Wisdom of God

Setting and Context

Author - James, a servant of God, brother of Jesus, Gal. 1:19 “I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother.” Servant of God language was used in the OT to refer to “great leaders of the people of Israel, such as Moses (Deut. 34:5; Dan. 9:11) and David (Jer. 33:21; Ezek. 37:25).” James had become a respected leader in the early church in Jerusalem.

Douglas J. Moo, The Letter of James, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2000), 48.

Audience - The twelve tribes scattered among the nations, but what does that mean? If you recall the Assyrian and Babylonian attacks on Israel and Judah back in the OT, both Northern and Southern kingdoms were conquered, at different times, and the people exiled. Some stayed in the land, some were taken away, some descendants returned, but obviously not all of them. So, here they are centuries later, Jews scattered but still holding on to there heritage, worshiping God and identifying with their original twelve tribes.

What is Wisdom

“The Wisdom of God. Although the term “wisdom” is used primarily in the OT with reference to human beings, all wisdom is ultimately rooted and grounded in God. Wisdom forms a central part of the nature of God. In wisdom God created the universe (Prv 3:19) and mankind (Ps 104:24). Those matters which are not understood by human beings or any other living creature are fully comprehended within the wisdom of God (Jb 28:12–23).

Thus wisdom, in its positive connotations, is something inherent in God, reflected in creation, and a part of the reason for human existence. Wisdom in creation is reflected in the form and order which emerged out of primeval chaos; the world may hold meaning for mankind only because it reflects in its structure the wisdom of God. The wisdom of God in the creation of mankind means that human life may also be marked by form and order, and that meaning in life may be found in the created world which contains the marks of wisdom. The wisdom of God is thus creative, purposeful, and good; it is not merely the intellectual activity of God. The potential for human wisdom is rooted in the creation of mankind”

Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, “Wisdom, Wisdom Literature,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 2149.

Structure

Have joy for your trials, because they lead to perseverance, paired with, if you lack wisdom, ask.