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His Workmanship – a Word Study

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His Workmanship – a Word Study ETB: Ephesians 2:1-10 ISTOCK PHOTO HIS WORKMANSHIP A Word Study 46 BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR / FALL 2019 time for us to do” (Eph. 2:10). His would have been familiar with the By Steve Booth wording is interesting at this point. Greek translation of the Old Testament, No other New Testament writer used the Septuagint. Poiema occurs twenty- OT BEING VERY ARTIS- poiema, the Greek word for “work- nine times in the Septuagint, twenty tic myself, I have learned to manship.” Paul himself used it only of these are in the Book of Ecclesiastes. appreciate art and beauty in one more time, in Romans 1:20. The The Book of Ecclesiastes uses the term fresh ways through the eyes basic meaning is something made or to speak primarily about the works Nof my son, who is a gifted done, a work, or a creation.2 But what of people, which are futile. God will painter and sculptor. What he is able picture was Paul painting for his read- judge these deeds, whether good or to create, seemingly out of nothing, ers by employing this particular word? bad.5 When Ecclesiastes references the constantly surprises and delights works of God, the primary point is me. I am reminded anew that God In Secular Culture that they are unfathomable.6 The three Himself is not only the Maker, but Most people in the secular Greek occurrences of poiema in the Psalms also the Craftsman that stands behind culture to whom Paul wrote were each refer to God’s fearful and won- all that is beautiful and delightful in fully conversant in Greek mythology. derful deeds (Pss. 64:9; 92:4; 143:5, “the this world. Greeks believed their gods, especially work of your hands”). Exodus records the Lord appoint- Zeus, made all things.3 Concerning The lone occurrence in the pro- ing Bezalel to oversee the design and human works, the people’s thoughts phetic books asks: “You have turned construction of the Tabernacle: “I about construction (poiema) might things around, as if the potter were have filled him with God’s Spirit, range from houses and temples to the the same as the clay. How can what with wisdom, understanding, and work of the local artisan who made is made say about its maker, ‘He ability in every craft to design artistic a bowl or a piece of jewelry. Some didn’t make me’? How can what is works in gold, silver, and bronze, to classical Greek poets used the related formed [poiema] say about the one who cut gemstones for mounting, and to word poietes in a specialized sense to formed it, ‘He doesn’t understand carve wood for work in every craft” mean “poet.” Thus, for those who what he’s doing’?”7 (Isa. 29:16, empha- (Ex. 31:3-5).1 Chapters 35–39 describe in were part of secular Greek culture, sis added). This concept matches well detail how Bezalel and the other skilled poiema could include physical work- with the context of Paul’s statement craftsmen completed this assignment manship or intellectual creation.4 to the Ephesians. Paul declared, “We from the Lord. The Lord’s glory after- are his workmanship,” with emphasis wards filled the Tabernacle (40:34). In the Septuagint in the Greek text on God’s personal Perhaps the apostle Paul had these Paul’s readers who had a Below: Gold brace- events in mind when he wrote to the Jewish background let, 1st cent. BC; Ephesians: “For we are his workman- from the colonized region of the Black ship, created in Christ Jesus for good Sea. The brace- works, which God prepared ahead of let opens using hinges on either Artist’s rendering; side of the center Bezalel oversaw panel. The piece the construction is decorated with of the Tabernacle garnet, amethyst, and its furnishings. emerald, pearl, chrysoprase, glass, and enamel. ILLUSTRATOR ART/ MALTINGS PARTNERSHIP/ DERBY, ENGLAND ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ BRENT BRUCE/ WALTERS ART MUSEUM/ BALTIMORE (75/0262) LIFEWAY.COM/BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR 47 and fashioned Adam from the dust of the ground, similar to the skill of a master potter, so He has created for Himself works of art for His own possession—new creations in Christ! But unlike the tiny Artemision stat- ues, we are not to sit idly on a shelf as a remembrance from some for- From mer holiday trip. Rather Philippopolis, we are created, not by a 1st-cent. AD good works, but for the Roman mosaic of Orpheus, the purpose of performing Greek musician and doing good works— and poet. The Greek term trans- specific applications for the lated “workman- Ephesians that Paul laid ship” is poiema, out in chapters 4–6. Thus, from which we get the word “poem.” like our Creator, we too become artisans and ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ BOB SCHATZ/ SHAHBA MUSEUM/ PHILIPPOPOLIS, SYRIA (8/37/2) craftsman, building ownership of His creation. Since He is Right: Eighth- lives and performing the One who created us, we have abso- century terra-cotta tasks that bring honor figurine depicting lutely no grounds for boasting as if we a potter; from and glory to Him! I HIS RULE AND REFORMS made or saved ourselves (Eph. 2:8-9). Achzib, in north- Josiah ern Israel. 1. Unless indicated otherwise, all Scripture quotations are from the ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ BRENT BRUCE/ ISRAEL MUSEUM/ JERUSALEM (139/B/2169) ILLUSTRATOR In the Ephesian Setting their fingers due to Christian Standard Bible (CSB). 2. “poi/hma“ (poiema, work) in The literary context shows clearly that the drop in sales of their Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon Paul had in mind the creation account silver trinkets honoring the goddess of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, ed. Frederick William Danker, 3rd ed. (Chicago: in Genesis, since “workmanship” is Artemis. Although none of these sil- Univ. of Chicago Press, 2000), 842. The NIV translates immediately followed by the verb ver relics have been discovered to date, poiema in Ephesians 2:10 as “handiwork”; the NLT, “mas- terpiece”; and “God’s work of art,” The New Jerusalem “created,” with God as the implied they were likely small replicas of the Bible (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1985). 3. Herbert Braun, “poie/w, poi/hma, poi/hsiß, poihth/ß” agent. We also see that this new, sec- Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven (poiema, created work) in Theological Dictionary of the ond creative act takes place “in Christ Wonders of the Ancient World, or New Testament, ed. Gerhard Friedrich, trans. and ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, vol. 6 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Jesus,” much the same doctrinal teach- of the Artemis statue housed in her 1968), 458–84. ing that Paul gave the Corinthians: temple. Pilgrims from all over the 4. Ibid., 466–67. Philo made a connection between this word group and poetic terminology, showing an “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he ancient world who visited this shrine understanding of Greek culture. In the Septuagint and is a new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). would have been enticed to buy these in the New Testament, however, these words never have this meaning. Perhaps, though, both Paul and novelties as souvenirs of their sacred 5. See Eccl. 8:14,17; 12:14. his Ephesian readers might have also journey. The ensuing riot illustrates 6. See Eccl. 3:11; 7:13; 11:5. 7. Paul cited this passage in Rom. 9:20. Jeremiah thought of the artisan guilds that were just how widespread and important learned a similar lesson about God’s sovereignty and work as a craftsman at the potter’s house (Jer. 18:1-6). widespread in all the major cities of the this trade was for local commerce. 8. Richard E. Oster, Jr., “Demetrius,” in The Anchor Roman Empire in the first Christian Additionally, when Paul wrote his Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 2:137. 8 9. Although 2 Timothy does not state Timothy’s loca- century. These were voluntary Second Letter to Timothy, he warned tion when he received this letter from Paul, we know he societies that craftsmen and trades- his coworker of another foe, Alexander, was in Ephesus when he received 1 Timothy (1 Tim. 1:3). 9 Most scholars believe Timothy was still in Ephesus when men formed in order to support and the coppersmith (2 Tim. 4:14). Paul wrote the second letter as well (see 2 Tim. 1:18). This enhance their professional interests. Alexander, like Demetrius, had done Alexander may also be the same person mentioned in 1 Tim. 1:20 and Acts 19:33. Through Paul’s ministry the gospel Paul much harm, perhaps for similar negatively impacted the guild of silver- reasons. In any event, many crafts- smiths in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41). The men of various trades were in Ephesus Steve Booth is academic dean and pro- silversmith Demetrius called together at the time Paul wrote Ephesians, fessor of New Testament and Greek at fellow tradesmen to complain about which gives a colorful cultural back- Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary, how money was now slipping through drop to the letter. Just as God formed Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. 48 BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR / FALL 2019.
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