Theology is Like Poetry

The Apostle Paul is writing theology and sending it to his friends in the city of Corinth to encourage them. But it really comes across as poetry. And perhaps poetry and theology aren’t that far off from each other. Theology, after all, isn’t trying to prove facts and isn’t capturing numbers or histories. It’s weaving a story that’s bigger than the universe into a few short lines to help us understand the Storyteller and to give some guidance along the way. Not so different than poetry, it turns out.

So these are the words from the NIV translation - the only thing that’s different is the spacing. So let this theology do what poetry does… let it paint a picture, tell a story, tap an emotion, or sneak in the back door of your mind to plant a seed of hope there.

When the perishable
has been clothed
with the imperishable
and the mortal with immortality
then the saying that is written
will come true
Death
has been swallowed up
in victory
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?

- 1 Corinthians 15:54-55