John 7:15

Then the Jewish leaders ¹  were astonished ²  and said, “How does this man know so much when he has never had formal instruction?” ³ 

The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?"

The Jews then were astonished, saying, "How has this man become learned, having never been educated?"

The Jewish leaders were surprised when they heard him. "How does he know so much when he hasn’t studied everything we’ve studied?" they asked.

The Jews were impressed, but puzzled: "How does he know so much without being schooled?"

Then the Jews were surprised and said, How has this man got knowledge of books? He has never been to school.

The Jews were astonished at it, saying, "How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?"

And the Jews marveled, saying, "How does this Man know letters, having never studied?"

Then the Jewish leaders ¹  were astonished ²  and said, “How does this man know so much when he has never had formal instruction?” ³ 

¹ tn Or “the Jewish authorities”; Grk “the Jews.” Here the phrase refers to the Jewish authorities or leaders who were Jesus’ primary opponents. See the note on the phrase “the Jewish leaders” in v. 1.

² tn Or “began to be astonished.” This imperfect verb could also be translated ingressively (“began to be astonished”), but for English stylistic reasons it is rendered as a simple past.

³ tn Grk “How does this man know learning since he has not been taught?” The implication here is not that Jesus never went to school (in all probability he did attend a local synagogue school while a youth), but that he was not the disciple of a particular rabbi and had not had formal or advanced instruction under a recognized rabbi (compare Acts 4:13 where a similar charge is made against Peter and John; see also Paul’s comment in Acts 22:3).

sn He has never had formal instruction. Ironically when the Jewish leaders came face to face with the Word become flesh – the preexistent Logos, creator of the universe and divine Wisdom personified – they treated him as an untaught, unlearned person, without the formal qualifications to be a teacher.