Christ as Carpenter: The Blue-Collar Blindspot, Greek Sources (Cont.) bluecollar bible

How the Greeks Used τέκτων

The Septuagint isn’t the only side of the story here. How did ancient Greeks use this word? Let’s look at Greek writings from the time the New Testament was written. I made a list of authors that use the word τέκτων more than four times in AD50-200. They are: Josephus, Dio Chrysostom, Aelius Aristides, Epictetus, Justin Martyr, and the Infant Gospel of Thomas.

[This is an excerpt from my book, The Blue-Collar Blindspot in it I dig deep into how Christian Media tacitly ignores blue-collar workers and the dignity of human work. I’ll be posting more each week till I’m through the whole book.]

Starting with Josephus1, he was a Jewish general who lived from 37BC to AD100. He defected to the Romans and was on their side at the Fall of Jerusalem in AD70. His two major works are: Wars of the Jews (AD75) and Histories of the Jews (AD94). His book Wars of the Jews is a recounting of Jewish history starting when the Greeks conquered Jerusalem and going all the way until Rome conquered Jerusalem. His book Histories of the Jews is basically a retelling of the Old Testament with a little bit more history added after the Old Testament ends.

While writing Wars of the Jews, Josephus used τέκτων four times. The first time, he uses it twice in the same passage to refer to craftsmen who followed the Roman army around making and maintaining tools for them. Tools would have been made largely out of metal, leather, and wood. He also talks about craftsmen who built on top of an existing wall during a siege. I have a hard time believing they used stone for that. They would have to cut each stone from scratch, and teams of men would need to put them in place while Roman archers shot at them. Wooden battlements seem much more likely.

In Histories of the Jews, Josephus uses the word τέκτων seven times. His use of the word is almost always the same as how it is used in the Septuagint. He lists τέκτων 'of wood' and lists it separately from masons and builders. Josephus even uses a different word for 'general craftsmen' at one point, while using τέκτων for 'toolmakers.' Only once does he use τέκτων for 'general craftsmen' and it describes the men who built the Tabernacle of God, under Moses’s direction. The Tabernacle was made mostly of wood and animal skins.

Josephus's use of τέκτων consistently reflects the Septuagint's use of the word. He often uses τέκτων as distinct from masons and builders. His use of the word is frequently mentioned with wood and is used to describe people who can make tools. These are all strong indications that τέκτων would've commonly referred to a carpenter, or someone with the skills of a carpenter.

Next up is Aelius Aristides2, a Greek Sophistic philosopher who lived from AD117-181. In his collection of speeches, Aelius uses τέκτων seven times. He refers to the τέκτων requiring the skill of measuring. He talks about τέκτων as a distinct trade that requires skill. Aelius says those who practice τέκτων build houses. Then he assumes they arrange stones. He compares it to the way a shipbuilder arranges wood. So to Aelius, τέκτων are a distinct skilled trade that builds with stone.

Next we have Dio Chrysostom3, another Sophistic philosopher who comes before Aelius at AD40-115. A lot of his speeches survived. He used τέκτων six times. He describes τέκτων as a skilled trade taught to sons. It was important for building fortifications, even though it was often thought of as lowly. He also refers to τέκτων as the skill of making furniture. He uses a different word for a different profession to describe those who frame walls. Opposed to Aelius, Dio uses τέκτων to refer to ship builders. It seems that for Dio, the τέκτων works primarily with wood.

Last of the Greek philosophers is Epictetus4, from AD55-135. He was a Stoic philosopher, and his student Arrian wrote down a lot of his speeches around AD108. In this work Discourses, Epictetus uses τέκτων ten times. An interesting note is that Epictetus was a former slave and well acquainted with work. Each time he uses τέκτων within his writing it has the same meaning. He consistently describes a craftsman that uses wood, builds houses, has skill comparable to philosophers, works with an axe, and fells trees. To Epictetus, τέκτων clearly meant, 'carpenter.'

To draw some conclusions from these Greek authors, it seems that τέκτων means, “a guy who works with wood,” nine times out of ten. Most of the references point to a trade or skill other than stonework or metalwork, most often specifying woodwork. It appears the “default” meaning is, 'carpenter,' unless, 'general craftsman,' or 'mason,' are expressly indicated.

[This is an excerpt from my book, The Blue-Collar Blindspot in it I dig deep into how Christian Media tacitly ignores blue-collar workers and the dignity of human work. I’ll be posting more each week till I’m through the whole book.]

If you’re interested in assessing your ministry or outreach, to know how blue-collar friendly it is, just pick up my free Ministry Assessment Tool it will allow you gauge what color your collar is and give tailored advice based on your score.

1Hoeber, Karl. "Flavius Josephus." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 29 Aug. 2020 https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08522a.htm

2Rocca, Samuele, and Kimberley Fowler. “Aelius Aristides, The Roman Oration (Extracts).” Judaism and Rome, 27 July 2018, https://www.judaism-and-rome.org/aelius-aristides-roman-oration-extracts

3The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Dio Chrysostom.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 3 Apr. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dio-Chrysostom

4The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Epictetus.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 1 Jan. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Epictetus-Greek-philosopher