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Jesus' Lost Years

Secret Chief

nirvana is samsara
I understand that there is nothing in the New Testament about Jesus between about the age of 12 and 30. If this is true, what are the explanations, reasons, speculations as to this absence?
 

Bob Dixon

>implying
"He went to India" is one explanation.
"He stayed in his parents' house" is another.

It all depends on who you ask.

I like the India idea, but I don't think there's all that much reasonable support for it.
 

fallingblood

Agnostic Theist
I understand that there is nothing in the New Testament about Jesus between about the age of 12 and 30. If this is true, what are the explanations, reasons, speculations as to this absence?
Those years simply didn't matter. What mattered about Jesus, at least for his early followers was primarily his death/resurrection. That is what Paul basically talks about (primarily the resurrection idea). After that, the only other part of his life that was seen with importance was his teaching, and the moments that led up to his death. His early life simply was of no importance in the grand scheme of things.
 

Me Myself

Back to my username
I think he went to India. It makes sense to me at least. "I am one with God" is kind if hindu. The bread of life is kind of like prasada that is a hindu custom. I also understand that walking on water was a common buddhist superpower for enlightened ones then? (I mean, tales about this existed then in buddhism, though I´ve just heard, don´t take my word at all for it)

Quite honestly, it just makes sense to me.
 

Secret Chief

nirvana is samsara
Those years simply didn't matter. What mattered about Jesus, at least for his early followers was primarily his death/resurrection. That is what Paul basically talks about (primarily the resurrection idea). After that, the only other part of his life that was seen with importance was his teaching, and the moments that led up to his death. His early life simply was of no importance in the grand scheme of things.

Is there no scholarly evidence for the missing years?

I appreciate the teaching is the crucial matter, I would just be curious as to what may have happened between childhood and adulthood that led to him teaching what he did. No events, meetings, travels or whatver. It seems curious the Bible is blank on all those years. Could Mary not have spoken about his life? Why no record of Jesus himself accounting for these years?
 

Secret Chief

nirvana is samsara
"He went to India" is one explanation.
"He stayed in his parents' house" is another.

It all depends on who you ask.

I like the India idea, but I don't think there's all that much reasonable support for it.



Yes, I've heard of the India idea but I wish to see if there are any facts to support any speculations?
 

zenzero

Its only a Label
Friend Magog,

Jesus' Lost Years
Guess can say with any degree of certainty but this is what wiki has:
Several authors have claimed to have found proof of the existence of manuscripts in India and Tibet that support the belief that Christ was in India during this time in his life. Others cite legends in a number of places in the region that Jesus passed that way in ancient times.[1] The Jesus in India manuscript was first reported in modern times by Nicolas Notovitch (1894). Subsequently several other authors have written on the subject, including the religious leader Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (founder of Ahmadiyya movement) (1899), Levi H. Dowling (1908), Swami Abhedananda (1922),[2] Nicholas Roerich (1923–1928),[1] Mathilde Ludendorff (1930), and Elizabeth Clare Prophet (founder of Ascended Master Teachings New Age group) (1956).[3
Guess history hardly can change TRUTH which every one has to find himself!

Love & rgds
 

Pegg

Jehovah our God is One
I understand that there is nothing in the New Testament about Jesus between about the age of 12 and 30. If this is true, what are the explanations, reasons, speculations as to this absence?

its not necessary information.

But the gospels do give us some clue as to what he was doing all those years. He is known as 'The carpenter'. This title is significant because it shows that he must have had a good reputation as a carpenter and the only way to become a skilled carpenter is through years of practice. He would have learned the trade through his father Joseph.
 

Road Warrior

Seeking the middle path..
I think he went to India. It makes sense to me at least. "I am one with God" is kind if hindu. The bread of life is kind of like prasada that is a hindu custom. I also understand that walking on water was a common buddhist superpower for enlightened ones then? (I mean, tales about this existed then in buddhism, though I´ve just heard, don´t take my word at all for it)

Quite honestly, it just makes sense to me.

My is very similar. The philosophical differences between the OT and the NT is very different. The NT shares more with Hindu/Buddhist philosophies than the bloodletting and, at times, merciless God of the OT.

I think he would have traveled East, but not necessarily all the way to India or Nepal.

Lost years of Jesus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Several authors have claimed to have found proof of the existence of manuscripts in India and Tibet that support the belief that Christ was in India during this time in his life. Others cite legends in a number of places in the region that Jesus passed that way in ancient times.[1] The Jesus in India manuscript was first reported in modern times by Nicolas Notovitch (1894). Subsequently several other authors have written on the subject, including the religious leader Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (founder of Ahmadiyya movement) (1899), Levi H. Dowling (1908), Swami Abhedananda (1922),[2] Nicholas Roerich (1923–1928),[1] Mathilde Ludendorff (1930), and Elizabeth Clare Prophet (founder of Ascended Master Teachings New Age group) (1956).
 

rusra02

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
I understand that there is nothing in the New Testament about Jesus between about the age of 12 and 30. If this is true, what are the explanations, reasons, speculations as to this absence?

The Bible mentions only briefly Jesus early life. "And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and he continued subject to them....And Jesus went on progressing in wisdom and in physical growth and in favor with God and men." (Luke 2:51,52)
Since "All scripture is inpired by God", God focused attention on Jesus role as Messiah or Christ. Jesus early life was simply a necessary step for Jesus to be ready to accomplish God's will. He became the "Christ", or anointed one, at his baptism at the age of 30. Apparently before that, Jesus worked as a carpenter, since he was known as both the carpenter's son and the carpenter. (Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3)

 

fallingblood

Agnostic Theist
Is there no scholarly evidence for the missing years?

I appreciate the teaching is the crucial matter, I would just be curious as to what may have happened between childhood and adulthood that led to him teaching what he did. No events, meetings, travels or whatver. It seems curious the Bible is blank on all those years. Could Mary not have spoken about his life? Why no record of Jesus himself accounting for these years?

There really is no scholarly information for his lost years. And really, it is not surprising. For most ancient figures, we don't have information about there youth. For the most part, we don't get information about people until they start doing something deemed important.
 

CaptainXeroid

Following Christ
I'm not a religious scholar, but I play one on the internet. I tend to believe he traveled East. Of course, there's not really any conclusive proof, but as others have stated many of his teachings seem influenced by Eastern faiths. I've heard some people mention that Jesus sought out the Wise Men from the East who visited him at the Epiphany.

I think it's a shame this part of his life has been lost to history as it would be an interesting read.
 

SageTree

Spiritual Friend
Premium Member
RF would be so much better if it was mandatory for everyone to put this in every post.

Best post evAr!

You know, in the opinion of an armchair scholar....

:D


I like to believe that these years were the years Jesus was fully experiencing his Humanness :D

Wink wink, nudge nudge, know what I mean? know what I mean?

I kid... but seriously... this was likely the time Jesus worked through a lot of stuff and came to terms better with who he was and was he was capable of.

I personally also believe that Jesus accepted his duty and wasn't just a tool of God,
That he too exercised his own will on the situation.

Perhaps for things like that, this is why we're not told about those years of struggle, growth and Knowing his Self better man.

Respectfully and kindly
:namaste
SageTree
 

fallingblood

Agnostic Theist
I just want to address the idea of Jesus going to India. It really would not have been necessary. Primarily because the ideas that people see as being similar to Hinduism or Buddhism, also have a basis in various Jewish ideas at that time. Some of these ideas are also present in Greco-Roman ideas. Basically, he could have been exposed to such ideas right at home.

I personally like the idea of Jesus going to India as it is interesting and fills in a gap. But it simply is not supported and quite unlikely. Especially when such an explanation isn't needed.
 

SageTree

Spiritual Friend
Premium Member
I just want to address the idea of Jesus going to India. It really would not have been necessary. Primarily because the ideas that people see as being similar to Hinduism or Buddhism, also have a basis in various Jewish ideas at that time. Some of these ideas are also present in Greco-Roman ideas. Basically, he could have been exposed to such ideas right at home.

I personally like the idea of Jesus going to India as it is interesting and fills in a gap. But it simply is not supported and quite unlikely. Especially when such an explanation isn't needed.


It's also pretty well known that Buddhists were sent to all 'corners' of the Earth, which included the Mediterranean Sea, the trade routes made exchanging ideas very likely, and given the early dates of those 'formal' religions and ideas, there is no reason to also guess that 'India' came to 'Jesus', so to speak.

Would you agree with that thought?
 

fallingblood

Agnostic Theist
It's also pretty well known that Buddhists were sent to all 'corners' of the Earth, which included the Mediterranean Sea, the trade routes made exchanging ideas very likely, and given the early dates of those 'formal' religions and ideas, there is no reason to also guess that 'India' came to 'Jesus', so to speak.

Would you agree with that thought?

I would agree.

I once heard that there was a well known Buddhist group in Egypt around the first century. I don't know how accurate that is, since I can't recall the source, but as you said, the trade routes would have made relatively easy for 'India' to have come to 'Jesus.' And even if it wasn't to Jesus directly, I am sure there would have been an amount of influence anyway just from Jews and Buddhist interacting.
 

SageTree

Spiritual Friend
Premium Member
Yea mon, the Jewish folks and Indian Philosophy are what I mean long story short when I said put quotes around the labels :D

I LoLZ a little when people talk to me about 'mixing' religions... (especially when they are shaming me)

.... Cause well....

They seemed to have taken care of that themselves,
so what a little tethering them apart and looking more into each one for what it is and next to the other?

:D
 
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Road Warrior

Seeking the middle path..
I just want to address the idea of Jesus going to India. It really would not have been necessary. Primarily because the ideas that people see as being similar to Hinduism or Buddhism, also have a basis in various Jewish ideas at that time. Some of these ideas are also present in Greco-Roman ideas. Basically, he could have been exposed to such ideas right at home.

I personally like the idea of Jesus going to India as it is interesting and fills in a gap. But it simply is not supported and quite unlikely. Especially when such an explanation isn't needed.

While I agree that a person wouldn't have to leave the Mediterranean region to be exposed to Eastern philosophy, as you say, it does explain the gap. I do no see why you think it is unlikely and it does offer the simplest solution for why nothing was known about Jesus during those years; he wasn't there.
 
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