Stein on the Silent Years of Jesus

Chapter 5 of Stein's Jesus the Messiah is entitled "What was the Boy Jesus Really Like? The Silent Years." The chapter covers the first 30 years of Jesus life under various topics.

In regard to the claim that Jesus was married:

Sensational claims have been made that Jesus was married. Some have even written tabloid-like works claiming that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene or Salome. The strongest argument made for the view that Jesus was married is that it was normal for Jewish men to marry and that it was expected that teachers would marry and be an example in this area. In discussing whether or not Jesus was married we must be careful to recognize that a decision on this subject should not be based on whether or not one believes that celibacy is more noble than marriage.

That there is no reference in the NT to a wife of Jesus and that there is nothing whatsoever in the NT that Jesus was married argues strongly (if not conclusively) against such a view...The argument that Jesus would have been unusual if he did not marry also confronts the objection that Jesus was in fact most unusual. The concern for his mother (John 19:27) but lack of any concern for an alleged wife also raises powerful objections. There is in reality no evidence whatever that Jesus was married."

In regard to Jesus' education, Stein remarks:

"It would appear, then, that Jews lived in a trilingual environment. Thus, although Jesus' native language was Aramaic, he could probably also converse in Hebrew and Greek."

"Being the oldest son, Jesus was most likely of the children to have received a formal education. Yet John quotes Jesus' opponents with approval: 'How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?' (John 7:15). That Jesus could read is evident from Luke 4:16-21, where he read the Scriptures at Sabbath worship in Nazareth. The later noncanonical passage found in John 7:43-8:11 suggests that he could write (John 8:6), but one most judge this scribal addition most critically. That Jesus was a learned man goes without saying. He engaged in debates with the intellectual leaders (Mk. 2:23-28; 3:1-6; 7:1-23; etc.), was called 'Rabbi' and 'Teacher,' and most important, he taught in the synagogues (Matt. 4:23; 9:35; Mark 1:21; etc.). So whereas we do not know how Jesus received his training and education, the fact remains that his ability to read, to debate the Scriptures, and to answer exegetical questions reveals that he was an educated  man."