How Did Jesus Use Technology?

This blog is part of a larger work focused on Christian Innovation and Design, including the piece providing examples of technology in the Bible. Here, however, we want to answer the question, “How did Jesus use technology?”

There are three avenues through which to address this question: Jesus as a tekton, Jesus as a rabbi, and Jesus as a person alive during the first century.

As a tekton (carpenter/stonemason), Jesus would have used a variety of tools for working in construction-related activities, including working with heavy materials such as wood, stone, and iron. These tools might have included hammers, chisels, saws, and other implements for cutting, shaping, and smoothing stones. Additionally, the Bible describes the construction of the temple without the sound of iron tools, which could imply the use of stone-cutting tools made of other materials. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that Jesus would have been familiar with and used a range of tools for working with both wood and stone, all of which are rightly considered “technologies” since they require the crafting of means toward new ends.

Likewise, Jesus the rabbi employed the use of stories, metaphors, similes, and parables to preach the good news of the kingdom of God. Are these considered technologies? Only in the strictest sense, as ‘means crafted toward new (rhetorical) ends.’ However, Jesus did write—which is one of the major technological advances from the ancient world—and when he taught on the mountain, he was relying upon the acoustic effects of his topography to carry his message to thousands of followers. 

As a person alive in the first century, Jesus would have used the technological advances common to the Roman Empire—such as aqueducts, roads, bridges, coins, etc. Additionally, we know Jesus was familiar with wine presses and wine making, ox goads and yokes, textiles, wells, and the basic tools of agrarian society. All of which strongly suggests that Jesus understood technology to be an embedded component of earthly life and nowhere does he condemn any aspect of it.

Which verse in the Bible talks about technology? In order to gain a fair perspective on what the Bible presents concerning technology, you’ll need to look deeper than just finding a few verses here and there. Instead, you’ll want to review the full range of biblical material including throwaway details, offhand remarks, and things left unsaid. When you survey the biblical literature in this way, you’ll discover ample evidence of technological use and acceptance in such areas as metallurgy, architecture, transportation, finance, medicine, textiles, agriculture, and so on. 

Is it fair to assert that technology is entirely neutral in scripture? Maybe. It’s probably more accurate to understand that ‘we shape our tools and then our tools shape us’. As such, it’s worth being cautious about the ways we employ our tools, since there may be unintended consequences. For example, when we become accustomed to getting information delivered very, very quickly from the internet we can easily become impatient with human beings who solve problems at a slower rate (albeit often much more effectively).  

Are there Bible verses about technology being bad? We might consider God’s complaint against Babel a lamentation about technological progress. God says “this is only the beginning of what they will do” and ”nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them” (Gen.11.6), which seems to grieve God’s heart on account of humanity’s hubris. But, rather than using this one verse to discount technology en masse, a healthier scripture to apply might be 1 Corinthians 6.12 which says that “everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial.” Here, we’re made to understand that Christians are permitted to spend 6-8 hours each day on their devices but it’s unlikely to be helpful. 

How are we to judge what those limits should be? Hm…we could research the effects, or talk to experts, or trust the prompting of the Holy Spirit, etc. But, for me, the best bet is always to take Jesus’ advice and “judge a tree by its fruit” (Mt.7.16). If you find yourself getting ornery, impatient, and course then it’s probably time to adjust your habits. 

What does the bible say about increase in technology? Daniel 12.4 suggests that human knowledge (from which technology ultimately derives) will increase without end. Likewise, Proverbs 25.2 claims “it is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings to search things out”, which seems to indicate that there will never be a time when knowledge is not being discovered, acquired, or applied. 

But these verses do not indicate that technology is a sin. Far from it!

What does the bible say about machines? In 2 Chronicles 26.15, we’re told that King Uzziah made “machines, invented by skillful men.” Within context, it sounds as though these machines were designed for war, perhaps akin to trebuchets or ballistas. This is only one of many examples of technology in the Bible, though most of the others go largely un-labelled since they involve ordinary life. Things like roads, bridges, wells, cisterns, etc. were all technological developments, and the scripture nowhere portrays them as anything other than neutral. 

What does God say about artificial intelligence? God has very little to say about artificial intelligence…at least in the scripture. God says a lot about our intelligence, however, and how we’re meant to steward our intelligence in service to God and to Creation (cf. Gen.1.26-28; Col3.23-24). Additionally, there’s a strong theme throughout scripture that reminds us the way we treat others shapes us as much as it affects them (cf. Jer.20.9; Lam.3.4; Ps.32.3).

The relationship between technology and Christianity is best typified as the one between means (technology) and ends (Christianity, the Kingdom of God). We are free to employ technology toward Kingdom purpose so long as there is no moral deviation.

Of course, this article ranged a little afield from the initiation question “How did Jesus use technology?”, but we did so in an effort to address some of the more common and critical areas of concern. Taken together, we see that Jesus engaged technology in much the same ways that all biblical people did—as a measure of how to take care of business and get things done.

You and I are free to do the same.