How old were the disciples?

[BrassMonkees]

Recently I was speaking to a youth leader at our church who claimed that the disciples were actually boys, possibly 12-15 years of age. I have never heard this before...any truth to it?

Thanks!

 

[Knight]

THe Bible does not explicitly say.

Where did he get this information?

 

[StAnselm]

Pure speculation, I'd say.

 

[prodromos]

Matthew was formerly a tax collector before becoming a disciple, hardly something a boy would be doing. Simon, Andrew, James and John were all fishermen in their own right and had their own boats. Hauling nets full of fish by hand onto the deck of a boat is a job for men, not young boys.

I'd say your youth leader is clueless, and that is being polite

John

 

[filosofer]

The only one who might be considered "youth" would be Mark, who was not one of the twelve. Some consider his identity concealed in this Markan-only text: Mark 14:51-52: "And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body; and they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked."

 

[jessedukes]

I was researching this question of the disciples' age (not very heavily at all) and I came across the theory that the disciples were likely in their late teens (18-19) with Peter being the oldest (over 20) based on the passage in Matthew 17:24-27. The story seems to say that Jesus and Peter have to pay the annual temple tax, which was required of every male over 20 years of age, but not the other disciples...

I don't know anyone have any thoughts on this? I like the idea that disciples were young men because I think so much of what we need in the Church to day in older wiser men mentoring young men and helping them get a solid spiritual formation, so what better example than Jesus with the disciples.

 

[dvd_holc]

I was researching this question of the disciples' age (not very heavily at all) and I came across the theory that the disciples were likely in their late teens (18-19) with Peter being the oldest (over 20) based on the passage in Matthew 17:24-27. The story seems to say that Jesus and Peter have to pay the annual temple tax, which was required of every male over 20 years of age, but not the other disciples...

I don't know anyone have any thoughts on this? I like the idea that disciples were young men because I think so much of what we need in the Church to day in older wiser men mentoring young men and helping them get a solid spiritual formation, so what better example than Jesus with the disciples.

Hello Jessedukes, welcome to CF

Now to all,

The education system of youth was centered around becoming faithful to God. At age 5 or 6, children would go into the synagogue to learn to memorize and learn to read Torah (first 5 books of the bible). Five years later, they began interpretations of the rabbis. At age 13, the boys moved from the class room to studying under a rabbi out in the real world. The boys would begin to learn the rest of the bible. Also, fathers would be required to teach their sons the family trade. It was believed a father that does not teach his son a trade teaches him to be a thief. Again around 13, the girls would mature and be off age to start to be wife. At 20 the boys, now men, would marry. By 30, either the student has shown enough character in ability to memorize the bible and commentaries and ability to teach that the receive their vocation (authority to teach others). Most boys did not reach 30.

Therefore, the age for disciples was around 13-up to (but not) 20 except fore Peter who was married. Also, tax collecting had a lot more to do with counting than what the modern world would make it out to be. As was pointed out, the temple tax was for 20 and under; out of all the disciples Peter is the only one to pay…

 

[jessedukes]

Thanks for the info DVD, I remember hearing similar information in the Nooma video on Discipleship, which I highly recommend, because I remember it having a lot of very interesting information about Jewish customs, much like you have provided.

So it seems like some strong evidence points to the fact that disciple were likely young men, younger than 20 (except Peter) and probably older than 13. I think Rob Bell suggested they were in their late teens because other Rabbis had passed on accepting them as disciples, and they had likely given up the idea of following a Rabbi until Jesus called them. Either way, it seems kind of harsh to say that the fellow's youth leader is clueless, which doesn't really seem polite at all...

Anybody have anymore information or insight about the Disciples' age?

 

[dvd_holc]

Thanks for the info DVD, I remember hearing similar information in the Nooma video on Discipleship, which I highly recommend, because I remember it having a lot of very interesting information about Jewish customs, much like you have provided.

So it seems like some strong evidence points to the fact that disciple were likely young men, younger than 20 (except Peter) and probably older than 13. I think Rob Bell suggested they were in their late teens because other Rabbis had passed on accepting them as disciples, and they had likely given up the idea of following a Rabbi until Jesus called them. Either way, it seems kind of harsh to say that the fellow's youth leader is clueless, which doesn't really seem polite at all...

Anybody have anymore information or insight about the Disciples' age?

Your welcome, I saw that Nooma film. Rob recommends Ray Vander Laan, RVL. RVL taught at Mars Hill a few times. One time, he taught a series Dust of the Rabbi which can be found at www.followtherabbi.com

You can learn more from that series and the articles on his website.