What was education like in Jesus' time?

Question

who? what? when? where? why?

Answer 1

At age 12 Jesus seemed to enjoy being in the temple with the older persons Luke 2:40-49; It seems that at age 12 he is off to a good start in education.

They came to the temple every year all of his life. He taught his disciples to teach:

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Answer 2

First, no offense to guy above, but Christians in the early Church were some of the most well-educated people in the ancient world. Christianity was an urban religion, patronized by the upper classes of Roman society. Education in Hellenistic cities was very sophisticated. In the Roman Empire, even a simple clerk had to study the works of the Greek poets and the lectures of Aristotle. Those who received a higher education had to learn Greek philosophy inside and out. One eye-witness to the Nicene controversy of the 4th century noted that you couldn't buy a loaf of bread without hearing a lecture about Aristotelian vs. Platonic universals in relation to substance.

Many people assume that the Galileans were a rustic bunch of country bumpkins compared to the "big city" of Jerusalem. In fact, the opposite was true. Nazareth was a suburb of the Greek city of Sephoris, and Galilee bordered the Decapolis, a string of ten major Greek cities. The Galileans would have had a wealth of educational opportunities. Peter was identified as a Galilean because the citizens of Jerusalem detected his Greek accent. The authors of Scripture were well-versed in Hellensitic Koine Greek - especially Paul and Luke.

Jesus probably spoke Greek almost as well as his native Aramaic, and it would have been strange if had not been introduced to reading, writing, math, and at least some elements of Hellenistic philosophy. And, as Jam points out above, he would have certainly been educated in the use of Hebrew, as well as Jewish Law. He frequently quotes from the Septuagint, which was Greek translation of the Scriptures. It is questionable whether his use of the Septuagint was due to personal study, or it was the version read publicly in the Galilean synagogues.

Answer 3

Often by their parents, or teachers of the laws in synagogues, as apprentices. In their homes, or surrounding areas. Why, because their parents wanted them to be able to make a living, and have a life when they were older. They often learned the trades of their fathers. That's what Jesus did, he learned carpentry, even though he also was on earth for a much bigger purpose that played out later!
I am sure there may have been more, but that is what I have right now.

Answer 4

It was really not that dissimilar than Jewish kids of today. They would have been taught to read and speak Hebrew, as the local language was Aramaic. They would have learned Jewish law, they would have learned Jewish culture, and depending on what sect of Judaism their parents belonged to, would have had their own thoughts on things in Jewish culture. There were quite a few different groups of Jews with very different beliefs during when Jesus would have been alive, and even many years before and after, mostly due to the Roman occupation. Pharicidic Jews, Sadducidic Jews, Essens, and many Messianic Jewish groups. Yes, that is a fact that many people are unaware of. What happened to Pilate after the death of Jesus? He was relieved of his command of Palestine after a rather bloody squashing of a Messianic Jewish group in modern day Syria. Yes, there were people claiming to be the Messiah before, during, and after the life of Jesus.

Answer 5

The Christians were not educated people. They used art to explain there religion. The people who followed the Christianity religion were poor, uneducated and didn't know how to read (illiterate). So you can only study about the people who were pagans (not Christian), not Christians. The other religions were based on wealth and un-Christian like Gods : ( Zeus, Nike, Apollo, Herculese) and so on.

Even Islams prophet Muhammed was also illiterate, he was spoken to by God. They all were in some way illiterate, until God spoke to them...