Nick Coldagelli: Jesus’ Earthly Profession

Nick_Coldagelli

My friend Nick Coldagelli, elder of Conquering King Fellowship in Eagan, Minnesota, joins me for this episode to discuss the lighter subject of Jesus' Earthly profession. It is commonly believed that Jesus was a carpenter, but is that really the case? The New Testament only refers to his vocation twice, in Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3, and the Greek word that is used, tekton (Ï„ÎÎºÏ„Î¿Î½) has a wide range of meaning that includes carpenter, but could mean much more.

Nick and I discuss not only the range of possible meaning of tekton, but also the illumination that a broader understanding of the term brings to our reading of not only the New Testament, but the old as well.

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An Outline of the Discussion

One of the most commonly known facts about Jesus is that He was a carpenter.
Only two verses in the New Testament reference Jesus' earthly profession: Matthew 13:55 & Mark 6:3
The Greek word behind our English translation is “tekton” (Ï„ÎÎºÏ„Î¿Î½), and may refer to a carpenter as we understand it, but it really is a much broader term that refers to people who work with their hands and create things.
Wood was (and still is) a fairly scarce resource in Israel, but stone was (and is) plentiful. Stone masonry would have been a thriving industry.
In scripture, we see Jesus use a lot of analogies involving building and/or stone, but almost nothing in regards to wood or carpentry as we understand the word today.
- A wise man builds his house upon the rock
- He tells Peter “upon this rock I will build my church”
- And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,” and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. -Â 1 Peter 2:4-8
Jesus often spoke in parables, and stated the reason why when asked by the disciples in Matthew 13:10-11Â “And the disciples came and said to Him, ‘Why do You speak to them in parables?' Jesus answered them, ‘To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.'”
- It's conceivable that many of the parables that Jesus spoke, and which involved building, stone, etc, were said in a way that would not have been deemed all that significant to people hearing them, but rather a simple earthly wisdom Jesus had picked up in his day-to-day work as a builder.
Paul continues with the imagery during his ministry: “According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder (archi-tekton -Â á¼€ÏÏ‡Î¹Ï„ÎÎºÏ„Ï‰Î½) I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.” 1 Corinthians 3:10-13
- There is an illusion in the materials listed to the fact that Jesus builds with materials that last (gold, silver, precious stones), not those things that parish in fire.
The first person in the Bible to be said to be filled with the Spirit was Bezalel, in Exodus 35, the builder of the Tabernacle.
- Then Moses said to the sons of Israel, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. “And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship; to make designs for working in gold and in silver and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood, so as to perform in every inventive work. Exodus 35:30-33
- There are several parallels between Bezalel and Jesus
  - Both of the tribe of Judah
  - Both were said to be filled with the spirit of God
  - Bezalel was chosen by God to build the House of God
There is a range of meaning for the Greek word tekton (Ï„ÎÎºÏ„Î¿Î½), ranging from master builder (contractor/architect) all the way down to a simple carpenter. Looking at the historical and grammatical context, we can come to a different understanding that what our tradition tells us.
As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.” – Mark 13:1-2
- Many of us are familiar with this text because it illustrates Jesus' prediction of the destruction of the Temple, but we tend to overlook the comments of the disciples regarding the stones and the buildings. It makes sense that they would have pointed out the beauty of the architecture of and around the Temple if Jesus himself were a builder.
This is not a new doctrine, but it is interesting to explore because it sheds new light on what we already believe.
Back to Bezalel, it's interesting to note that he's the first person (in the reading of the Old Testament) to be filled with the Spirit of God, and that he was commissioned to build the Tabernacle. We look to Hebrews 3:1-4 to shed further light on this:
- “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house. For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.”
- Jesus is building the Temple of God, and that we are the Temple of God. We are the “living stones.” It brings great humility and gratitude that we have been chosen by God, and fashioned by Him, into the Temple of God; and that one day we are going to see the Lord as He returns and we will be with him in the New Jerusalem for all eternity.
More parables illuminated by the understanding of Jesus as a builder:
- “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.'” – Luke 14:28-30
- “In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14: 2-3