Ray Hobbs

The only precise clues we have in the New Testament as to the social status of Jesus are found in two comments by others. Luke makes this identification clear (Luke ), whereas Matthew, in a parallel passage states that Jesus is ‘the son of the carpenter’ (Matt. 13.55).

The term in Greek, tekton, is ambiguous, and is used in other literature to suggest either a carpenter or stone-mason, sometimes an iron smith. Coming from the Greek verb tikto, which means to shape, or form, it depicts someone who works with his hands transforming natural elements like wood, stone or metal.

To unwrap this further wee need to look at some archaeological evidence, mythological representation, and what we can reconstruct of the cultural evaluation of someone who works with his hands.

A general term to describe Jesus’ activity (‘profession’ is too grand a term) is ‘artisan’. Archaeological excavations which take seriously the social use of space in ancient cities, such as those at Jerusalem and at Tel Dor reveal that both the work places and domiciles of the artisans in these cities were in the least desirable areas. In Jerusalem, it was in the southern valleys, Hinnom and the Tyropoean (The Cheesemakers’). where these men lived and worked. These areas constituted the industrial areas of the city. The same pattern is seen at Dor, where the small, cramped dwellings and workshops of the artisans, such as carpenters, leather-workers and dyers, were on the windless eastern side of the city, away from the sea and downwind from the great houses of the elites.

In ANE mythology, right up until the Greek and Roman periods, an artisan demigod was feared and/or despised. The possible reason for this is that the artisan could do something special, transform raw materials into something it originally was not.[1] This was the prerogative of the gods. In some contexts such persons were ridiculed - a powerful, socially acceptable way to ‘bring them down to size’ - or depicted graphically in grotesque form.[2] In Papyrus Lansing an ancient Egyptian scribe, urging his students to study to become knowledgeable scribes like himself, ridicules those who work with their hands, including carpenters. The stupid artisans ridiculed in Isa. 44.9-20 are additional cases in point.

This would suggest that the reference to Jesus’ activity in the texts given above should not be interpreted in a romantic or unrealistic way. It is typical of a world, like the traditional Mediterranean world, that worked with stereotypes.[3] In the minds of those who speak in these verses, there is a world of difference between a religious teacher and an artisan, and by naming Jesus as one of the latter they demonstrate not only their familiarity with him, but also their contempt for him.

NOTES
[1] The carpenter, stone mason and the metal smith all fall into this category. In the passage from Isaiah, note how quickly the poet shifts from the one who works in wood to the one who works with iron.
[2] Such persons are also often depicted as being promiscuous and sexual predators, in other words, creators of social chaos.
[3] On this matter see B.J. Malina, J. Neyrey, Calling Jesus Names. Sonoma, CA: Polebridge Press, 1988

The BCOQ Document ‘A New System for a New Century’ has received further consideration by the Planning Committee of the Convention, and some revisions have been made to the original. In January of this year all delegates to the 2001 Convention Assembly received a letter from the Chair of the Planning Committee outlining the changes. Although the number of delegates each church can send to future Assemblies has been adjusted, little else has been altered. In the concern to streamline the management of the Convention’s affairs, matters of governance have become involved, and there is a clear devolution of power from the local churches, associations and even Assembly delegates to the self-perpetuating ‘Board’. It remains to be seen what further adjustments are made in the original proposal as members of the Planning Committee continue their public relations tours through the two provinces.

MACWATCH

The Senate, Board and Administration of McMaster Divinity College (or ‘MacDiv’, as it is now called!) have embarked on a set of "new directions" under the new Principal, Dr. Stanley Porter. Selected individuals have been invited to meet Dr. Porter at hotels in London and Toronto for information on these "new directions."

This is a fascinating development. Under Dr. William Brackney, the former Principal, "new directions" were also charted and explored and indeed touted, and were frequently given as the excuse for the series of disturbing moves such as the dismissal of long-standing faculty members, and the introduction of new programmes.

One of those programmes, indeed, the most prominent, the Doctor of Ministry, has now been abandoned. One is surely entitled to ask what happened to the first set of widely advertised ‘"new directions"’, and why we need redirecting again.

Ray Hobbs, Editor

The Gathering has a new web-site. It can be found at http://www.gatheringbaptists.ca. The Gathering has purchased its own domain name, and the necessary space on a service provider. Visit us at our new address.

One of the most comprehensive sites on Religion is to be found at the Blair library, Rhodes College. It is well-worth bookmarking, and visited frequently. Its URL is:
http://blair.library.rhodes.edu/relhtmls/relnet.html

Re. "Corporal Punishment and Religious Freedom" GNL Vol. 7, issue 3.

I reacted with a local's "Oh no not again" when I saw the GNL's front page notice about Bert Radford's response to the Church of God. We in Aylmer are tired of being associated with this ongoing media circus which appears to be stage-managed by a local sectarian pastor. This is not about religious liberty, it is about the exercise of control over others. Even those who support his position on corporal punishment are not dignifying with a response one person’s apparent ongoing attempts to focus attention on himself and his church. In my opinion he has lost a lot of credibility. Family and Children's Services and the Police have been more than circumspect in protecting the privacy and dignity of a family with whom they have been working, but not a few of us know that they had reason to be engaged with this family. The scenes of police at their home, splashed across the papers this past summer, resulted not, initially, from an attempt to apprehend children, but because a FACS worker was trapped in the house with over a hundred Christians singing hymns at her (there is room for a joke here but she did not find it funny at the time, and called for help). I do not believe that corporal punishment is an appropriate means of disciplining children. I believe that it is violent and unjust. My understanding of Jesus is that he never condoned the exertion of power over vulnerable people, and stood in the way of those who used violence against someone perceived to be in need of discipline.

We Baptists have seen enough injustice in our midst covered by religious freedom and "soul liberty". Remember BCOQ executive staff being given permission at an Assembly, as a matter of conscience, to not put a woman's name before a congregation for consideration as a pastor?

Cameron Watts
Aylmer, Ontario.

Responses to anything which appears in the GNL are always welcome - Ed. 

Conflict transformation is changing our conflicts - whether the conflicts are in our homes, churches, communities or the world - from destructive into constructive experiences. The vantage points of our examination of conflict will be those of the "mainstreams" and the "margins." We each have experiences of being in a group's mainstream and at being at the margin. An important question we shall ask is, How can we be more constructive in both those roles so that our conflicts become growing experiences? (Bring your Bibles.)

Dan Buttry is Co-Pastor, First Baptist Church of Dearborn, MI
Coordinator, Gavel Memorial Peace Fund of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America. Dan has written several books on preaching, church life and peacemaking, and has travelled throughout the globe working for peace among fractured peoples, including Myanmar (Burma) and Nagaland in India. Indonesia, Cameroon, Thailand, Liberia, Nicaragua, The United States and Canada.

The Cost of the day, including lunch, is $15.00 per person. To register, please contact Colleen Furry at 2585 Inlake Court, Mississauga, ON. L5N 2M9. Telephone: 905-567-5783
E-mail: colleen.furry@livingarts.on.ca.

Come and join us in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. This beautiful area offers a rich heritage which we will explore together as well as an abundance of recreational opportunities! This gathering promises to be one of our best ever! We hope that YOU will be there. 

ISSN 1499-111X
©The Gathering of Baptists

Editor: Ray Hobbs
Editorial Committee: 
Barbara Bishop, 
Daphne Hunt, 
Bert Radford

Gathering Web Page: http://gatheringbaptists.ca/

Feedback can be directed to:  The Gathering Newsletter c/o Ray Hobbs e-mail ray.hobbs@sympatico.ca

or to

Ray Hobbs
35 Dromore Crescent
Hamilton, ON L8S 4A8
Canada