Is a smart machine also a wise one? What’s the difference between intelligence and wisdom—and what does the Bible say?
by Johann de Waal
In today’s fast-moving world, where technology and knowledge are growing rapidly, the line between intelligence and wisdom is often unclear. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI)—machines that can mimic or even outperform human thinking, we are forced to ask: What is true wisdom? Can something be intelligent without being wise? And how does the Bible help us understand the difference?
The starting point of wisdom
The Bible makes it clear that wisdom doesn’t begin with facts or clever thinking, but with the fear of the Lord.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
Psalm 111:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7
This kind of fear means reverence and submission to God’s authority. True wisdom starts not in the head, but in the heart—in a right relationship with God.
AI, no matter how advanced, doesn’t have that. A computer may process millions of facts, but it has no moral awareness. Without the fear of the Lord, the Bible says, even the smartest person is still a fool.
Wisdom without God is empty
Ecclesiastes gives an honest view of life “under the sun”—life from a human perspective, without reference to God.
I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens… I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Ecclesiastes 1:13–14
Even wisdom, when pursued without God, leads to emptiness. And more knowledge doesn’t always bring peace.
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.
Ecclesiastes 1:18
We can see this today too. Despite access to endless information, many people still feel anxious, confused and directionless. Intelligence alone cannot satisfy the soul.
True wisdom comes from God above
The Bible gives us a better kind of wisdom—a wisdom that comes from God.
For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:6
God’s wisdom is different. It is rooted in truth, love, justice and obedience to Him. It’s not just about thinking correctly—it’s about living rightly. It cannot be learned from a textbook or a machine. It is a gift.
The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.
Psalm 25:14
This wisdom helps us live faithful, loving, and humble lives. It affects our decisions, our relationships, and our understanding of what really matters.
What AI can, and cannot, do
Artificial intelligence can do many impressive things: write essays, analyse data, predict trends. But it cannot make wise decisions. Why? Because wisdom requires moral judgment, spiritual insight, and understanding of the heart—things that machines don’t have.
An AI tool may tell you how to maximise business profits—but it won’t tell you if the method is fair. It may predict who is at risk of crime—but it doesn’t understand mercy or compassion.
The danger is not just what AI can do, but how people use it. If we begin to trust machines more than God, we lose the foundation of wisdom.
The Church’s responsibility
It’s the Church’s calling to uphold true wisdom in a world full of artificial intelligence and increasing dependence on technology. We are not called to reject technology altogether—but to ask deeper questions: Why are we using it? What does God say about it?
As the world turns to AI for answers, the Church must turn people’s hearts back to prayer, Scripture, and the fear of the Lord.
Paul reminds us:
We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age … No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
1 Corinthians 2:6–7
While the world may celebrate the newest machine or algorithm, Christians proclaim the wisdom of the cross—a wisdom that seems foolish to many, but brings salvation and hope.
Wisdom is a Person
In the end, the Bible shows that wisdom is not just a concept. It’s a person: Jesus Christ.
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
1 Corinthians 1:30
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