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What is the Religious Significance of Jesus being a Carpenter?
- Thread starter Sunstone
- Start date
tekton does not mean carpenter.
What does it mean?
Builder? Craftsman? I'm not sure.
CDWolfe
Progressive Deist
Where does it say He was a carpenter?
Pay attention to the thread ... :slap:
Skwim
Veteran Member
He may or may not have been a carpenter. The Mark 6:3 description of Jesus' trade, "carpenter" is a translation of the Greek "tektōn"
And from Strongs, we find that "tekton" can mean
My guess? I think he was a conniving plotter who authored poems about joinery craftsmen.
And from Strongs, we find that "tekton" can mean
1) a worker in wood, a carpenter, joiner, builder
So it looks like you really have a choice:a) a ship's carpenter or builder
2) any craftsman, or workman
a) the art of poetry, maker of songs
3) a planner, contriver, plotter
a) an author
carpenter,
joiner,
builder,
craftsman,
workman,
poet,
composer/'lyricist,
planner,
contriver,
plotter,
author,
Therefore, other than Jesus' trade having no significance, it appears your question may be quite difficult to answer.joiner,
builder,
craftsman,
workman,
poet,
composer/'lyricist,
planner,
contriver,
plotter,
author,
My guess? I think he was a conniving plotter who authored poems about joinery craftsmen.
Last edited:
I just found a source for the following definitions -- but I'm not sure how good the source is. At any rate, a site called BibleStudyTools defines tekton as:
- a worker in wood, a carpenter, joiner, builder
- a ship's carpenter or builder
- any craftsman, or workman
- the art of poetry, maker of songs
- a planner, contriver, plotter
- an author
Means he was a builder or craftsman like his father in heaven, or his earthly father, which ever both can hold symbolic significance.
Wayfaring Stranger
Member
Fastest sailboat on the sea.
I don't really think there has to be any significance to his trade (whether it was as what we would define as a carpenter, or not.) I certainly don't think he hopped in his truck and picked up his wood at the local Home Depot, or had it delivered. So if he was a carpenter, it would be a job that required a lot of physical strength and would be a job very different from what we mean by the word now.
I would not take a position that there has to be religious (or symbolic) significance to any factual details. Things sometimes simply are what they are, without being symbolic representations. But, I do like to explore possible symbolic and deeper meaning. (I don't expect any particular Christian denomination to be in agreement with my view.) So, here goes...
A carpenter works with reshaping materials that are already present in the natural world, and recombining them in a way that they function as a new structure. A carpenter must be able to see the finished product before beginning the task, either with drawn out plans -- or the ability to visualize internally what has not yet taken shape. Additionally, a carpenter must understand the value of a solid foundation and balance. Theoretical "truths" may be interesting, but I think that a good carpenter's mindset tends toward working with "truths" and principles that actually work well in reality -- or else the work falls apart.
I think that he was probably much more practical and "solid" than a lot of people give him credit for.
In my interpretation of words credited to him in the Bible, I look for whether or not the message has a practical application in life, based upon my understanding of the story and my level of understanding in life at the moment. If not, I set it aside for the moment, perhaps to revisit it later. I do not think that such a man was giving out instructions for unattainable behaviors, or for purposes other than that make daily life better with each other. If God is, in fact, so -- in Reality -- then what better way to be connected to him than through reality. I don't see his purpose as to gather souls for God, by devaluing or discrediting the here and now. I think he often presented that way, though.
Assuming, of course, that the reference to tekton is more than storyline, it's informative value probably lies in suggesting that Jesus (a) was neither peasant nor pastoralist, but, rather, (b) someone exposed to and involved in Rome's significant construction efforts in the area - thus exposing him to a good deal of worldly (Grecko-Roman) culture.
"You're a builder, baby,
Here I am, a stone"
It is symbolic. Of a person who builds and fixes things for the benefit of others simply because that is what it is natural for him to do, as opposed to any claims of higher destiny.
Sir Doom
Cooler than most of you
I can guess, but you know how that can go... Not that it will stop me...
I think the idea that Jesus was a carpenter was some attempt by those that concocted the story to show that he had a 'normal' upbringing as opposed to a privileged life in an effort to make the character more appealing to the masses he was intended to appeal to. I sort of think that in Jesus' day that being a craftsman of any type probably gave you a nice kooshy life compared to the average Hebrew, though. I could be mistaken, of course.
I think the idea that Jesus was a carpenter was some attempt by those that concocted the story to show that he had a 'normal' upbringing as opposed to a privileged life in an effort to make the character more appealing to the masses he was intended to appeal to. I sort of think that in Jesus' day that being a craftsman of any type probably gave you a nice kooshy life compared to the average Hebrew, though. I could be mistaken, of course.