Note 15 at Eph. 1:8: It is only through grace that God has been able to abound towards man. Two of the ways God has done this is through giving us wisdom and prudence. Wisdom may be defined as "the broad and full intelligence of things both human and divine." Prudence is "the knowledge and understanding of the will of God" (Thayer). In 1 Corinthians 1:19, the word "understanding" was used to describe the prudent. Knowledge is informative, and wisdom is the application of knowledge. Knowledge is in knowing and wisdom is in doing.

In this scripture we see God abounding towards us in wisdom and insight to reveal to us the mystery and will of His eternal purpose. In other words, God has not "left us in the dark" concerning His eternal purposes for our lives.