Much of the Old Testament is poetic in nature and structure. The prophets of Israel inserted poems in their prophecies
and the Apostle Paul quoted in his writings from at least three secular poets.
This poem that Paul quotes is the "Phaenomena" by Aratus, the oldest and best-known poem of Greek astronomy. Aratus is the source for all the classical Greek constellations, which are still used to the present day. Aratus is also an excellent classical source for other aspects of astronomy, including the phases of the moon, the changes of the seasons, and cloud patterns that forecast changes in the weather. Paul quotes from the beginning of Aratus's Phaenomena:
"From Zeus let us begin; him do we mortals never leave unnamed; full of Zeus are all the streets and all the market places of men; full is the sea and the havens thereof; always we all have need of Zeus. For we are also his offspring; and he in his kindness unto men giveth favorable signs and wakeneth the people to work, reminding them of livelihood."
In quoting from Aratus, and Cleanthes, it appears that the Apostle Paul was well-versed in the Greek classical astronomy! Paul goes on to explain in his sermon on Mars Hill that it is God, not Zeus, who the Athenians should worship:
"Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent." (Acts 17:29, 30)
For example, take the lines of Epimenides, quoted by Paul in Titus 1:12:
Liars ever, men of Crete, Savage brutes that live to eat.
The meaning seems clear: Paul's opponents in Crete -- were false teachers -- who have sunk to the level of brute beasts, unrestrained in their brutality, always searching for their prey. In quoting a Cretan poet, Paul underscores the authority of his own judgment without exposing himself to the charge of being prejudice against Cretans. We can compare this with the same statement in prose:
Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, and lazy gluttons.
Quoting the Greek playwright Menander, he strongly exhorted the Corinthians to be careful of their associations. Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character. (1 Cor. 15:33). The playwright Menander, in a fragment, said "I call a fig a fig, a spade a spade.
The fame of Israel's poetry had spread to Babylon. (Psalm 137:3)
The first recorded poem in scripture was a war song. (Gen 4:2-3:34)
The distinction between poetry and prose in Hebrew is not dependant on the presence or absence of rhyme.
Poetical construction depends upon rhythm of thought and the balance of sentences.
Biblical poetry encompasses a number of writing styles such as reiteration, rhyme, taunts or laments,
and parallelism, all utilized in their own way for the specific impact that they have upon the hearers. Here are some examples:
For My thoughts are not your thoughts
Neither are your ways My ways saith the Lord.
"I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about".
"The Lord is my strength and song, and he is
become my salvation" (Exodus 15:2).
"Saul and Jonathan, the beloved and the lovely, in
life and in death they were not divided".
"Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who
clothed you in scarlet, and fine linen".
"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers
of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season."
Poetry is also used in the New Testament. Some examples are Luke 1.46-55; Phil 2.6-11; Rev 15.3,4.
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