Wise, Wiser, Wisely - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Wise, Wiser, Wisely

[ A-1,Adjective,G4680, sophos ]
is used of
(a) God, Romans 16:27; in 1 Timothy 1:17; Jude 1:25 sophos is absent, in the best mss. (See the RV), the comparative degree, sophoteros, occurs in 1 Corinthians 1:25, where foolishness" is simply in the human estimate;
(b) spiritual teachers in Israel, Matthew 23:34;
(c) believers endowed with spiritual and practical wisdom, Romans 16:19; 1 Corinthians 3:10; 1 Corinthians 6:5; Ephesians 5:15; James 3:13;
(d) Jewish teachers in the time of Christ, Matthew 11:25; Luke 10:21;
(e) the naturally learned, Romans 1:14,Romans 1:22; 1 Corinthians 1:19-20,1 Corinthians 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 3:18-20.

[ A-2,Adjective,G5429, phronimos ]
"prudent, sensible, practically wise," Matthew 7:24; Matthew 10:16; Matthew 24:45; Matthew 25:2,Matthew 25:4,Matthew 25:8-Matthew 25:9; Luke 12:42; Luke 16:8 (comparative degree, phronimoteros); 1 Corinthians 10:15; in an evil sense, "wise (in your own conceits)," lit., "wise (in yourselves)," i.e., "judged by the standard of your self-complacency," Romans 11:25; Romans 12:16; ironically, 1 Corinthians 4:10; 2 Corinthians 11:19.

[ B-1,Noun,G3097, magos ]
denotes "a Magian," one of a sacred caste, originally Median, who apparently conformed to the Persian religion while retaining their old beliefs; it is used in the plural, Matthew 2:1,Matthew 2:7,Matthew 2:16 (twice), "wise men." See also SORCERER.

[ C-1,Verb,G4679, sophizo ]
is rendered "to make wise" in 2 Timothy 3:15 See DEVISED.

[ C-2,Verb,4920,suniemi / sunio ] "to perceive, understand," is used negatively in 2 Corinthians 10:12, AV, "are not wise" (RV, "are without understanding"). See UNDERSTAND.

[ D-1,Adverb,G5430, phronimos ]
"wisely" (akin to A, No. 2), occurs in Luke 16:8.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words