Dear Anthony:

Wisdom generally comes with age. There are a number of factors for this. First, the part of the brain that is responsible for wisdom is the last part of the brain to develop. The brain generally is not fully developed until the 20s. Second, even after the brain structures are in place for wisdom, there must be the accumulation of experience.

Experience is what wises us up. Through experience we learn what works and want does work. We learn from our mistakes. As we grow wiser we can apply the principles the underlie the mistakes and successes we have had and apply them to experiences we have not had personally.

Thus, wisdom comes from experience and from an ability to apply that knowledge not only in similar situations but in new situations.

Theologically, wisdom means "knowledge that is so perfect it directs the will to obey God's commands." Part 2 (chapters 9-19) of the Book of Wisdom in the Bible "extols the advantages of wisdom, as seen in the way God dealt with his own people compared with the unwisdom of the idolatrous nations." Also see the other "wisdom" books of the Old Testament (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Sirach).

Concerning the passages you specifically mention, Job 12:12 and 32:7:

Job 12:12 refers to what I mentioned above, that wisdom comes with age and experience.

In Job 32:6-10 Elihu is young and afraid to speak his opinion to Job who was older and thus considered wise. Elihu says that he has wisdom too and thus can express his opinion. In doing this, however, Elihu comes off as haughty. St. Gregory says of this, "The arrogant man seeks not true knowledge, but appear to have it in the eyes of others; the proud do not struggle to attain wisdom, but they are eager to be seen to dispense it..."

We learn from this that wisdom cannot be forced, it cannot be claimed, or pretending.

But, there is a question here, can a young person have wisdom? To a degree, yes. Wisdom comes with experience. As the young person gains more and more experience he should find wisdom -- if the arrogance of youth does not get in the way.

St. Paul tells Timothy, a young Bishop, to "not anyone despise your youth" (1 Tim 4:12). In the context in this passage we learn that God may call whom he pleases to "command and teach" (1 Tim 4:11), even someone who is young.

St. Benedict gives a similar teaching on who may be qualified to speak on issues or even to be Superior of a monastery.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary