1 Cor. i.
24, the Holy Ghost tells us that “Christ is the power of God,
and the wisdom of God:” not the essential Wisdom of God, as he is
the eternal Son of the Father (upon which account he is called “Wisdom” in
the Proverbs, chap. viii. 22, 23); but
as he is crucified, verse
23. As he is crucified, so he is the wisdom of God; that is,
all that wisdom which God layeth forth for the discovery and manifestation
of himself, and for the saving of sinners, which makes foolish all the
wisdom of the world, — that is all in Christ crucified; held out in him, by
him, and to be obtained only from him. And thereby in him do we see the
glory of God, 2 Cor. iii.
18. For he is not only said to be “the wisdom of God,” but also
to be “made unto us wisdom,” 1 Cor. i.
30. He is made, not by creation, but ordination and
appointment, wisdom unto us; not only by teaching us wisdom (by a metonymy
of the effect for the cause), as he is the great prophet of his
church, but also because by the knowing of him we become acquainted with
the wisdom of God, — which is our wisdom; which is a metonymy of the
adjunct. This, however verily promised, is thus only to be had. The sum
of what is contended for is asserted in terms, Col. ii.
3, “In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge.”