah -- an understanding
... And (feminine) tbuwnah {teb-oo-naw'}; or towbunah {to-boo-naw'}; from biyn;
intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, caprice -- discretion ...
/hebrew/8394.htm - 6k

2808. cheshbon -- a reckoning, account
... account, device, reason. From chashab; properly, contrivance; by implication,
intelligence -- account, device, reason. see HEBREW chashab. 2807, 2808. ...
/hebrew/2808.htm - 6k

995. bin -- to discern
... ie(generally) understand -- attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern,
eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to ...
/hebrew/995.htm - 7k

2940. taam -- taste, judgment
... From ta'am; properly, a taste, ie (figuratively) perception; by implication,
intelligence; transitively, a mandate -- advice, behaviour, decree, discretion ...
/hebrew/2940.htm - 6k

4093. madda -- knowledge, thought
... knowledge, science, thought. Or maddai {mad-dah'}; from yada'; intelligence or
consciousness -- knowledge, science, thought. see HEBREW yada'. 4092, 4093. ...
/hebrew/4093.htm - 6k

Intelligence from Newfoundland
... Intelligence from Newfoundland. The author of this memoir had written to
Kallihirua, whilst he was at St. Augustine's, and had received ...
/.../murray/kalli the esquimaux christian /intelligence from newfoundland.htm

Whether Intelligence is a Power Distinct from Intellect?
... OF THE INTELLECTUAL POWERS (THIRTEEN ARTICLES) Whether intelligence is a power distinct
from intellect? ... Therefore also intellect and intelligence are distinct. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether intelligence is a power.htm

Whether an Angel's Power of Intelligence is his Essence?
... OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ANGELS (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether an angel's power
of intelligence is his essence? Objection 1: It would seem ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether an angels power of.htm

The Soul's vitality and Intelligence. Its Character and Seat in ...
... Chapter XV."The Soul's Vitality and Intelligence. Its Character and Seat
in Man. In the first place, (we must determine) whether ...
/.../tertullian/a treatise on the soul/chapter xv the souls vitality and.htm

In Memory, Understanding [Or Intelligence], and Will, we have to ...
... Book X. Chapter 11."In Memory, Understanding [or Intelligence], and Will, We
Have to Note Ability, Learning, and Use. Memory, Understanding ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 11 in memory understanding or.htm

Blind Force or Intelligence, Which?
... BLIND FORCE OR INTELLIGENCE, WHICH? In the discussion of this ... Was it blind
force or intelligence, which? The existence of a supreme ...
/.../blind force or intelligence which.htm

As Soon as I had Gotten Intelligence of This...
... Section 72. As soon as I had gotten intelligence of this? 72. As soon
as I had gotten intelligence of this, I sent two thousand ...
/.../josephus/the life of flavius josephus/section 72 as soon as.htm

Human Government.
... 1. The particular forms of state government must, and will, depend upon
the virtue and intelligence of the people. When virtue and ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xxi human government.htm

Divine Sovereignty.
... reasons; reasons so good and so weighty, that he could in no case act otherwise
than he does, without violating the law of his own intelligence and conscience ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xlv divine sovereignty.htm

Attributes of Love.
... It must cease to exist, or manifest itself in exertions to secure its end, as
soon as, and whenever the intelligence deems it wise to do so. ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xiii attributes of love.htm

Intelligence (45 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) An intelligent being or spirit; -- generally applied to pure spirits; as,
a created intelligence. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. INTELLIGENCE. ...
/i/intelligence.htm - 19k

Intelligent (47 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Possessed of intelligence, education, or judgment; knowing; sensible; skilled;
marked by intelligence; as, an intelligent young man; an intelligent ...
/i/intelligent.htm - 20k

Information (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of informing, or communicating
knowledge or intelligence. 2. (vt) News, advice, or knowledge ...
/i/information.htm - 11k

Shrewd (14 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). 1 Corinthians 4:10 We, for Christ's sake, are labeled as "foolish";
you, as Christians, are men of shrewd intelligence. ...
/s/shrewd.htm - 10k

Angel (209 Occurrences)
... Angels never die (Luke 20:36). They are possessed of superhuman intelligence
and power (Mark 13:32; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Psalm 103:20). ...
/a/angel.htm - 78k

Evolution
... genera. The second variety of evolution operates in the higher realm of
intelligence, morality, social activity and religion. The ...
/e/evolution.htm - 39k

Old (3966 Occurrences)
... most centrally located of all, the tree of "knowledge of good and evil" The being
fitted to this habitat is a man adult in stature and intelligence, but still ...
/o/old.htm - 101k

Keen (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Keen (3 Occurrences). Acts 13:7 who was a friend of the
Proconsul Sergius Paulus. The Proconsul was a man of keen intelligence. ...
/k/keen.htm - 8k

News (453 Occurrences)
... 1. (n) A report of recent occurrences; information of something that has lately
taken place, or of something before unknown; fresh findings; recent intelligence...
/n/news.htm - 34k

Notice (44 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Intelligence, by whatever means communicated; knowledge given or received;
means of knowledge; express notification; announcement; warning. ...
/n/notice.htm - 19k

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