Workmanship

Greek Pronunciation: POI-eh-ma
Strong's Number: 4161
Goodrich/Kohlenberger Number: 4473
Key Verse: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus …” -- Ephesians 2:10

Poiema is a noun form of the verb poieo, meaning “to do.” The verb is used over 500 times in the New Testament, while the noun, in its various forms, appears 8 times. The English word “poem” comes from this Greek noun poiema. In Acts 17:28, Paul makes reference to “some of your own poets have said, we also are His children.”

Romans 2:13, and James 1:22, 23, 25, and 4:11, all refer to people being doers of the Law, or of the Word. James 1:25 actually uses the noun twice, in reference to one who should be “an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.” The emphasis in response to the Word in active obedience.

Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes ... have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made …” This emphasizes a work of art or a masterpiece, different from human works. The workman is known by his work. The variety, multitude, order, beauty, harmony, different nature, and excellent contrivance, of the things that are made, the direction of them to certain ends, and the concurrence of all the parts to the good and beauty of the whole, do abundantly prove a Creator and His eternal power.

In EPHESIANS 2:10, Paul says, “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” This is a reason why no man should glory. If we are God’s workmanship, our salvation cannot be of ourselves. It is God who saved us. As new creatures, He had made us through the gospel. We are not saved by works, but are His workmanship, created for good works, designed therefore to abound in them.