The Carpenter

The English word "carpenter" originated from a Latin word, carpentum, which meant a chariot, but came to be used to refer to someone who was skilled in working with timber, whether buildings or ships.

"Carpenter" is used to translate a number of different original words of the Holy Bible, primarily the Hebrew word, pronounced khaw-rawsh, which meant a skilled craftsman in wood and/or stone, and the Hebrew word, pronounced ates, which literally meant wood, but was used to refer to those who worked with wood.

To many people, Jesus Christ is the most famous "carpenter" of all. The actual Greek word, pronounced tek-ton (from which the English words "technical" and "technology" originated) literally means an artificer of wood i.e. an "artist" of wood (Artificer: "Someone who is the first to think of or make something; A skilled worker who practices some trade or handicraft" The WordWeb Dictionary by Princeton University). Interestingly, that word is found only twice in the entire Bible, both of which referred directly to the Messiah and His "father" (a duality that becomes more apparent when other verses are considered, as we will get to).

"^13:53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. ^13:54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? ^13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? ^13:56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? ^13:57 And they were offended in him.

But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

^13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." (Matthew 13:53-58 KJV)

Matthew recorded it (or it was translated) as "the carpenter's son," while Mark recorded it (or it was translated) as "the carpenter" - both of which are fully correct, with a greater meaning as well (see the Fact Finder question below).

"^6:1 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. ^6:2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? ^6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

^6:4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. ^6:5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them." (Mark 6:1-5 KJV)

"Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?"

In response to Peter's having just declared "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," the Messiah answered in agreement, not in disagreement (as the Church of Rome declares for itself - doubly falsely; the Church of Rome was not built on Peter, nor was the Church of God; see The Rock Of The Church). The Son of God was the builder, the "carpenter" of His "church."

"^16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

^16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. ^16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it [see Through The Gates Of Hell]. ^16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:16-19 KJV)

The Messiah sometimes used "technical" building terms in His teachings, as in this example of design and budget planning before construction begins.

"^14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? ^14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, ^14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish." (Luke 14:28-30 KJV)

The Temple that Christ built for His Church ("church" literally means people) was a place for the Holy Spirit to reside (see the Fact Finder question below). Unfortunately, at the time of His first coming, the caretakers of the building were not taking good care of it.

"^21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the LORD doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

^21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. ^21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

^21:45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. ^21:46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet." (Matthew 21:42-46 KJV)

It was for that reason that the Temple was allowed to be destroyed, just as the original had been destroyed by the Babylonians - for the same reason.

"^24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple.

^24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down [see What Did Jesus Christ Say About Those Stones?]." (Matthew 24:1-2 KJV)

The same lesson was "delivered" in the famous incident of driving out those who were desecrating the purpose of the "building."

"^2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; ^2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

^2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

^2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

^2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

^2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? ^2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body. ^2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said." (John 2:15-22 KJV)

That incident was later used to falsely accuse the Builder.

"^26:59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; ^26:60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none.

At the last came two false witnesses, ^26:61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

^26:62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? ^26:63 But Jesus held his peace.

And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

^26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." (Matthew 26:59-64 KJV)

The final irony of the Carpenter's Life was that He was crucified on timbers that were prepared by some other carpenter (see also Crossing The T).

"^19:16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

^19:17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: ^19:18 Where they crucified him, and two others with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

^19:19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, Jesus Of Nazareth The King Of The Jews. ^19:20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. ^19:21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.

^19:22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written." (John 19:16-22 KJV)

Fact Finder: What did the Messiah mean by the "mansions" that He was building for His people?
See Mansions

This Day In History, December 28

1688: William of Orange made a triumphant march into London as James II fled.

1694: Queen Mary II of England died of smallpox at age 32.

1698: George I of England got divorced.

1795: Plans for building Toronto's famous Yonge Street were first proposed. While the southern section of it is today a major street in Toronto, the original 48 kilometer road from York (i.e. Toronto) north to Lake Simcoe was one of the earliest highways in Canada. It was named after Sir George Yonge, then Secretary of State for War in the British government.

1849: Paris tailor Jolly Bellin reportedly discovered "dry cleaning" when he accidentally upset a lamp containing turpentine and oil on His clothing and saw the cleaning effect.

1895: Antoine and Louis Lumiere introduced their Cinematograph (which projected "moving pictures") in the basement of the Grand Cafe in Paris.

1908: Over 82,000 people were killed by an earthquake that struck the Sicilian town of Messina. A tidal wave that followed caused more devastation.

1923: Alexander Eiffel died at age 91. He designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris, which is named after him.

1936: Benito Mussolini sent war planes to Spain in support of Francisco Franco.

1946: French occupation forces declared martial law in Vietnam.

1947: Victor Emmanuel III, king of Italy 1900-1946, died at age 78. His reign brought an end to the Italian monarchy.

1948: Prime Minister Nokrashy Pasha of Egypt was assassinated by a member of the "Moslem Brotherhood." Pasha had just outlawed the group because he regarded them as terrorists.

1950: Chinese troops crossed the 38th Parallel into South Korea.

1997: The government of Hong Kong ordered the slaughter of 1.3 million chickens as well as a large number of ducks, geese, quail and other poultry in an effort to stop the spread of a newly discovered variety of flu.