Teachings
•
The Seven Pillars of Wisdom
Author
Timothy Laughlin
Published
Jan 09, 2026
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Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 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. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:13-18
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 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. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:13-18
Some connect the “seven pillars” to the seven descriptive qualities of wisdom in James 3:17: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.” Notably, seven distinct characteristics appear here. James 3:17
These are the divine character qualities that believers possess, which exhibit our God-given nature and illustrate to the world that we belong to Him. The first is to have a pure heart that has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus, the second is to love peace and to be keepers of it in our lives.
The third is to be gentle to those we come in contact with in the world, as well as those in our families and fellowships. The fourth is to accommodate those who need help or shelter, and food. The fifth is mercy, how we treat others, even though we might have been treated unfairly.
Six is to be impartial, not partial or biased: treating or affecting all equally, and the seventh is to be sincere, or truthful, genuine, or straightforward in all of our dealings with others. These seven-character qualities are the divine components of wisdom, the spiritual pillars that support the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. I Peter 2:1-5
Your servant in Christ, Timothy Laughlin
Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
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