Jesus 'was the son of a middle-class architect'

[vajranagini]

I was told by a Gnostic theologian that "tekton" actually translates as "STONECARVER" or "MASON". Wow, wouldn't THAT put a knot in the Vatican's collective undies, eh?

[nventr]

Oct 11, 2010 1:44:07 GMT vajranagini said:

I was told by a Gnostic theologian that "tekton" actually translates as "STONECARVER" or "MASON". Wow, wouldn't THAT put a knot in the Vatican's collective undies, eh?

Actually, I don't think it would. Both carpenters and stone masons fall under building guilds. Both use the system of apprentice, journeyman, and master. Both use many of the same ways of measurement and understanding "load." It doesn't matter if a building is made of trees or stone, if it isn't square and plumb it's going to fall down. The way these methods are taught is a very structured system.

Ancient farmers followed the seasons. Fishermen followed the wind conditions. Herdsmen followed the birthing cycle. These are all systems of nature which man has no control over and are fickle. A farmer could be wiped out by drought. Fishermen killed in a freak wind storm. Herdsman ruined by a virus.

I believe that when the Bible points out that Joseph was a carpenter or mason, the author is telling you which method of instruction Jesus received from his father. Instead of being vulnerable to nature, a mason or carpenter was in control over nature. Once the systems are mastered, nature could not win. The house or building could stand for 5,000 years (pyramids) or 3,000 years (Colosseum in Rome.)

There is debate as to whether Jesus was taught in an official school. Until I see an attendance record, I will not believe Jesus attended any school. The reason being that Jesus was considered illegitimate by Jewish law. The Bible even has a passage asking if this was "Mary's son." This passage is what scholars use to surmise that Jesus was shunned by proper society.