MATTHIAS.
And the Life Everlasting.
The Annotated Edition
MATTHIAS. by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Read aloud in ~1 minOpen reading mode →
This is a single-line poem — actually just a phrase — from Longfellow's series *Christus: A Mystery*, where each character's name acts as a title and the line below encapsulates the spirit of that figure.
- Themes
- faith, hope, identity
§01Quick summary
What this poem is about
This is a single-line poem — actually just a phrase — from Longfellow's series *Christus: A Mystery*, where each character's name acts as a title and the line below encapsulates the spirit of that figure. Matthias was the apostle selected by lot to succeed Judas Iscariot, and his line, "And the Life Everlasting," highlights the eternal promise that shapes his faith and role. It's like a gravestone epitaph: modest in size, yet profound in its implications.
§02Themes
Recurring themes
§03Line by line
Stanza by stanza, with notes
And the Life Everlasting.
Editor's note
The entire poem revolves around this one phrase taken directly from the Apostles' Creed. The opening word "And" plays a vital role — it links Matthias to what preceded it, implying that he continues a larger narrative (the story of the apostles, of Christ, of salvation). "The Life Everlasting" represents the Christian assurance of eternal life after death, and by providing Matthias with just these words, Longfellow implies that this apostle's entire identity is shaped by that hope. He isn't celebrated for grand actions; he is remembered for *belief*.
§04Tone & mood
How this poem feels
Quiet, reverent, and spare. There’s no drama or ornamentation here—just a simple breath of faith. The tone resembles the conclusion of a prayer, solemn yet not mournful, as it speaks of eternal life rather than loss.
§05Symbols & metaphors
Symbols & metaphors
- The conjunction "And"
- Opening with "And" positions Matthias within an ongoing narrative. He represents a continuation rather than a fresh start — the successor apostle who advances the work begun by others. This choice of word conveys a sense of connection, inheritance, and the enduring flow of faith.
- The Life Everlasting
- This phrase, taken straight from the Apostles' Creed, captures the heart of Christian belief: death isn't the end. For Matthias, who was selected to take the place of someone lost to betrayal and death, it serves as both his guiding principle and a source of comfort.
- The name Matthias itself
- Matthias is often overlooked — selected by lot and seldom referenced in the scriptures after Acts 1. His obscurity gives the poem's brevity a fitting quality. The name embodies a sense of quiet, uncelebrated faithfulness.
§06Historical context
Historical context
This poem is part of Longfellow's ambitious dramatic trilogy *Christus: A Mystery* (1872), a project he dedicated decades to. The trilogy explores the history of Christianity through three segments: the early church, the Middle Ages, and the Puritan era in America. "Matthias" is featured in *The Divine Tragedy*, the first segment, which brings to life the stories of Christ and his apostles. Each apostle is given a title-poem — a name paired with a defining phrase — acting as a miniature spiritual portrait. Matthias occupies a distinct position in Christian tradition: as noted in the Acts of the Apostles, he was chosen by the remaining eleven apostles to take Judas Iscariot's place through a casting of lots. He is mentioned very rarely in the New Testament, making him a character largely defined by his role as a substitute of faith. Longfellow wrote *Christus* to reflect on the resilience of Christian belief throughout history.
§07FAQ
Questions readers ask
Longfellow created a series of miniature character portraits in *Christus: A Mystery*, assigning each apostle a title (their name) along with a defining phrase. The shortness is intentional — it's a distillation, almost like a spiritual ID card. For Matthias, a character the Bible barely touches on, one line feels just right.
It's the closing line of the Apostles' Creed, one of the oldest expressions of Christian belief: "I believe in...the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting." Longfellow gives this phrase to Matthias to express his core belief — faith in eternal life, which drove the apostles to continue their mission after Christ's death.
That opening "And" carries significant weight. It suggests that Matthias is a continuation — of the apostles, of the Creed, of Christ's mission. He was literally chosen to *continue* the group of twelve after Judas created a void. Starting mid-sentence reflects that role perfectly.
Matthias is introduced in Acts 1:15–26. Following the betrayal and death of Judas Iscariot, the other apostles felt it was important to bring their number back to twelve. They put forward two candidates and cast lots — essentially a divine lottery — to make their choice, and Matthias was selected. After this, he doesn't appear again in the New Testament, making him one of the lesser-known apostles.
*Christus: A Mystery* is a three-part dramatic poem published by Longfellow in 1872, after more than thirty years of work. It explores the journey of Christianity, starting from the time of Jesus, moving through the medieval period, and arriving at the Puritans in America. "Matthias" is featured in *The Divine Tragedy*, the first section, as part of a series of short portraits of the apostles.
It's a bit of both, and that tension adds to its intrigue. Longfellow presents it as a poem by giving it a title, situating it within a literary sequence, and selecting a phrase rich with theological and emotional significance. A sentence transforms into a poem when its context and weight require that level of attention — and this one certainly does.
At its core, it’s about faith and the hope of eternal life, which brings up questions of mortality, hope, and identity. Matthias’s entire existence in the Christian narrative revolves around stepping into a role shaped by someone else's betrayal and death—so those themes are present beneath the surface as well.
Longfellow grew up in a Congregationalist environment and maintained a general Christian perspective throughout his life, although his beliefs leaned more towards humanism and literature rather than strict doctrine. His decision to write *Christus*—and to dedicate decades to it—demonstrates a sincere interest in Christian history and beliefs. By giving Matthias the phrase "the Life Everlasting," he shows a respectful and empathetic understanding of the apostle's quiet, enduring faith.
Read next