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Bill_Pick
Guest
My Bible says this was Joseph’s profession and that Jesus was regarded as “the carpenter’s son” (Matt. 13:55). Do we have any reason, apart from tradition, to believe Jesus took up Joseph’s trade.
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LilyM
Guest
Nothing at all … apart from the recorded fact that a huge majority of tradesmen’s eldest sons (of which Joseph was one) went into the same business as their fathers. Formal higher education cost money, which tradesmen often didn’t have enough of. So did apprenticing a son into a different trade 
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CB_Catholic
Guest
Gospel of Mark, ch 6, vs 3: “Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” (RSV)Nothing at all … apart from the recorded fact that a huge majority of tradesmen’s eldest sons (of which Joseph was one) went into the same business as their fathers. Formal higher education cost money, which tradesmen often didn’t have enough of. So did apprenticing a son into a different trade
The translation is almost the same in the NAB.
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bpbasilphx
Guest
Nothing at all … apart from the recorded fact that a huge majority of tradesmen’s eldest sons (of which Joseph was one) went into the same business as their fathers.
Except that Jesus was not reckoned to be Joseph’s eldest son. James (by his first wife) was older than Jesus.
Except that Jesus was not reckoned to be Joseph’s eldest son. James (by his first wife) was older than Jesus.
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LilyM
Guest
There’s nothing in scripture to indicate that Joseph had previous marriage, or children, or sons previous to Jesus’ birth. Or for that matter that James and the other ‘brothers’ of Jesus were anything other than cousins. (Peter and 120 ‘brothers’ were gathered in the Upper Room at Pentecost, remember? ‘Brother’ didn’t even have to mean biological relation of any kind!).
All of what you’ve said is small-t tradition
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Eileen_T
Guest
If this was true, it would have been a grave insult for Jesus to have entrusted Mary to the care of John at the foot of the Cross.
It is more likely that the James in question was the son of one of Joseph’s brothers.
Even if it were the case, the apostles have two seperate cases where two brothers followed the same trade by my reckoning.
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ralphinal
Guest
Not if Mary was not James’s mother.
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bpbasilphx
Guest
** Originally Posted by bpbasilphx View Post
Nothing at all … apart from the recorded fact that a huge majority of tradesmen’s eldest sons (of which Joseph was one) went into the same business as their fathers.
Except that Jesus was not reckoned to be Joseph’s eldest son. James (by his first wife) was older than Jesus.
There’s nothing in scripture to indicate that Joseph had previous marriage, or children, or sons previous to Jesus’ birth**
It’s the big T tradition of the Eastern Church, as seen in iconography. The Flight into Egypt almost always includes St. James.
**
Not if Mary was not James’s mother.**
But she wasn’t.
Nothing at all … apart from the recorded fact that a huge majority of tradesmen’s eldest sons (of which Joseph was one) went into the same business as their fathers.
Except that Jesus was not reckoned to be Joseph’s eldest son. James (by his first wife) was older than Jesus.
There’s nothing in scripture to indicate that Joseph had previous marriage, or children, or sons previous to Jesus’ birth**
It’s the big T tradition of the Eastern Church, as seen in iconography. The Flight into Egypt almost always includes St. James.
**
Not if Mary was not James’s mother.**
But she wasn’t.
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a_priori
Guest
I’ve been taught that Joseph was not a carpenter in the sense we think. The Greek word is “tekton” which, according to my Greek former co-religionists, is more of a general contractor-type job description. This would have involved all types of building such as stonework, etc. in addition to wood.
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LutheranDK
Guest
What LilyM said.
And, adding to that: Jesus didn’t start His minstry until He was about 30 years old. He’d have to have something to earn a living by until then
But, just as a memento, the Greek work translated as “carpenter” means a whole lot more than just that.
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LutheranDK
Guest
Exactly
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LilyM
Guest
You mean it’s a required article of belief, divinely revealed truth, considered part of the Apostolic deposit of faith and teaching, in the Eastern Churches? As in you’re a heretic if you don’t believe that St James was a son of Joseph by a previous marriage? THAT is what big-T Tradition means
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Mirdath
Guest
The only implement we hear of Jesus making all by himself in the scriptures is a whip.
But like any kid anywhere, I should hope he helped out around the house and the family trade, though he was probably attending Rabbinical classes and suchlike too and romping around with childhood buddies like John during whenever he could skimper off. Kids are a busy lot.
Edit: Augh I did it again. This is Nepenthe, and I totally forgot to log myself in…sigh, I am just not a morning person.
Hope Mirdath isn’t irked too much.
But like any kid anywhere, I should hope he helped out around the house and the family trade, though he was probably attending Rabbinical classes and suchlike too and romping around with childhood buddies like John during whenever he could skimper off. Kids are a busy lot.
Edit: Augh I did it again. This is Nepenthe, and I totally forgot to log myself in…sigh, I am just not a morning person.
Hope Mirdath isn’t irked too much.- Status