“In the cities the carpenters would be Greeks, and skilled workmen the carpenter of a provincial village could only have held a very humble position, and secured a very moderate competence.” Farrar’s Life of Christ, I. One of their proverbs was that “he who taught not his son a trade, taught him to be a thief.” Hence St Paul learnt to “labour with his own hands” at the trade of a tent-maker ( Acts 18:3 1 Thessalonians 2:9 1 Corinthians 4:12 ). Is not this the carpenter? ] Save in this one place, our Lord is nowhere Himself called “the Carpenter.” According to the custom of the Jews, even the Rabbis learnt some handicraft. With him miracles are the natural form of working for Him, whose Name is Wonderful ( Isaiah 9:6 ), and Who therefore doeth “works of wonder.” Comp. ” This is a significant term very frequently used by St John. In our Version it is rendered sometimes “ wonderful works ” ( Matthew 7:22 ), sometimes “ mighty works ” ( Matthew 11:20 Mark 6:14 Luke 10:13 ), and still more frequently “ miracles ” ( Acts 2:22, Acts 2:19 :11 Galatians 3:5 ), thus doing away with a portion of its force. The word occurs four times in St Mark: 5:30 (A. As in the “wonder” the effect is transferred and gives a name to the cause, so here the cause gives its name to the effect. ( γ ) “ Powers ,” that is of God, coming into and working in this world of ours. It occurs three times in St John, twice in St Mark, 16:17, 16:20 alone, and once in conjunction with “wonders,” 13:22. The word is an especial favourite with St John, though in our Version “sign” too often gives place to the vaguer “miracle,” to the great detriment of the true meaning and force of the word. ( β ) “ Signs ,” as being tokens and indications of something beyond themselves, of the near presence and working of God, the seals and credentials of a higher power. The word only occurs once in St Mark, in 13:22, and there it is in conjunction with “signs.” By this word the effect of astonishment, which the work produces on the beholder, is transferred to the work itself. They are continually styled “signs and wonders,” or “signs” or “powers” alone, but never “wonders” alone. ( α ) “ Wonders ,” a term never used alone, but always in conjunction with other names. This is one of the four names given by the Evangelists to the miracles which the Lord was pleased to work while incarnate here on earth. The conduct of His hearers on this occasion did not betray the frantic violence exhibited at His first visit. he began to teach in the synagogue ] For his former visit here see Luke 4:6 sq. This visit to Nazareth is recorded only by St Matthew and St Mark.Ģ. From this time forward He ceased to have His abiding residence at Capernaum, although He still assembled His disciples on passing occasions.
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