My friend, I believe you are incorrect. The passage you are referring to is found in Mark 6:3 with a parallel passage in Mat 13:55. In both instances, the passage in question was a question; an allegation made by other people that was recorded by Mark and Matthew. Mark and Matthew never categorically said he was a carpenter. In fact, Matthew never said he was a carpenter, but recorded the question from others as "carpenter's son".
Check out both passages yourself: Mat 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? Mat 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? and Mar 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? Mar 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. ----- Original Message ----- From: Chris Zell To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, August 15, 2014 11:52 PM Subject: RE: [Vo]:a new guest editorial by AXIL Mark says he was "the carpenter", others the "carpenter's son". I don't know why this should be questioned. It was part of the Gospels writer's narrative about his outward ordinariness. The Greek word can refer to a contractor, more than just furniture. Whatever the faults of Christianity and Judaism, I doubt we would be sitting here working on computers without their revolutionary influence. Other religions were just too pallative or lacked a sense of "Divine creation according to laws" to trigger much progress. A sense of God working according to rules (that can be uncovered) can be critical - as opposed to an arbitrary Creator or a 'web with no weaver". It's all a part of evolution to me.
