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### Introduction to the Doctrine and Scriptures Teaching It

Among the many advocates for piety, Solomon, the author of the book of Proverbs has done worthy work,118 and laid out many strong reasons that grab on to the minds of men and regain them to the knowledge and fear of God. Proverbs chapter 3 is a unified collection of those motives that Solomon pursues in greater detail throughout the book of Proverbs to persuade people to a thorough pursuit of holiness. For this purpose, he proposes several different reasons, including:

First, those who obtain and put this pearl of grace to good use find happiness. “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding” (Proverbs 3:13 NKJV). This is true even if wisdom is obtained at great labor and cost. But having gotten it, one must put it to its due use and improvement for the good of others. Whoever finds wisdom, whoever they are, are blessed men and women who receive profit, pleasure, peace, honor, safety, life, and the durable and eternal possession of them. These are assured to those who make Christianity their business (Proverbs 3:13–27).119

Second, another persuasive reason is from the evil condition and eternal destiny [in Hell] of those who pursue the ways of sin. Sin, in its very nature, is vile and abominable to God and causes shame, curse, and [eternal] destruction in the end (Proverbs 3:31–35).120

Solomon knew that few would deal in those commodities [godly wisdom] and trade about divine things. All people seek their own, and few people seek the things of Christ. He therefore sets forth those wares with the greatest commendation to the buyers so as to move them off the shelf better. He begins with the gain that comes from godliness. Promise of gain is a popular [type of] argument and one that in other things drives people to great adventures and restless labors toward their gain and the enjoyment of it. “The hope of advantage,” said Chrysostom,121 “makes all difficult things easy.” What will a merchant not do or suffer to get a little profit? This is a good metaphor to show forth the diligence of Christians in their race (Hebrews 12:1)122 and to teach the worth of those eternal things they are chasing, “For the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold” (Proverbs 3:14 ESV).123 If you analyze this passage, you may observe:

1. The subject, Wisdom’s commerce and the gain from it

2. The predicate, her gain is better than silver or fine gold

3. Wisdom

In this book, [personified] Wisdom is a metaphor for divine wisdom;124 without mentioning all accepted interpretations, Wisdom may refer to any of the following:

First, personified Wisdom sometimes refers to the Lord Jesus Christ,125 the logos,126 the Word and Wisdom of God in human flesh, or the Wisdom Who is God. God made Christ wisdom and righteousness to us. He is the Light of the world, the bright morning star, and the Sun of Righteousness from whom come all those beams that illuminate the dark minds of people. He is that wisdom that makes wise to salvation. In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom. This is that shining diamond and that pearl of great price that wins against all the competing beauties of the world, including costly gems and the whole treasury of nature. In Christ are unsearchable riches; enjoyment of Christ, and interaction with Christ, all of which enrich the soul.

Second, personified wisdom sometimes refers to the Word of God. “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:7–10 NASB). It is called the light of the Lord. “Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:5 NASB). It is able to judge the thoughts and intents of the heart. “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB). The Word of God, through the Holy Spirit’s illumination, is able to make one wise to salvation (2 Timothy 3:15).127 And, in this sense the Jews usually take Wisdom for the Word and Law of God: “Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:11 NASB).

Third, personified Wisdom sometimes refers to a true and saving knowledge of God. It is part of that original beauty that mankind lost by his first fall, and that is regained by the Last Adam [Christ] (1 Corinthians 15:45)128 and the impress of the Holy Spirit when [a person is] renewed in knowledge after the image of Him Who created mankind. This knowledge is called ἐπιγνωσις, [(ep-ig´-no-sis): true knowledge], not an idle or speculative knowledge, but a lively and operative129 knowledge that illuminates the mind and gives faith and spiritual knowledge. Parisiensis calls it the gate of life through which God first enters into the mind of a person. This wisdom and knowledge of God teaches that God is the soul’s ultimate purpose and shows the way to God, and the felicity that results from it. Therefore, enlightened minds see greater splendor in this wisdom than in fine gold and all the magnificence that can come from this lower world.

Now, this wisdom is not merely speculative, taking in the idea of truth and pleasing the mind with refreshing views of excellent things, but practical. The eye of wisdom reveals God to us, inclines the soul to Him, and gives us God Himself and the enjoyment of Him. For that purpose also, this wisdom reveals all the commands of God to us and inclines the soul to be obedient to them. Hence Davenant considers it an error in the schoolmen130 to limit wisdom and understanding to a contemplative life because both have equal reference to an active, practical way of life and conduct. With respect to wisdom’s essence, it is an intellectual virtue, but with respect to its substance and use, it is practical and moral. Therefore he defines wisdom to be an infused knowledge of those things that lead to faith and a holy life, with pious affection, inclining the soul to the application and practice of the things it knows. The Scriptures hold this out to be that true wisdom that God requires of people. “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding’” (Job 28:28 NASB). Job, having spoken of the wonderful wisdom of God in the works of creation—wisdom that is beyond all human understanding—tells his friends what kind of wisdom it is that God requires of people. It is not to bore into those unfathomable deeps and mysteries of divine works in the creation.131 It is not to feed on abstruse ideas of things that do not concern humankind.132 But this is true wisdom: to fear God, to serve and obey Him, and to depart from iniquity [sin, evil]. [As Moses told the Israelites:] “See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people’” (Deuteronomy 4:5–6 ESV). “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17 NKJV). It is wisdom that makes people holy and fruitful in good works. Thus the psalmist describes wisdom by holy walking: “I will behave wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart” (Psalm 101:2 NKJV). And, “See then that you walk circumspectly,133 not as fools but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15 NKJV). Holy walking is both the fruit of wisdom and the way to wisdom. “For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9–10 NASB). This is how the wise man understands things in the book of Proverbs: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7 NASB). Aquinas said that the fear of the Lord is the origin of wisdom’s becoming efficacious [in a person]. “I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness” (Proverbs 4:11 ESV). Wisdom has its way and [gives us] feet to walk in it.134 This way of wisdom is a right path. Or, [that is,] right holy actions, according to Piscator.135 So the ancients understand wisdom. Cicero136 calls wisdom “the art of living.” That wisdom that does nothing is worth nothing. “All wisdom lies in this one thing,” said Lactantius, “that we know and worship God. Christianity is wrapped up in wisdom and wisdom in Christianity.” According to Aquinas, “The work of wisdom lies in this: that despising earthly things by which we were formerly held, serving and desiring frail, perishing things, we may now be directed to seek after the eternal reward of a heavenly treasure.” Wisdom is not to be considered only as it leads to a knowledge of God, but as it directs and orders the life according to divine rules. And in this sense, I understand wisdom here to mean true holiness, that wisdom that shows itself in a heavenly, Gospel way of life, the gain of which is so advantageous.

Regarding the gain of merchandise from wisdom objectively considered, it is better than gold or anything gold can buy. In Proverbs 3:14,137 the Septuagint138 renders it, “for better is her commerce.”139 To engage in commerce is to buy and sell, to receive and distribute goods, and to take in and lay out. The Hebrew word [translated gain in ESV] is “merchandise,”140 from “to go about in trade”141—that is, to go up and down here and there as merchants do, to buy and vend their goods, to travel abroad now in one place and then in another. They are full of distractions, tumbling up and down to get and distribute their wares. Engaging in commerce is a busy work that takes up people’s thoughts, time, and labor to pursue it so that they might get some advantage in the world. And such is the work of Christianity; it is an active work that calls for the heart, time, and strength if one ever expects to benefit from it. And, those who do so, who make Christianity their work, who lay out themselves and their all in pursuit of Heaven and spiritual things—if they can do no more than gain these treasures of godliness and obtain wisdom’s wares, they make a good bargain. This is true, whatever may be their cost and pain from this work, because the profit that comes from wisdom’s wares is better than silver, or even fine gold. The Septuagint has it, than to get the treasures of silver and gold. Wisdom is not better than just any gold, but the most pure gold.

There is another sense that one may give the words: wisdom is the price by which those great and eternal things are obtained. But I prefer to say that wisdom is the instrument [or means], rather than a price; spiritual things are freely given, not bought (Isaiah 55:1).142 But those who invest the effort and strengthen their wisdom to gain grace, promote godliness, and further their salvation143 make a better bargain than those who spend their treasures of gold and silver to buy the best goods on earth. In either sense, it is true: wisdom’s profits are the best profits. To trade with spiritual things, with grace and glory, is incomparably the best trade. Thus, observe this doctrine, or position:

Doctrine: The heavenly trade is the best trade. There is no gain like wisdom’s gain and like that from trafficking in spiritual and eternal things.

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118Even while considering the human author, one must not forget that he was under strict divine inspiration to produce exactly the book God intended, so that Proverbs is fully the Word of God.

119“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it” (Proverbs 3:13–27 ESV).

120“Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace” (Proverbs 3:31–35 ESV).

121John Chrysostom (c. 349–14 September 407), archbishop of Constantinople and a renowned orator.

122“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 NASB).

123Let the reader make no mistake. Our time on earth is about a century, at most. Our time in Heaven or Hell will be forever, an infinite amount of time. On that basis alone, leaving any other considerations aside, the most valuable things of Earth, even all of Earth, are absolutely worthless compared to the smallest things of eternity. Mathematically, anything divided by infinity is zero. Please do not take these Bible verses or Ashwood’s prose as merely literary hyperbole.

124God’s wisdom is a communicable attribute. This means that God communicates (some of) His wisdom to us through the Holy Bible, which makes it divine wisdom in us.

125Personified Wisdom is female in Proverbs, but God is universally depicted as male in Scripture. This would seem to make the identification of personified Wisdom with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself unlikely.

126ὁ λογος, [ha log´-os]: the Word

127“And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15 NKJV).

128“Thus it is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit’” (1 Corinthians 15:45 ESV).

129operative: has the power of acting and working.

130Schoolmen: philosophers and clergymen of the Middle Ages, especially from the eleventh century to the Reformation, who spent much time on points of nice and abstract speculation. They were so called because they taught in the medieval universities and schools of divinity.

131This does not at all imply that scientific research into the universe as it now exists is somehow invalid. It does imply that, since God’s creation in six days was necessarily a miraculous and discontinuous process, some things will always remain unknown in this life regarding how God did it.

132There are things that can only be known to God. This will be true in Heaven as well; God will always be infinite in all ways and people will always be finite in some ways, even in eternity.

133circumspectly: cautiously, warily, attentive to all the circumstances of a situation and the probable consequences of one’s action.

134Or, perhaps wisdom has feet so as to walk before us in order to lead us? Ashwood’s exact meaning is unclear here.

135Probably a reference to Johannes Piscator (1546–1625), German Reformed theologian, Bible translator, commentator, and textbook author.

136Marcus Tullius Cicero (January 3, 106 BC–December 7, 43 BC), Pagan Roman statesman.

137“For the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold” (Proverbs 3:14 ESV).

138The Septuagint, often abbreviated LXX, is a translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek made in the third and second centuries BC. Although the Lord Jesus used it, it being in common use, it is not always a good translation. Modern Bible translators translate the Old Testament directly from the Hebrew.

139The LXX Greek reads κρειττον [krite´-tohn, better] γαρ [gar, for] αὐτην [root: αὐτος ow-tos´, her] εμπορευεσθαι [from: εμπορευσονται em-por-yoo´-om-ahee, trade, commerce].

140The Hebrew reads סַ֭חְרָהּ (see below).

141The Hebrew root reads סָחַר, which, if pointed as סַחַר [sakh´-ar], may mean gain from merchandise. Different translations thus translate it in commercial terms: KJV merchandise; NKJV proceeds; NASB profit; ESV gain.

142“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1 NKJV).

143 Salvation should not be confused with conversion or justification. Salvation is a whole magnificent package that includes saving faith, justification, adoption, sanctification, and so on. It is worth noting also that in the famous “Christmas verse,” God promised, “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21 NASB). God promises not forgiveness for our sins, though that is included, but salvation (deliverance) from sins.

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