wisdom
Sophia is wisdom shown as God-given insight, wise conduct and teaching, or the wisdom claimed by human settings.
The occurrences most often present wisdom as something associated with God, the Spirit, Christ, prayer, teaching, and faithful understanding. They also contrast it with wisdom identified as human, worldly, fleshly, or merely apparent, while some passages describe it as an ability displayed in speech, action, learning, discernment, or calculation.
Senses in use
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God-given insight and understanding · dominant
This use appears in clauses that identify wisdom with God, the Spirit, Christ, or what God gives: in 1 Corinthians 2:7 the APB renders “the wisdom of God in a mystery,” and in James 1:5 it describes someone lacking it asking God to give it. In Colossians 1:9 it accompanies knowledge of God's will and spiritual understanding, while 1 Corinthians 12:8 places it in a gift given through the Spirit.
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Wisdom for conduct, teaching, and speech · common
In these clauses, wisdom qualifies lived behavior or communication. Acts 6:10 says opponents could not withstand the wisdom with which he spoke; Colossians 4:5 directs a walk “in wisdom” toward outsiders; and James 3:13 links it with good behavior and gentleness. Colossians 3:16 likewise places it with teaching and admonishing one another.
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Human or worldly wisdom under critique · common
Several occurrences mark wisdom as belonging to the world, human speech, fleshly life, or an age and its rulers. In 1 Corinthians 1:20 the APB renders “the wisdom of the world” as made foolish, and 1 Corinthians 2:5 contrasts human wisdom with God's power. Colossians 2:23 describes an “appearance of wisdom” in self-made religion, while James 3:15 contrasts a wisdom not descending from above with what is earthly.
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Recognized ability or discernment · occasional
This use occurs where wisdom is heard, learned, observed, or required for a specific judgment. Luke 11:31 describes the queen coming to hear Solomon's wisdom, Acts 7:22 places Moses in the wisdom of the Egyptians, and Mark 6:2 reports astonishment at wisdom given to a teacher. Revelation 13:18 calls for wisdom in calculating the number of the wild animal.
In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses the APB regularly uses “wisdom,” including phrases such as “wisdom of God,” “human wisdom,” and “wisdom of the world.” Those phrases confirm the clauses' overall contrasts and associations rather than isolating every contribution of the Greek noun.