Originally posted by karoly aczel
I've brought this up once or twice before but didn't really get a rsponse.
As far as I understand nothing is known about Jesus' life up until the age of 30.
If anyone does know , or thinks they know, could you please share it with me?
Also I would love to hear any speculations about whhat they think Jesus was doing for the first 30 years of his life.
there is only one Biblical reference, in which Christ as a young person, departs from his parents whom had been visiting Jerusalem, and his parents after looking, find him questioning some older men in the temple. here is the passage.
(Luke 2:41-50) . . .Now his parents were accustomed to go from year to year to Jerusalem for the festival of the passover. And when he became twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival and completed the days. But when they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and his parents did not notice it. Assuming that he was in the company traveling together, they covered a day’s distance and then began to hunt him up among the relatives and acquaintances. But, not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem, making a diligent search for him. Well, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers and listening to them and questioning them. But all those listening to him were in constant amazement at his understanding and his answers. Now when they saw him they were astounded, and his mother said to him: “Child, why did you treat us this way? Here your father and I in mental distress have been looking for you.” But he said to them: “Why did you have to go looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in the house of my Father?” However, they did not grasp the saying that he spoke to them.
here is also some information with regard to his domestic life and trade, prior to his baptism.
During his years in Nazareth, Jesus learned the carpentry trade, likely from his adoptive father, Joseph. Jesus so mastered the craft that he himself was called “the carpenter.” (Mark 6:3) In Bible times, carpenters were employed in building houses, constructing furniture (including tables, stools, and benches), and making farming implements.
In his Dialogue With Trypho, Justin Martyr, of the second century C.E., wrote of Jesus: “He was in the habit of working as a carpenter when among men, making ploughs and yokes.” Such work was not easy, for the ancient carpenter probably could not buy his wood. More likely, he went out and selected a tree, swung his ax, and carried the wood home. So Jesus may have known the challenges of earning a living, dealing with customers, and making ends meet.
As the oldest son, Jesus probably helped to care for the family, particularly since it appears that Joseph died before Jesus. Tradition declares that Joseph died while Jesus was yet young, and that the latter took up the carpenters trade and became the support of the family. This finds some support in the Scriptural testimony where Jesus himself is called a carpenter, and his mother and brethren are mentioned, but Joseph is ignored. (Mark 6:3) . . . It is quite probable, then, that the long period of eighteen years of Christs life, from the time of the incident recorded at Luke 2:41-49 to the time of his baptism, was spent in the performance of the ordinary duties of life. Mary and her children, including Jesus, likely knew the pain that results when a beloved husband and father dies. Clearly, Jesus was not born into a cushioned life. Rather, he experienced firsthand the life of ordinary people.
hopefully this helps π