Worldly wisdom, as depicted in the Bible, often stands in contrast to divine wisdom. It is characterized by human reasoning and understanding that is not rooted in the fear of the Lord. The Bible frequently warns against relying solely on worldly wisdom, as it can lead to pride, self-reliance, and ultimately, spiritual downfall.

1. Definition and Characteristics

Worldly wisdom is the kind of understanding and knowledge that is based on human experience, logic, and cultural norms. It is often associated with the pursuit of personal gain, power, and success without regard for God's will or moral principles. This type of wisdom is frequently linked to pride and arrogance, as it elevates human reasoning above divine revelation.

2. Biblical Warnings Against Worldly Wisdom

The Bible provides numerous warnings against the dangers of worldly wisdom. In 1 Corinthians 3:19, Paul writes, "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: 'He catches the wise in their craftiness.'" This verse highlights the futility of relying on human wisdom when it is devoid of God's truth.

James 3:15-16 further contrasts worldly wisdom with heavenly wisdom: "Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice." Here, worldly wisdom is associated with negative traits such as jealousy and selfish ambition, leading to chaos and moral corruption.

3. Examples of Worldly Wisdom in Scripture

The Bible provides several examples of individuals who relied on worldly wisdom to their detriment. King Solomon, despite being granted divine wisdom, later in life turned to worldly pursuits and alliances, leading to his spiritual decline (1 Kings 11:1-11). His reliance on political marriages and idolatry exemplifies the pitfalls of forsaking divine wisdom for worldly gain.

Another example is found in the account of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). The people sought to build a tower to reach the heavens, relying on their own ingenuity and ambition. This act of pride and self-reliance led to God's intervention, resulting in the confusion of languages and the scattering of people across the earth.

4. The Futility of Worldly Wisdom

Ecclesiastes, traditionally attributed to Solomon, reflects on the futility of worldly wisdom. In Ecclesiastes 1:16-18, the Preacher laments, "I said to myself, 'Behold, I have grown and increased in wisdom beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem, and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.' And I applied my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is a pursuit of the wind. For with much wisdom comes much sorrow, and as knowledge grows, grief increases." This passage underscores the emptiness of wisdom that is not grounded in the fear of the Lord.

5. The Call to Seek Divine Wisdom

While worldly wisdom is often portrayed negatively, the Bible calls believers to seek divine wisdom, which begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). James 1:5 encourages believers to ask God for wisdom: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." This divine wisdom is pure, peace-loving, considerate, and full of mercy (James 3:17).

In summary, while worldly wisdom may offer temporary success and recognition, it ultimately falls short of the eternal and righteous wisdom that comes from God. Believers are encouraged to discern and prioritize divine wisdom, aligning their lives with God's truth and purposes.Genesis 3:6,7
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also to her husband with her; and he did eat.
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Job 4:18-21
Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:
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Job 5:13
He takes the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the fraudulent is carried headlong.
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Job 11:2,12
Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
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Job 37:24
Men do therefore fear him: he respects not any that are wise of heart.
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Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
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Proverbs 15:21,22
Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walks uprightly.
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Proverbs 16:25
There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
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Proverbs 17:2,10
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causes shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brothers.
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Proverbs 18:1
Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeks and intermeddles with all wisdom.
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Proverbs 20:18
Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
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Proverbs 21:20,22,30
There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spends it up.
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Proverbs 24:3-7
Through wisdom is an house built; and by understanding it is established:
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Proverbs 28:11
The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that has understanding searches him out.
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Ecclesiastes 1:18
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow.
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Ecclesiastes 2:1-26
I said in my heart, Go to now, I will prove you with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
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Ecclesiastes 7:11-13,16-25
Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
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Ecclesiastes 8:1,16,17
Who is as the wise man? and who knows the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
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Ecclesiastes 10:2,3,10
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
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Isaiah 5:21
Woe to them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
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Isaiah 28:24-29
Does the plowman plow all day to sow? does he open and break the clods of his ground?
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Isaiah 29:14-16
Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
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Isaiah 47:10,11
For you have trusted in your wickedness: you have said, None sees me. Your wisdom and your knowledge, it has perverted you; and you have said in your heart, I am, and none else beside me.
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Jeremiah 8:7-9
Yes, the stork in the heaven knows her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.
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Jeremiah 9:23,24
Thus said the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
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Jeremiah 49:7
Concerning Edom, thus said the LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?
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Matthew 6:23
But if your eye be evil, your whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness!
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Matthew 7:24-27
Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, which built his house on a rock:
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Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes.
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Luke 10:21
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in your sight.
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Luke 16:8
And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
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Romans 1:21-23
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
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1 Corinthians 1:17-26
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
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1 Corinthians 2:1-14
And I, brothers, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God.
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1 Corinthians 3:18-20
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
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1 Corinthians 8:1,2
Now as touching things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies.
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2 Corinthians 1:12
For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
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Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
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1 Timothy 6:20,21
O Timothy, keep that which is committed to your trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
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4678. sophia -- skill, wisdom
... wisdom. From sophos; wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual) -- wisdom. see
GREEK sophos. (sophia) -- 25 Occurrences. (sophian) -- 14 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4678.htm - 7k

The Wisdom of this World, with Its Worldly Spirit...
... captivity it certainly is, as soon as it is turned into a kingdom of this world;
and a kingdom of this world it certainly is, as soon as worldly wisdom has its ...
/.../address 216 0 0 the wisdom of.htm

Worldly Business no Plea for the Neglect of Religion
... Were we always to live in the world, then worldly wisdom would be our highest wisdom:
but forasmuch as we have here no continuing city, and were only sent into ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/worldly business no plea for.htm

On Worldly Folly
... 3. But while he was applauding his own wisdom, "God said unto him, Thou fool! ... Have
I now, or have I ever heretofore had, more worldly goods given than I wanted ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 119 on worldly folly.htm

Wisdom's Gift
... But the prize held out here to the lovers of heavenly wisdom is much more than worldly
good. In deepest truth, the being which is theirs is God Himself. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/wisdoms gift.htm

Trust in God --True Wisdom
... track to her desired haven. Be you such a man as that; never bow to the
varying customs of worldly wisdom. Let men see that the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/trust in godtrue wisdom.htm

True Wisdom.
... THE OVERCOMING LIFE. TRUE WISDOM. ... Evidently some earnest, godly man, and
no worldly professor, had made a deep impression upon him. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/the overcoming life/true wisdom.htm

He Illustrates the Apostle's Saying, "I Will Destroy the Wisdom of ...
... truth; for it is accompanied with rational well-doing), "that ye may have to give
to him that has need," [2003] both of worldly wealth and of divine wisdom. ...
/.../the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xviii he illustrates the apostles.htm

The Wisdom of God's Counsels
... Let us next consider, what method has the wisdom of God taken, for these five ... perdition?"
Why, as fast as any of the poor were overwhelmed with worldly care, so ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 68 the wisdom of.htm

Lii. Concerning Hypocrisy, Worldly Anxiety, Watchfulness, and his ...
... Concerning Hypocrisy, Worldly Anxiety, Watchfulness, and His Approaching Passion. ...
folly of amassing and trusting in earthly riches, and the wisdom of trusting ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lii concerning hypocrisy worldly anxiety.htm

Colossians i. 9
... There are many other causes no doubt which oppose our growth in worldly wisdom;
and still more which oppose our growth in the wisdom of God. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnold/the christian life/lecture v colossians i 9.htm

How is the fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom? | GotQuestions.org

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