No problem, Leon, that's why we're here, right? Iron sharpens iron. My curiousity about something lead to your discovery of something else. As I said, it makes Jesus' story even more amazing, doesn't it?

Blessings back at you!

Salt

Amen, Hisservant, Keeper, and Steve. Our God is a god of miracles, a god of infinite ability. I know of no expiration date stamp on His gifts--any of them.

1 Corinthians 121: Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant. [...]

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

And it is made clear to us that once we have received these gifts, we are to use them for the glory of God:

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

AMEN!

Salt and Light!

It is good to read historical records that coincide with biblical history itself. The Judaic Law, under the traditions, was that every first male child was to be taught theologically, and every male child after that was to be taught letters and numbers. In fact the merchant class, and even publicans (of which Matthew was one), were quite lettered and mathmetically tutored as well.

Women, if taking theological vows, were also lettered as Mary was (she is purportedly an essence at the time of Christ's birth). Judges of Israel, such as Ruth, had to not only be lettered but know the law by rote, including Rabbinical traditions (nee talmud) as well. This was a society that integrated well with the Greeks because of the inherent focus on education and learning. This is why many of the early churches had to be corrected by using many of the methods of discourse and communications that the Greeks used.

So Christ understanding of the Law was what brought such response, not that He was lettered or taught. Rabbinical studies of the highest learning were reserved for the teachers, even though the first born male was theological instructed, true Rabbinical study was reserved for those actually entering the priesthood. You must remember that just reciting or having knowledge of the Law meant little, it was His authority and ability to reason that drew such criticism.

Blessings,

Jonathan

Thank you, Jonathan, good post. This discussion started because someone posted that Jesus was a rabbi, which I never had heard or read. Yes, he was called 'rabbi,' which means teacher, but He was not a rabbi in the term that the temple leaders were. I had thought they were impressed by his teaching, not his reading, but the post went on. You can check the precedents if you're curious.

As far as my Bible literacy, KP, thank you, I have read Deuteronomy and it was my understanding that the law was passed on verbally except for the ruling classes, scribes, and temple priests.

And as far as Jesus "learning" carpentry, He was under His earthly father's authority on earth and would have worked with him as an apprentice. I doubt that he needed to be taught, but it would have been insubordinate of Him to have disrespected Joseph with godly knowledge.

I don't know where you are getting the fact that Jesus was not all-knowing. He was still God.

SNL