Lexical Summary poiétés: Doer, Maker, Poet Original Word: ποιητής Strong's Exhaustive Concordance poet, doer From poieo; a performer; specially, a "poet"; --doer, poet. see GREEK poieo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom poieó Definition a maker, a doer NASB Translation doer (3), doers (2), poets (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4163: ποιητήςποιητής, ποιητου, ὁ (ποιέω); 1. a maker, producer, author (Xenophon, Plato, others). 2. a doer, performer (Vulg.factor): τοῦ νόμου, one who obeys or fulfils the law, Romans 2:13; James 4:11; 1 Macc. 2:67 (see ποιέω, II. a.); ἔργου, James 1:25; λόγου, James 1:22, 23. 3. a poet: Acts 17:28 ((Herodotus 2, 53, etc.), Aristophanes, Xenophon, Plato, Plutarch, others). Strong’s Greek 4163 centers on the idea of one who fashions or brings something into tangible existence. In Scripture this core picture is applied in two principal directions: (1) the believer whose obedience actively “makes” the will of God visible, and (2) the classical poet whose crafted words illustrate human longing and God-given insight. Distribution in the New Testament Romans 2:13 – ethical standing before God James 1:22, 23, 25; 4:11 – authentic response to revelation Acts 17:28 – citation of pagan literary testimony Doers versus Mere Hearers (Romans and James) • Romans 2:13 draws the Jew–Gentile discussion toward a universal principle: “it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law who will be justified”. The word marks the decisive difference between covenant privilege and covenant performance. The Soteriological Tension Neither Paul nor James teaches justification by works. Paul’s immediate context moves toward the gospel solution in Romans 3; James insists faith without works is dead (James 2:17). The term therefore safeguards the doctrine that saving faith is productive faith: grace produces doers. The believer becomes a “maker” of righteousness only because God first works in him “to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). Dialogue with Pagan Culture (Acts 17:28) In Athens Paul quotes “some of your own poets,” demonstrating that even uninspired voices may echo creational truth. By calling them ποιηταί he credits their craftsmanship while subordinating their insight to the fuller revelation of the risen Christ. The missionary lesson is twofold: (1) common grace grants fragments of truth outside Scripture; (2) those fragments must be completed, corrected, and fulfilled by the gospel. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Discipleship curricula should move from information transfer to practiced obedience; evaluation shifts from class attendance to transformed behavior. Historical Reception • Early Fathers (e.g., Clement of Rome) appealed to the “doer” verses against antinomian tendencies. Key Insight for the Contemporary Church Strong’s 4163 insists that revelation is not complete until embodied. God’s Word aims at creating artisans of righteousness whose lives, like crafted poems, point to their ultimate Author. Englishman's Concordance Acts 17:28 N-GMPGRK: καθ' ὑμᾶς ποιητῶν εἰρήκασιν Τοῦ NAS: some of your own poets have said, KJV: of your own poets have said, For INT: among you poets have said of the Romans 2:13 N-NMP James 1:22 N-NMP James 1:23 N-NMS James 1:25 N-NMS James 4:11 N-NMS Strong's Greek 4163 |
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