DIVINE WISDOM AND SUPREME UNDERSTANDING - PART 7

TUESDAY 08 APRIL 2025

Reference: Proverbs 3:13-14 New Living Translation (NLT)

"Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold."

Today's article is still majored on the personification of wisdom known as the Greek word "Phronimos", denoting someone who functions by exerting "Phronesis" habitually, which is significant of demonstrating practical wisdom and discernment, particularly in spiritual or moral matters, wholly characterized by a deep comprehension and application of God's principles.

In the case of wise men stated in Matthew 2:1-12, some particular translations like "NIV" used the term "magi" to represent the wise men. Moreover, the term "magos" refers to a member of a class of wise men, well known as astrologers, or magicians. In the context of Matthew's versified passage, "magi" does NOT necessarily denote the accurate description of "wise men" from the East who visited Jesus after His birth, guided by a star. Phronimos is the right "Greek word" for the wise men or individuals who wisely interpreted celestial event - symbolic of the star of Bethlehem - which is significantly connected Jesus' birth.

Although some Bible scholars or translators in their Biblical translations believed that the wise men functioned with the knowledge of astronomy and possibly astrology, I could see by divine directive, that this was an erroneous notion because God cannot contradict Himself, considering the fact that Magi is a sort of wise men, meaning: sorcerers, magicians, or a wizard.

Understand this: The Greek "word" order that came into picture in the minds of such translators mainly happened when they were attempting to consider these very wise men as magi or stargazers, because of the star involved.

But here is the truth: This sort of wise men require to be separated from the direct notion of being stargazers or magi. To start with, can we identify how many of the "magi" we know in the Bible that were connected to Jesus' name and His successful ministry and how often we use them in our regular teachings and communication? Why have I asked this question? Read about God's mind and attitude towards magicians and their spells because He strongly condemns spiritism, mediums, the occult, and psychics (see Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:10-13; 1 Chronicles 10:13-14). Advertently, astrology, seances, horoscopes, tarot cards, fortune telling, and palm readings fall into this category.

Hence, there are a few pointers you have to keep in mind in your usual communication when assuming that the wise men described in Matthew 2:1-12 were "magi", and I will share them in today's article. Following the particular versified order [in the above aforementioned parenthesis] and conjugating it to represent the mind of God concerning a sorcerer, a magician, or a wizard, can help us identify the kind of wiseness these men had. Simply put, Phronimos and Magi are the two different kinds of wiseness you have to learn about, if you cherish the practice of functioning as wise men. Although Phronimos and Magos are interpreted as the same meaning "wise person" in English lexicon, Phronimos has a completely different meaning and source, even when often interchanged with Magi in Matthew 2:1-2, which makes both denotations end up as being a slightly puzzling topic for all of us.

Again, the right Greek rendering for the wise men in Matthew 2:1-2 (KJV) is "phronimos", meaning wise, prudent or sensible persons, which is a practical wiseness sourced from God, or the trademark of God's wisdom. This is exactly the accurate description of "wise men" King Solomon made reference to - in the book of Proverbs 13:20, which reads, "He who walks with wise men will be wise..." (NKJV)

Now watch this: Matthew 2:9-10 reads, "After listening to the king, the wise men went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy" (ESV). From the connotation embedded in this versified passage, we can understand that the star was seen by these wise men, and the interpretation was given to them by the Spirit of God, not because they were magi. This is the reason you can notice that they were warned by God Himself not to go back to Herod. To  that effect, Matthew 2:12 reads, "Then they returned to their country by another road, since God had warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod" (GNT).

Isaiah 8:19 (ESV) reads, "And when they say to you, 'Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,' should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living."

Now also watch this: "Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him, 'Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can.' That's how many descendants you will have!" (Genesis 5:15 NLT).

Admittedly, this does not mean that Abraham was a magi, but he became wiser because God helped him to interpret the stars, shown to him outdoors and at that very moment. Then Abraham left with the accurate knowledge of what the exemplary stars represented, just like the wise men from the east. Interestingly, one of the grail stars was the Lord Jesus Christ, which was revealed to the wise men from the east. Since God said to Abraham, "That's how much your descendants would be", there must be a complete comprehension of the truth that one of those stars was symbolic of Jesus. For that reason, the wise men were able to identify it, as well as identify with it accordingly.

Therefore, in the context of this article, I'm not talking about functioning wisely as Magi but as Phronimos, because my teaching approach does not go in the direction of discussing Magi. I'm talking about the wise men's ability to be wise and function as wise persons, by the Spirit of wisdom, which is traceable to God's parenthood. So what happened to the wise men? They located the star by the Spirit of God, and by revelation they gained the accurate recognition that it was one of the offsprings of Abraham, which is the grail star known as Jesus. Simply put, the "Spirit of wisdom and revelation" was activated in them to know. In that realm of wisdom, Pauline epistolary expression stated, "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better" (Ephesians 1:17 NIV).

In the same manner, if the "Spirit of wisdom and revelation" was working in you and you were with the wise men at that point, you would equally recognise the star and the denotation, just like they did. Beloved, its not everything we read in the Scriptures that we must interpret on the surface level. From a deeper level of comprehension, always remember that God has given you the excellency of sound mind, meaning that you can make a sound "in-depth" judgement concerning a Scripture through the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.

Magos in strong's lexicon, means a sorcerer, a magician, a wizard, and such practices are not consistent with the true character and nature of God; therefore, God cannot contradict Himself by sending magi to visit the Lord Jesus which was a singular event immediately connected to the Saviour's birth. More so, beloved, you don't have to be magi or stargazers to be considered as wise men. Stay tuned for part 8. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Hosea 14:9; Proverbs 1:1-5; Ecclesiastes 10:12; Proverbs 13:20.

Exuberant Declaration:

I have a great God; I have a sound mind, and the greatest treasure of wisdom and knowledge dwells in me, as Christ. Praise God.