Poet
The Biblical Reference to "Poet"
The word "poet" (Greek: poietes, meaning "a maker" or "creator") appears explicitly only once in the New Testament. In Acts 17:28, the Apostle Paul, speaking to the philosophers at the Areopagus in Athens, quotes from Greek literature: "For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'" Paul uses this quotation as a bridge to proclaim the gospel of the resurrected Jesus Christ to a Gentile audience steeped in Greek philosophy and polytheism.
The Source of Paul's Quotation
Paul's quotation is most directly from the opening lines of Phaenomena, a poem about astronomy and weather signs written by the Greek poet Aratus of Soli (c. 315–240 BC). The line "We are his offspring" (tou gar kai genos esmen) is identical. A very similar sentiment appears in the Hymn to Zeus by the Stoic philosopher Cleanthes (c. 330–230 BC), which reads, "For we are your offspring." Paul, likely familiar with both works, references this common Greek poetic idea—that humanity has a divine origin—to establish common ground. He redirects this truth, originally applied to the pagan god Zeus, toward the one true God, the Creator revealed in Scripture (Genesis 1:26-27).
Poetry and Poetic Forms in Scripture
While the title "poet" is rare, the Bible itself is profoundly poetic. Large portions of the Old Testament are written in poetic form, employing parallelism, meter, and vivid imagery. The book of Psalms is a collection of 150 sacred poems or hymns intended for worship, expressing the full range of human emotion before God (e.g., Psalm 23; Psalm 51). The book of Lamentations is a series of acrostic poems mourning the destruction of Jerusalem. The Song of Songs is a lyrical love poem. Major sections of the prophetic books, like Isaiah 40-55, are composed in soaring poetic verse (Isaiah 40:8). Even the New Testament contains poetic passages, such as the Christ-hymn in Philippians 2:6-11 and the lyrical descriptions in Revelation (Revelation 21:1-4).
Theological Significance of Paul's Method
Paul's use of a pagan poet's words is theologically significant. It demonstrates a principle sometimes called "common grace"—the belief that God has not left Himself without witness in any culture (Acts 14:17). Paul identifies a fragment of truth in the surrounding Greco-Roman world and uses it as a starting point to proclaim the complete truth of the gospel. He does not endorse the poet's entire worldview but redeems a true statement about human dependence on the divine. This approach models contextualization, showing how believers can engage with culture, affirm truth wherever it is found, and compellingly redirect it toward the God of the Bible.
The Poet as "Maker" and Human Creativity
The Greek root of poietes implies making or creating. This connects to the biblical theme of humanity created in the image of God (Imago Dei), the ultimate Creator (Genesis 1:1). Human creativity in poetry, music, and art is a reflection of God's creative nature. The poets of Scripture, like David, Asaph, and Solomon, used their creative gifts under divine inspiration to produce works that reveal God's character, record His acts, and guide His people in worship and wisdom. Their poetry was not merely artistic but functional, serving to teach, admonish, lament, and praise (Colossians 3:16).
Biblical Context
The term 'poet' appears only in Acts 17:28 within Paul's Areopagus speech. However, the concept permeates Scripture through the extensive use of poetic literature. Key poetic books include Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, and Lamentations. Poetic sections are also foundational to the prophetic books (e.g., Isaiah, Jeremiah) and wisdom literature. These texts use poetic forms to express theology, emotion, prophecy, and worship, playing a central role in Israel's devotional and instructional life.
Theological Significance
Paul's citation of a Greek poet underscores that all truth is God's truth. It reveals a God who is the source of every good gift, including human insight and artistic expression, even among those who do not formally know Him. It demonstrates a missional theology of engagement, where points of contact in culture can be used to proclaim the gospel. Furthermore, the abundance of poetry in Scripture itself shows that God communicates through beauty, emotion, and artistry, not just propositional statements, affirming the value of creative expression in worship and understanding the divine.
Historical Background
In the 1st-century Greco-Roman world, poetry was a respected medium for philosophical and religious teaching. Poets like Homer, Hesiod, Aratus, and Cleanthes were widely read and quoted. Their works shaped cultural and religious understanding. Aratus's Phaenomena, a poem about the stars, begins by invoking Zeus as the supreme, all-pervading force. Stoic philosophers like Cleanthes used poetry to express their pantheistic theology. Paul, a highly educated Roman citizen from Tarsus, was familiar with this literature. His skillful allusion shows his ability to move within the intellectual framework of his audience to make the Christian message intelligible.