Poet
/POH-et/
Summary
Scripture references poets both as Hebrew psalmists and as Greek writers whom Paul quoted to communicate truth to pagan audiences.
☩Hebrew Poetry
Much of the Old Testament is written in poetic form, including the Psalms, Proverbs, Job, and large portions of the prophets. Hebrew poetry uses parallelism rather than rhyme—expressing thoughts in matching or contrasting lines. The 'sweet psalmist of Israel' was David, author of many psalms.
Key verses:2 Samuel 23:1
☩Greek Poets Cited
Paul quoted Greek poets to connect with his audiences. At Athens, he cited Epimenides and Aratus: 'In him we live and move and have our being' and 'we are his offspring.' To Titus he quoted Epimenides about Cretans. This demonstrated Paul's familiarity with pagan literature and his skill in using it for the gospel.
Key verses:Acts 17:28Titus 1:12
