The Greek word for wisdom, 51 times. In the Greek world, sophia was the highest intellectual virtue — philosophical insight into the nature of reality. In Jewish tradition, wisdom is practical skill for living rightly before God (as in Proverbs). Paul radically redefines sophia: the cross — which looks like foolishness — is the true wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24).
Paul's contrast between "the wisdom of this world" and "the wisdom of God" in 1 Corinthians 1–2 is a deliberate challenge to Greek philosophical culture. The world's sophia leads to pride and self-reliance; God's sophia is revealed in the weakness of the cross. James offers another perspective: true wisdom is "pure, peace-loving, considerate" — it shows itself in character, not cleverness (James 3:17).
The personification of wisdom in Proverbs 8 — present at creation, delighting in humanity — provides the OT background for NT Christology. Paul identifies Christ as "the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30), and Colossians 2:3 says all treasures of wisdom are hidden in Him. The early church saw Proverbs 8 as describing the pre-incarnate Christ.