In most books about the gift of prophecy, you’ll run across the term “word of knowledge,” followed by stories of people receiving detailed information from the Holy Spirit they would not have otherwise known.
But what did Paul mean by this term?
In 1 Corinthians 12:8, Paul lists “word of wisdom” and “word of knowledge” among the spiritual gifts distributed by the Spirit. He neither defines the terms nor uses them elsewhere, and may have coined them spontaneously.[i]
Modern Pentecostals and Charismatics have understood these terms to mean divinely revealed insight into the how and what about a person’s life. They believe “word of wisdom” has to do with instruction, while “word of knowledge” refers to information.”[ii]
However, these detailed revelatory insights might be more accurately referred to as prophecy or simply revelation.[iii]
Corinthian culture emphasized speaking ability, knowledge and wisdom, including heady, intellectual speeches by the sophists and relentless examining of ideas by the philosophers.[iv]
Paul, however, insists on the message of the cross as true wisdom, a simple message which was not considered eloquent or philosophically deep.[v]
Under inspiration, Paul uses one of the Corinthians’ own terms, but gives it a makeover in a very different context.[vi]
“Word of wisdom” (logos of sophia) may be defined as a revelation of divine mysteries based on insight into God’s purposes rather than on human reasoning.[vii]
A “word of wisdom” is based on revelation by which an aspect of the mystery of God in Christ Jesus is apprehended and communicated.[viii] It exposes a dimension of what Scripture attests and is particularly important in the preaching ministry of the church.[ix]
As to “word of knowledge,” public speakers in Corinth offered extemporaneous speeches on various subjects, mainly for the purpose of showing off.[x]
Paul rebukes the Corinthian Christians who take pride in the special doctrinal knowledge they claim to have, but he encourages the gift of “word of knowledge,” or logos of gnosis (1 Cor. 14:6).[xi]
By this he refers to the ability to publicly impart knowledge about God—in other words, the gift of teaching.[xii]
With word of knowledge, the words are taught by the Holy Spirit, suggesting the message comes in the form of teaching (1 Cor. 2:13).[xiii] A word of knowledge is a divinely inspired instruction or word of teaching occurring among the gathered community of believers.[xiv]
It turns out the gifts of “word of wisdom” and “word of knowledge” may have more to do with Spirit-inspired preaching and teaching than with revelation of the details of a person’s life, (which may better fall under the general heading of prophecy).
You may be wondering, Does it really matter how we define these terms?
On the surface, it doesn’t appear harmful for us to continue using “word of knowledge” and “word of wisdom” the way we’ve commonly defined them.
But here’s the caveat.
Paul includes the gifts of anointed teaching and preaching along with other spiritual gifts distributed by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:7-11).
The Spirit’s gifts are not gender specific.
Therefore, women as well as men may receive the spiritual gifts of word of wisdom (anointed preaching of the message of the cross) and word of knowledge (anointed teaching of the Word).
Some Christians believe women should be barred from teaching and preaching in the church.
Yet this passage indicates forbidding women from teaching and preaching means opposing the Holy Spirit!
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This post is an excerpt from Prophesying Daughters: How Prophetic Ministry and Women in Leadership Strengthen the Church. Grab the book AND the study guide HERE.
Photo by Giammarco Boscaro on Unsplash
[i] Craig Keener, Gift and Giver: The Holy Spirit for Today (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2020), 89.
[ii] Sam Storms, Understanding Spiritual Gifts, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2020), 155.
[iii] Storms, Understanding Spiritual Gifts, 154.
[iv] Keener, Gift and Giver, 89.
[v] Keener, Gift and Giver, 89.
[vi] Gordon Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Revised edition. (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2014), 656.
[vii] Keener, Gift and Giver, 89.
[viii] J. Rodman Williams, Renewal Theology, Vol. 2, Salvation, The Holy Spirit, and Christian Living (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1990), 352.
[ix] Williams, 353.
[x] Keener, Gift and Giver, 90. See also Timothy Savage’s Power Through Weakness: Paul’s Understanding of the Christian Ministry in 2 Corinthians, 35-52 for a fuller sociological picture of ancient Corinthian values, which centered on self-promotion and boasting.
[xi] Fee, 657. See also 2 Cor. 8:7; 11:6.
[xii] Keener, Gift and Giver, 90.
[xiii] Williams, Vol. 2, 355.
[xiv] Williams, Vol. 2, 356.
