# What might be the best example of Jesus Christ’s carpentry? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 14, 2021, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443 "2021-07-14T01:25:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443/22 "2021-07-14T19:43:46Z")
Maybe On the other hand, he didn’t start actively preaching until he was about 30 (the Bible is oddly specific about that) and he would have needed to make a living too. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443/23 "2021-07-14T19:48:53Z")
As Nick Cave sings in [The Mercy Seat](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahr4KFl79WI): > I hear stories from the chamber > How Christ was born into a manger > And like some ragged stranger > Died upon the cross > And might I say, it seems so fitting in its way > He was a carpenter by trade > Or at least that’s what I’m told But he did not build it himself, I guess, he only had to carry the transversal part. I hope he approved the craftmanship anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443/24 "2021-07-14T19:50:11Z")
Knowing how vain people are, it’s hard to imagine the subject would not arise later. “The guy who built my table went on to become well known. Perhaps you’ve heard of Him…?” Craftsmanship? “Ahhh, this thing won’t last a week…” ---
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443/25 "2021-07-14T19:57:36Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > My understanding is that either Jesus, possibly Joseph instead, studied carpentry at some point. A useful skill, but less impressive than oratory and salvation. One presumes He was a good carpenter, even though I am unaware of extant examples of His work. “Of course my deck lasted millennia. It was built by a real craftsman…” > > What was the most advanced thing He was likely to build? What is known or proposed about this stage of His career? Joseph is described in the Gospels as a “tekton” which we translate as “carpenter.” Although, as I understand it, it’s a broadish concept that is a builder/craftsman in wood that is contrasted with a metalworker (chalkeus) or a stoneworker (laxeftís). A “tekton” is differentiate from other craftsman (goldworker, stonemasons, ironworkers) throughout the Greek translations of the Old Testament as well. I guess the question would be whether we would expect Joseph to have taught Jesus his trade. On the one hand, this would seem pretty common for fathers (even adoptive fathers) and sons; but on the other hand, Jesus would have seem destined for a different lifestyle from an early age. Relatedly, Church tradition holds the Joseph died when Jesus was still a child, so there’s that as well. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443/26 "2021-07-14T20:00:54Z")
Jesus - The Missing Years [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Inr-jskxm1I/hqdefault.jpg "John Prine "Jesus The Missing Years"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Inr-jskxm1I) It’s not canon (-: ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443/27 "2021-07-14T20:02:16Z")
> [@Falchion](#): > > I guess the question would be whether we would expect Joseph to have taught Jesus his trade. On the one hand, this would seem pretty common for fathers (even adoptive fathers) and sons; but on the other hand, Jesus would have seem destined for a different lifestyle from an early age. Even if Jesus’ spiritual leanings were obvious to his father (as they must have been, according to the episode of the 12 years old Jesus in the temple), he must have needed him to earn the familiy’s bread, so a profession and day job in Joseph’s trade seems rational. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443/28 "2021-07-14T20:05:00Z")
The real question is, if _you_ had super powers, would you display them all the time, or would you instead adopt a mild-mannered alter ego? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443/29 "2021-07-14T20:11:57Z")
The miracle making by Jesus in the gospels is not told as if he ever did it to personally benefit from it. Granted, changing water into wine at Cana was a VERY cool stunt (and I’d love to have a buddy who could pull that off), but it was done to spare the groom the embarrassment. Walking on water also seems like a shortcut that his supernatural abilities allowed him to do, but as the story is told, it was rather done to test the faith of his disciples, especially Peter. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443/30 "2021-07-14T20:55:19Z")
Legend has it Jesus had a real problem driving in nails by himself, the third one always gave him real trouble. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443/31 "2021-07-14T21:04:32Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Craftsmanship? “Ahhh, this thing won’t last a week…” - You missed a golden opportunity. "Craftsmanship? It would be a miracle if this thing lasts a week…” ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443/32 "2021-07-14T21:24:18Z")
He also possessed teleportation ability (the road to Emmaus), but didn’t first perform it until after his resurrection. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443/33 "2021-07-14T21:33:39Z")
Well, I think after you’re resurrected, all bets are off. 😉 ETA: I had never really thought about it, but yes, the trick of early getting to Emmaus before the two disciples must have been either teleportation, or he just knew a killer shortcut to the place. Or he was a Olympic level runner. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443/34 "2021-07-15T00:46:04Z")
Three days, even? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443/35 "2021-07-15T03:21:45Z")
There’s an apocryphal Gospel of Jesus as a child: The Infancy Gospel of Thomas. There’s a section where he stretches a beam of wood to help Joesph when it was cut too short. > **[Infancy Gospel of Thomas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infancy_Gospel_of_Thomas?wprov=sfti1)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > The Infancy Gospel of Thomas is a biographical gospel about the childhood of Jesus, believed to date at the latest to the second century. > The Infancy Gospel of Thomas is generally considered to be Gnostic in origin because of references in letters (by Hippolytus of Rome and Origen of Alexandria) to a "Gospel of Thomas", but it is unclear whether those letters refer to the Infancy Gospel or the Gospel of Thomas, a sayings gospel discovered near Na... ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443/36 "2021-07-15T03:35:10Z")
Dalej42 ninja’d me by 13 minutes ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443/37 "2021-07-15T03:57:11Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > There’s a section where he stretches a beam of wood to help Joesph when it was cut too short. So Joseph not only was a cuckold, he couldn’t measure accurately. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443/38 "2021-07-15T14:42:15Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > There’s a section where he stretches a beam of wood to help Joesph when it was cut too short. Was that before or after he fetched a left-handed screwdriver and a can of striped paint? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443/39 "2021-07-15T15:21:09Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > he couldn’t measure accurately Some tekton. Every carpenter knows to “measure twice, cut large, kick into place”. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443/40 "2021-07-15T22:40:02Z")
If Jesus ever had any trade other than preaching, the Bible says nothing about it. Maybe in the years before his public ministry, he worked in his father’s business. Maybe he was apprenticed into some other trade. Maybe he was a preacher all along, and it just wasn’t until his 30s that he hit it big. Maybe he was able to live all that time on the wealth given him by the magi. There are traditional answers, of course, but there are many different traditional answers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-might-be-the-best-example-of-jesus-christ-s-carpentry/946443.md?page=1)