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One person told me that since disciples called Jesus rabbi and since he taught in synagogues he couldn't have been a carpenter as only rabbis were allowed to teach in synagogues. Has this matter ever been covered in Christianity? If yes, can anyone, please, give an overview on this matter? Could Jesus have been both carpenter and a rabbi? How did a person become qualified rabbi in those times? |
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There is a third possibility: He wasn't an ordained Rabbi. He was called rabbi out of sense of respect and he was allowed in the synagogues because of his fame. When he preached at a synagogue it says -
This suggests to me an event like that of a visiting celebrity than a routine occurrence. Another important thing is the meaning of the word Rabbi. We must ask what the word meant to those who used it, not what it means to us today.
If the people used the word as a title of honor or synonym for teacher that wouldn't make him a Rabbi in a literal sense of the word. Besides, it seems unlikely to me that Jesus would have joined a synagogue and got himself ordained. He spent a great deal of time criticizing the religious system of that day including the hypocrisy of the Rabbis. He couldn't have stayed quiet in the face of any kind of hypocrisy or superstition. It would be out of character for him. I doubt that with that kind of attitude and vocal criticism of other Rabbis he would've been allowed into any synagogue, much less officially ordained. Jesus couldn't have been a Rabbi, when he so vehemently criticized them. So much so that he got himself crucified for it. |
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The question "Was Jesus a Rabbi" is covered here. Short version: Yes, He was. The question "Was Jesus a carpenter" is covered here. Short version, "yes, but in typical fashion people dispute the exact meaning of the word, which could also be translated as craftsman." In this case, whether carpenter could mean craftsman or stonemason or whatever other occupation doesn't matter. You're asking how he could have been a carpenter and a Rabbi. Not to point out the obvious, but it was a career change. In His early days, He was a carpenter. Later, He began His true calling - His earthly ministry. There is no discrepancy in Scripture referring to Him as a carpenter in one place, and as a Rabbi in another. Were someone to write about my life (what a boring book that would be) they could just as easily refer to me as a Restaurant Manager and a Software Developer, a Father, Husband, Satellite dish salesman, etc. To answer the remaining point in your question, the first link above also covers how "one became a Rabbi in those times". |
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