2007-03-05 01:26:04 · 4 answers · asked by shockoshocko 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Beyond what is recorded about Joseph in Matthew chapters 1&2 and Luke chapters 1&2, little else is known.
Matthew presents him as the legal heir, through his genenlogy, of the throne of King David. He calls him a righteous man, and tells about his engagement to Mary, and his decision to quietly divorce her (break the engagement) rather than to charge her with adultrey and have her stoned when he learns of her pregnancy. This would seem to indicate that he had loved her. That is was more than just an arranged marriage. It tells of the angel visitation, his acceptance of Mary, and his caring for her and child for the first several years of the Jesus' life.
Luke gives a little more detail, that he places Joseph in Nazareth, and then moves him to Bethlehem for the birth of the child. Again, Joseph is appears to have been a living and decided spouse. It includes details on the circumcision of Jesus, which would show that Joseph was a practicing Jews, and also tells of Joseph's journey with his family to Jerusalem for a feast when Jesus was 12.
After that, Joseph himself disappears from the scriptures. The only other reference to him was when some people tried to question Jesus' authority to pointing out that he was nothing but the son of Joseph the carpenter, and that Jesus' four brothers and sisters still lived in the town. This is the only reference to Joseph's trade.
What happened to Joseph, and why he makes no a[[earances after Jesus reaches the age of 12 is an issue Bible scholars have wondered for centuries. The most common explaination if that Joseph had died prior to the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. Some scholars believe that Joseph's death may have been the event that trigger Jesus to begin him ministry. Joseph's death is also implied by the fact that Jesus entrusted the care of his mother Mary to one of his disciples, John, just before he died. Something that would not have been needed if Joseph was still alive.
2007-03-05 01:29:16 · answer #1 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mary's husband. Mary was the mother of Jesus, but Joseph was not allowed to "know her" until after Jesus was born.
2007-03-05 01:30:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
a decedent of King David, and Abraham, and Adam....I believe (could be wrong...)
2007-03-05 01:30:20 · answer #3 · answered by mrs_r_wilkins 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Jesus' step dad.
†
2007-03-05 01:33:47 · answer #4 · answered by Jeanmarie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋