Agendas
For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness.” 1 Corinthians 3:19 (citing Job 5:13)
Craftiness – When rabbi Sha’ul cites Eliphaz’s comment in Job 5:13, he certainly recalled another use of a similar consonant stem (Ayin-Resh-Mem). Craftiness is the supreme characteristic of the serpent (Genesis 3:1).
We wouldn’t expect hokmah (wisdom) to be associated with ‘orem (craftiness). After all, wisdom is a noble virtue and a spiritual prize. But Eliphaz sees a danger here – a danger that we must also see. There is a wisdom that has a second agenda. It looks good on the outside, but its motives are as sinister as the serpent’s.
The serpent was wise from the world’s perspective. This wisdom is the ability to apply information to achieve a goal. It is the same wisdom we find when pagans manipulate their influence in the world to accomplish their objectives. Whether the goals are noble or nefarious, a certain amount of savvy gets a lot done. But this kind of wisdom sidesteps the fundamentals of the biblical definition of wisdom. In the Bible, wisdom begins with a full commitment in thought and deed to the sovereignty of God. Biblical wisdom is reverential. Biblical wisdom recognizes first that we don’t know. God knows. And insofar as we wish to understand what He knows and what He is doing, we must acknowledge our dependency and embrace His mystery. That doesn’t mean we don’t get things done. It just means that applying information and insight to accomplish a goal without first determining God’s desire is craftiness, not faithfulness.
Craftiness is generally discovered in the revelation of a second agenda. We don’t always see it. Havvah was deceived. The serpent had a hidden agenda. Havvah didn’t sin because she determined to do whatever she wanted to do. She sinned because she attempted to reach a good goal outside obedience to God’s boundaries. The serpent seduced her into believing that it was perfectly justifiable to reach beyond the boundary. The serpent accomplished his objective by disguising the real agenda inside a reasonable suggestion.
Who will unearth these second agendas? Sha’ul turns to Eliphaz to remind us that God alone knows the hearts of men. God reveals the real motives. Intelligence, savvy, street-smarts and educated influence do not equal wisdom from God. In a world that is starstruck by credentials, we must learn to test everything against His word. Even more importantly, we must look at our own desire for credentialed recognition. It’s just too easy to slip into craftiness.
Topical Index: craftiness, ‘orem, ‘arum, serpent, Havvah, Job 5:13, 1 Corinthians 3:19
Hi Skip,
Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
If you would indulge me … could you tell me the Greek text applied herein respective to “wise”!
I believe your commentary today naturally bleeds into discussion of Yeshua’s teaching to HIS talmidim!
Thanks 🙂
Sorry, but I don’t clearly understand your request. Could you elaborate please?
Skip …. my question is simply about the Greek text and specific word used therein for “wise” regarding Matthew 10:16!
You can disregard any other commentary! Thanks
The Greek NT of Matthew 10:16 uses phronimos. This a traceable to the Hebrew hokmah in the LXX, in most cases. But there is a notable exception in the translation of Genesis 3:1, where phronimos is used for “cunning” or “crafty” (Hebrew arom). Hokmah is not merely intelligence but rather intelligence plus moral application. The Greek term does not necessarily include the moral element essential to the Hebrew context, so it is quite appropriate to find it in Genesis 3:1. However, since the passage in Matthew is an instruction from Yeshua, we can be fairly certain that he included the moral application element, and therefore use hokmah.
Thank you Skip!
“wise as serpents”
Hi Drew,
The serpents are “cunning,” not witch “crafty,” and they lie in wait for their food; always watching.
1 Corinthians 3:18 If anyone of you thinks of himself as wise, in the ordinary sense of the word, then he must learn to be a fool before he can be wise….
1 Corinthians 3:18 in The Jerusalem Bible puts things in the proper context IMO.
Almost. “then he must learn to be a fool” isn’t quite the context. He must recognize that he IS a fool before he can become wise. This is not a learning process. It is a discovery. An insight.
“He must recognize that he IS a fool.”
Thanks Skip, good point!