Not_Registered

Just a question. I haven't delved deep into the bible, thus I might be missing the simple answer. But, I'm just posing the question for others to answer. If Jesus was just a carpenter and ordinary man, how was He so wise and always able to outsmart all the "scholars" of His time.

Norseman

In what way did he "outsmart" all the scholars of his time?

Roland

Well, if you were writing a work of fiction, couldn't you make it so your main character would get all the good lines?

As a teacher, I always marvel how teachers in the movies always have the right thing to say for every occasion - until I remember that I could say all the right things too if I had a bevy or paid screenwriters thinking up lines for me.

Toto

There is some doubt that Jesus was actually a carpenter. The term Tekton is usually translated carpenter, but it may have been a metaphor for a "technically" skilled scholar who could work with words and arguments. I believe that Geza Vermes has found some Jewish usage like that.

In addition, Dennis MacDonald points out that Odysseus was a carpenter, and the plot of the Odyssey requires him to be a skilled craftsman and boat builder.

But of course, we only have the gospel writer's word that Jesus could outsmart the best religious scholars of the day. We don't have their side of the story.

Boomeister

In what way was he "so wise"?


Boomeister

doubtingthomas

The only people he outsmarted, were the pharasees, who by all accounts butchered the Jewish law adding and redacting at will. Someone who had knowledge of Jewish law could easily point out there errors. In a similar way, anyone with a basic knowledge of the bible could point out the errors in the doctrine of "Health and Wealth" preachers such as Benny Hinn and Creflo Dollar.

Chili

I think Joseph was the carpenter and the only reason Joseph was a carpenter is because carpenters are known to make many things and since all things are made in sin Joseph was a big sinner and worthy to be saved if the cross of eternal salvation is for sinners only.

infinity

wow... not THAT is an impressive display of doublethink self perpetuated circular justification.

Chili

I actually got it from "Melancholia" by Albrecht Duhrer.

Chris Weimer

but duhrer was a painter. Skilled with circular logic (think about the double meaning here...) Anyway, can't the same be said for anyone wise? Look at Socrates. He was so smart his people killed him centuries before they killed Jesus for the exact same reason... hmm...