Σοφίζω means to make wise, to instruct, or to practice cleverness and skill. The verb can carry either positive connotations (genuine wisdom, skill, teaching) or negative ones (cunning, subtle tricks, deception), depending on context. In 2 Timothy, Paul tells Timothy that Scripture is able to make him wise for salvation—a positive use emphasizing divine instruction. In 2 Peter, the apostle insists they did not follow cleverly devised myths when proclaiming Christ's power—rejecting the negative sense of sophistic fabrication. Classical Greek used the term for becoming skilled in an art or practicing subtle deception.