The LEArning Curve
Poiema: God’s Workmanship
We read in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
In the original Greek text of the New Testament book of Ephesians, the word used for “workmanship” was the Greek word, “Poiema” or “ποίημα,” which is pronounced poy-AY-mah.
Some translations of the Biblical text use English words such as “handiwork” or “masterpiece” to convey the meaning of “poiema”, and the original Greek word itself emphasizes the aspect of God’s purposeful and artistic creation.
The Greek word “poiema” is used in the New Testament of the Bible only one other time, in Romans 1:20, referring to all things made in God’s creation: “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made (ποιημα).”
In ancient Greek literature, “poiema” was used to describe works of art, such as sculptures, poems, or architectural creations. In fact, the word “poiema” is where we get the English word “poem” that we still use today. This uniquely specific noun refers to something that is made or formed, a work of art, or a product of craftsmanship. It’s used to describe God’s creative activity in His created world.
God is the master designer, and the universe is His creation. God is an artist and a poet, and we are made in His image. As the ultimate craftsman, God has a specific plan and purpose for each of us as His children. Living a life to glorify God is an act of creative worship as we are God’s living poems or “poiema.”
What an immense blessing it is to be an educator and to have the vocational calling to guide each student to shine as God’s “poiema”! As we embrace the end-of-school-year activities, celebrations, and events, I pray that we might all ponder how our students and we are living works of art… “poiema”… with a beautiful purpose of glorifying God through Christ Jesus our Savior.
May we, and all our students, be transformed through the love of Jesus Christ, living lives as creative works of “poiema” that honor and glorify our Creator.
