How Do We Explain Jesus Increasing in Wisdom (luke 2:52) When He Was God and Knew All Things?
1) Direct Answer
Jesus increasing in wisdom speaks of His true humanity; God in Him did not increase. The one God veiled Himself in a real human body and mind that had to grow, learn, and mature. As the Son (the body), He grew in wisdom; as God dwelling in Him, He knew all things.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Luke 2:40,52 says the child grew, waxed strong in spirit, and increased in wisdom and stature. That’s the human side maturing.
- Hebrews 2:17; 4:15: He was made like His brethren and was tempted in all points, yet without sin. A true man must truly develop.
- Philippians 2:7-8: He made Himself of no reputation and took the form of a servant. He chose the servant pathway, not displaying divine prerogatives at will.
- John 14:10: “The Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works.” The indwelling Father is the source.
- John 5:19-20: “The Son can do nothing of Himself… the Father sheweth Him.” He lived in dependence, not self-display.
- Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 3:16: In Him dwelt all the fulness; God was manifested in flesh. Not part of God—God Himself veiled.
- John 3:34; Luke 3:21-22; 4:18: The Spirit was upon Him without measure, openly anointing Him for ministry.
- Mark 13:32 and Acts 1:7: When He did not declare the day or hour, He was speaking from the servant position, keeping that knowledge under the Father’s authority.
- Yet Scriptures also say, “Jesus knowing all things” (John 18:4) and “Lord, Thou knowest all things” (John 21:17), and He “knew what was in man” (John 2:25). That’s the Father in Him made known.
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- God does not grow; a child does. The Son is the body—born, eating, sleeping, learning; the indwelling is God—eternal, unchanging, omniscient.
- Therefore Luke 2:52 describes the human mind of Jesus maturing in perfect obedience, while the divine Spirit in Him never increased.
- At times He speaks and acts as a man in the servant role; at times the Father speaks and works through Him. It’s not two persons; it’s one God revealed—Father above us, then with us in that body as the Son, now in us as the Holy Spirit.
4) Reinforcing Statement
Now notice, that’s the mystery: God hiding Himself in simplicity. He became like us to redeem us, yet never ceased to be God. So His increase in wisdom was the real growth of His humanity; His omniscience remained in the indwelling Father who did the works.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
The Identified Christ of all ages
64-0409 §50
And then, this fellow was preaching, doing nothing else but preaching (John), so he, Simon, couldn't go for that. So he told him that this one he was speaking of had come, so that identified him as a prophet, see, that he ... what had happened. So Andrew and Simon went down one day and, washing their nets, and they were ... went down to see Jesus. And when Simon come running up into his presence, Jesus looked at him, and said, "Your name is Simon, and you are the son of Jonas." That did it! He knowed right then tha...
Have faith in God
54-0900 §8
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, He was the Word of God here on earth. We know that; He was God's Word. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." People today try to liken Jesus unto a prophet. He was more than a prophet. He was the Emmanuel. God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. He was either God Himself manifested in flesh, or the greatest deceiver the world has ever had. He was God. He was both human and God. Co...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 4:E-35
Just as the early church started out under the pure ministry of the Holy Spirit with signs and wonders and manifestations such as prophecy, tongues, and interpretation, wisdom, knowledge and healing, so in the days of Israel when they left Egypt, they were under the leadership of the Spirit of God manifesting in gifts. God was the leader of the people. Actually He was their King. He was a Father-King. He took care of Israel like a man cares for his family. He fed them, fought their battles, smoothed away their diff...
Questions and Answers on Genesis
53-0729 §25
Now, notice. God knew in the beginning that He was going to have men and women, and He knew that the Saviour would be here and He'd have to bring Jesus, and He'd be crucified. And Jesus told the disciples, when He was here on earth, that He knew them even before the foundation of the world, before the world ever come into existence. And God said, also ... or, Paul speaking, in Galatians, said that He ordained us and called us in Him before the world was ever formed. Think of that! That God... Anybody would like to...
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever
52-0810E §22
I said, "Where did the first man come from? Who was his pappy and mammy? Let him be tadpole, serpent, ever what you want to call him, according to your statement, he had to have both father and mother." He's never answered me to this day. He can't. According to that, He had to have both father and mother. God the Creator, made man. And man fell, and then God the Creator was revealed to us in His Son Christ Jesus, and He did the will of His Father. He went about doing good. Let's look what kind of person He was now....