The Lamb of God - Historical Views - Profession and Literacy

Profession and Literacy

In the New Testament, Jesus and his father were identified as tekton (τέκτων) (Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3), traditionally translated into English as "carpenter". However, some scholars argue that tekton is a generic word (from the same root that gives "technical" and "technology") that could cover makers of objects in various materials, even builders. Other scholars have argued that tekton could equally mean a highly-skilled craftsman in wood or the more prestigious metal, perhaps running a workshop with several employees, and noted sources recording the shortage of skilled artisans at the time. Geza Vermes has stated that the terms 'carpenter' and 'son of a carpenter' are used in the Jewish Talmud to signify a very learned man, and he suggests that a description of Joseph as 'naggar' (a carpenter) could indicate that he was considered wise and highly literate in the Torah. Some scholars have suggested that Jesus worked in the Galilean city of Sepphoris, and was influenced by its Hellenistic culture.

There are a number of passages from the Gospels which state or imply that Jesus could read. The Jesus Seminar stated that references in the Gospels to Jesus reading and writing may be fictions. Crossan, a member of the group, who views Jesus as a peasant states that he would not have been literate. Craig A. Evans states that it should not be assumed that Jesus was a peasant, and that his extended travels may indicate some measure of financial means. Evans states that existing data indicate that Jesus could read scripture, paraphrase and debate it, but that does not imply that he received formal scribal training, given the divergence of his views from the existing religious background of his time. Dunn states that it is "quite credible" that Jesus could read, and Meier further concludes that the literacy of Jesus probably extended to the ability to read and comment on sophisticated theological and literary works.