In his first letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul distinguished between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God, which is fed to a person as fruit from the tree of life. Summarising the wisdom of this world, Paul asked, ‘Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer [debater] of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?’ 1Co 1:20. The wisdom of the world is demonstrated by those who presume to have wisdom in themselves; by those whose qualification to teach others is based on their accumulation of knowledge; and by those who debate others to establish a point of ‘truth’.

In contrast, Paul was clear that the wisdom of God does not originate in anyone, but is received when a person receives the message of the cross, preached by messengers who are speaking in Christ. 1Co 1:18,21. 1Co 2:2‑5. 2Co 12:19. By receiving this message, a hearer receives the wisdom of God as the fruit of the tree of life. In doing so, they exemplify the principle described by King Solomon, who said that wisdom ‘is a tree of life to those who take hold of her’. Pro 3:18.

Through His offering journey, which culminated in Jesus Christ being lifted up on ‘a tree’, He ‘became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption’. 1Co 1:30. That is, Christ was revealed as the Tree of Life through His offering on the cross. Christ ministers to us the fruit that belongs to this tree, which is His body and blood, by the preaching of His word. This fruit is wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, to those who receive it.