And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? — the authorities express astonishment (thaumazō) at Jesus's knowledge of letters (grammata, the Torah and its interpretation), without formal training under the rabbinical system. The phrase 'never learned' (ouk emathēsen) indicates he lacks the credentials recognized by Jewish authorities—he has no pedigree in the rabbinic schools. Yet his authority in teaching astonishes them, raising the question: where does knowledge come from if not from the institutional pipeline? This prepares for Jesus's answer about the source of his teaching.

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