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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?" Observest thou how the Evangelist showeth here also their marveling to be full of wickedness? for he saith not, that they admired the teaching, or that they received the words, but simply that they "marveled." That is, were thrown into a state of astonishment, and doubted, saying, "Whence hath this man these things"? when they ought from this very difficulty to have known that there was nothing merely human in Him. …
Cyril of Alexandria
Not unreasonable is the wonder of the Jews, but there is something subtle in their argument. For it was likely that they would be astonished at seeing Him strangely excel both in word and knowledge, Who could not have been rich from instruction. For the mind of man is recipient of wisdom, and even though one do not as yet seem wise, yet is his nature exceedingly well adapted to the attainment of wisdom and knowledge on some subjects. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
What He taught, the evangelist did not say, but that He was imparting something wondrous, with which He also occupied them, the evangelist showed by the words, that "they marveled, saying, How does this man know letters, having never learned?" However, although they marveled, their malicious intention did not change. For they did not marvel at the teaching, nor did they accept the words, but "they marveled at how He knows the Scriptures," that is, they were perplexed, astonished, as is usual with the envious. …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
But as He taught, "the Jews marvelled;" all indeed, so far as I think, marvelled, but all were not converted. And why this wondering? Because all knew where He was born, where He had been brought up; they had never seen Him learning letters, but they heard Him disputing about the law, bringing forward testimonies of the law, which none could bring forward unless he had read, and none could read unless he had learned letters: and therefore they marvelled. …
Thomas Aquinas
He mentions this amazement when he says, The Jews were amazed. And this is not surprising, for "Your testimony is wonderful" (Ps 118:129). For the words of Christ are the words of divine wisdom. He adds the reason why they were amazed when he says, How did this man get his learning, since he never studied? …
Bonaventure
"And the Jews marveled." The reason for their amazement was, as Augustine says, that "they had never seen him learning letters, yet they heard him disputing about the Law." On account of which he says: "And the Jews marveled, saying: How does this man know letters, since he has not learned?" Whence the Lord could say that word of Proverbs 30: "I have not learned wisdom, and I know the knowledge of the Holy Ones"; Luke 2: "They marveled at his understanding and his answers." It is asked concerning what he says, that he had not learned …
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