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What happened to Joseph the father of Jesus
All About Jesus ^

Posted on 12/11/2006 6:29:15 AM PST by xzins

What happened to Joseph the father of Jesus

We know very little about the years of Jesus prior to His public ministry. The gospels are without notation of any childhood events beyond Christ's birth except one reference that is found in Luke. It is the very last time that Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus, is ever mentioned.

Luke 2:41 reads: "Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, 'Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.' 'Why were you searching for me?' he asked. 'Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?' But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."

It is supposed that Joseph, the father of Jesus, died during the quiet years of Jesus' life. We do know that he trained Jesus in his trade, as that of a carpenter. He do know that Joseph and Mary had children after Jesus was born: James, Joses, Simon, and others.

Perhaps the cause or timing of his death is not nearly as important as the strength of character he displayed. In first hearing about Mary's pregnancy, Joseph did not want to subject Mary to public scorn. After hearing from the angel who confirmed Mary's incredulous story, Joseph obediently accepted the role as surrogate father for the baby Jesus, the Christ child. Matthew 1:24-25 says, "When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."

The last reference about Joseph in Luke confirms that Joseph was a devout follower of the customs of his religion with his observance of Passover. It implies that Joseph made certain of good spiritual training for the children in his family. Joseph proved his integrity and willingness to be obedient to God's direction and guidance.


TOPICS: General Discusssion
KEYWORDS: christmas; israel; joseph; letshavejerusalem; mary; nazareth; siblings
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To: Uncle Chip
I don't know why the RCC gets so angry about the origin of this

Because it is one more false doctrine that crumbles under the light of truthful examination. Most of their theology, likewise when exposed, does the same. They follow the traditions of man and not the commandments of the Lord.

361 posted on 12/11/2006 3:27:50 PM PST by Diego1618
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To: Diego1618
Acts 1-15-16 During those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons in the one place). He said, "My brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled which the holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus

The gathering of Jesus' "brothers" amounts to about 120. That is a lot of "brothers." Brother means kinsmen in Hebrew. Mary did not have 120 children,dear friend,She was ever virgin.Period!

362 posted on 12/11/2006 3:31:07 PM PST by stfassisi ("Above all gifts that Christ gives his beloved is that of overcoming self"St Francis Assisi)
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To: Diego1618
Because it is one more false doctrine that crumbles under the light of truthful examination. They follow the traditions of man and not the commandments of the Lord.

When you claim that James and Joses are children of Mary and Joseph, in contradiction to the Scriptures, aren't you the one following the traditions of man?

363 posted on 12/11/2006 3:33:25 PM PST by Campion ("I am so tired of you, liberal church in America" -- Mother Angelica, 1993)
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To: Uncle Chip
You don't believe the written documents of the apostles but you leap at the chance to believe the spurious documents of those who disagree with the apostles. What's wrong with this picture?

You are debating Romans, and as such......they have to constantly bob and weave, defending their doctrinal errors.

364 posted on 12/11/2006 3:34:22 PM PST by Diego1618
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To: Bainbridge
"Roman Catholicism has a very bizarre strand when it comes to normal, chaste human sexuality."

To what are you referring?

365 posted on 12/11/2006 3:34:30 PM PST by mockingbyrd (Good heavens! What women these Christians have-----Libanus)
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To: Diego1618
You are debating Romans, and as such......they have to constantly bob and weave, defending their doctrinal errors.

Un-freaking believable.

366 posted on 12/11/2006 3:37:28 PM PST by Campion ("I am so tired of you, liberal church in America" -- Mother Angelica, 1993)
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To: Diego1618
Mary is the New Eve.and until you understand this,you will continue to be in error.

The Early Fathers understood this.....

Mary is the New Eve and Most Blessed Among Women

“There is one Physician who is possessed both of flesh and spirit; both made and not made; God existing in flesh; true life in death; both of Mary and of God; first possible and then impossible, even Jesus Christ our Lord." Ignatius, To the Ephesians, 7 (c. A.D. 110).

"[T]hey blessed her, saying: O God of our fathers, bless this child, and give her an everlasting name to be named in all generations. And all the people said: So be it, so be it, amen. And he brought her to the chief priests; and they blessed her, saying: O God most high, look upon this child, and bless her with the utmost blessing, which shall be for ever." Protoevangelium of John, 6:2 (A.D. 150).

"He became man by the Virgin, in order that the disobedience which proceeded from the serpent might receive its destruction in the same manner in which it derived its origin. For Eve, who was a virgin and undefiled, having conceived the word of the serpent, brought forth disobedience and death. But the Virgin Mary received faith and joy, when the angel Gabriel announced the good tidings to her that the Spirit of the Lord would come upon her, and the power of the Highest would overshadow her: wherefore also the Holy Thing begotten of her is the Son of God; and she replied, 'Be it unto me according to thy word.' And by her has He been born, to whom we have proved so many Scriptures refer, and by whom God destroys both the serpent and those angels and men who are like him; but works deliverance from death to those who repent of their wickedness and believe upon Him." Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, 100 (A.D. 155).

"[H]e was born of Mary the fair ewe." Melito de Sardo, Easter Homily (c. A.D. 177).

"In accordance with this design, Mary the Virgin is found obedient, saying, 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.' But Eve was disobedient; for she did not obey when as yet she was a virgin. And even as she, having indeed a husband, Adam, but being nevertheless as yet a virgin (for in Paradise 'they were both naked, and were not ashamed,' inasmuch as they, having been created a short time previously, had no understanding of the procreation of children: for it was necessary that they should first come to adult age, and then multiply from that time onward), having become disobedient, was made the cause of death, both to herself and to the entire human race; so also did Mary, having a man betrothed [to her], and being nevertheless a virgin, by yielding obedience, become the cause of salvation, both to herself and the whole human race. And on this account does the law term a woman betrothed to a man, the wife of him who had betrothed her, although she was as yet a virgin; thus indicating the back-reference from Mary to Eve, because what is joined together could not otherwise be put asunder than by inversion of the process by which these bonds of union had arisen; s so that the former ties be cancelled by the latter, that the latter may set the former again at liberty… Wherefore also Luke, commencing the genealogy with the Lord, carried it back to Adam, indicating that it was He who regenerated them into the Gospel of life, and not they Him. And thus also it was that the knot of Eve's disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin Eve had bound fast through unbelief, this did the virgin Mary set free through faith." Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 3:22 (A.D. 180).
367 posted on 12/11/2006 3:39:17 PM PST by stfassisi ("Above all gifts that Christ gives his beloved is that of overcoming self"St Francis Assisi)
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To: Bainbridge; Salvation; Dr. Eckleburg; P-Marlowe; blue-duncan
ow come you site their views when it serves your purposes

Because Roman Catholics have an entirely different understanding of heroes of the faith than we do. They see them to be venerated. We see them to be studied.

At the same time, I've asked any Catholic to give me an entire article devoted to Mary by any of the Reformers, and I'm still waiting. All they can find is a few quotes.

In sum, those issues were peripheral for the reformers. Crucial, central issues were justification, salvation, sanctification, predestination, etc.

368 posted on 12/11/2006 4:06:00 PM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and proud of it! Supporting our troops means praying for them to WIN!)
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To: ichabod1
hate

what a bizarre thing to say

369 posted on 12/11/2006 4:07:25 PM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and proud of it! Supporting our troops means praying for them to WIN!)
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To: Campion; Dr. Eckleburg
So, then you agree with me that it's not a "Protestant position" to believe that Mary had other children, but merely the position of some Protestants?

Hey, I would agree. Consider it like the ever evolving Catholic tradition.

370 posted on 12/11/2006 4:28:00 PM PST by HarleyD ("In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. " Ex 15:13)
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To: Corin Stormhands
Footloose.

Must have been all that walking from Nazareth to Jerusalem. Probably needs his joints lubed, too.

:>)

371 posted on 12/11/2006 4:45:33 PM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and proud of it! Supporting our troops means praying for them to WIN!)
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To: Corin Stormhands
Footloose.

Must have been all that walking from Nazareth to Jerusalem. Probably needs his joints lubed, too.

:>)

372 posted on 12/11/2006 4:45:42 PM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and proud of it! Supporting our troops means praying for them to WIN!)
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To: Corin Stormhands; blue-duncan; Buggman; Revelation 911; P-Marlowe
Footloose.

Must have been all that walking from Nazareth to Jerusalem. Probably needs his joints lubed, too.

:>)

373 posted on 12/11/2006 4:46:12 PM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and proud of it! Supporting our troops means praying for them to WIN!)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

If Ti-Grace Atkinson got slapped in Maryland, then she was slapped by Patricia Buckley Bozell, Bill's sister and Brent's wife. Good for Patricia in any event.


374 posted on 12/11/2006 4:50:09 PM PST by BlackElk (Dean of Discipline of the Tomas de Torquemada Gentlemen's Club)
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To: jboot; blue-duncan; Forest Keeper

There's no sense in leaving the field.

We have the stronger case. If there's anything our sola scriptura position does give us, it's a pretty decent understanding of what is and isn't in the scriptures.

What is not in the scriptures is immaculate conception, assumption, and immaculate hymen. (among other things)

What is in the scriptures is a host of verses that leave the most likely conclusion that Jesus had siblings.


375 posted on 12/11/2006 4:51:03 PM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and proud of it! Supporting our troops means praying for them to WIN!)
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To: Campion
As I've already pointed out, James the Less and Joses couldn't have been uterine brothers of Jesus, so you're forced to conclude either that the Scripture contradicts itself, or that the inspired authors followed the common Hebraic custom of calling all contemporary male relatives "brothers".

[Matthew 4:18-22] As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

So far....one James!

[Matthew 10:2-4] These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Now we got....two by the same name.

[Matthew 13:54-55] Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" And they took offense at him.

Now we got....three of "em". We know this is a third James because he is included with Joseph. We did have an Apostle named Simon (two actually) and we had an Apostle names Jude and we had two Apostles names James.....but no Apostle was named Joseph. Joseph is included as one of the brothers.

The Apostle John makes the distinction even more clear when he separates the Brothers from the Apostles. [John 2:12] After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

There were three men in the New Testament called James and one was the flesh and blood brother of Our Lord and a younger son of Joseph and Mary.

If Jesus had not been the eldest he would not have qualified to have the genealogy of Matthew 1:16 listed a rightful heir to the Davidic line down through Joseph, his step father. Joseph would have given that right to his eldest son.....had there been another.

The Apostle Paul makes it even more clear here: [Galatians 1:19] eteron <2087> de <1161> {BUT OTHER} twn <3588> {OF THE} apostolwn <652> {APOSTLES} ouk <3756> eidon <1492> (5627) {I SAW NOT} ei <1487> mh <3361> {EXCEPT} iakwbon <2385> {JAMES} ton <3588> {THE} adelfon <80> {BROTHER} tou <3588> {OF THE} kuriou <2962> {LORD.}

The Apostle spoke Greek and the Holy Spirit inspired him to write "Adelfon".....brother of The Lord.

376 posted on 12/11/2006 4:53:58 PM PST by Diego1618
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To: xzins; Corin Stormhands; P-Marlowe; Buggman; blue-duncan; Dr. Eckleburg
yet, the Protestant Reformers themselves—Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Ulrich Zwingli—honored the perpetual virginity of Mary and recognized it as the teaching of the Bible, as have other, more modern Protestants.

just sitting here trying to whistle with a mouthful of crackers...

377 posted on 12/11/2006 4:54:47 PM PST by Revelation 911
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To: Campion; Diego1618
When you claim that James and Joses are children of Mary and Joseph, in contradiction to the Scriptures, aren't you the one following the traditions of man?

No, the traditions of the apostles. Scripture is quite clear as to who the children of Mary and Joseph are. But even if it didn't list them, there is still no scripture that teaches the perpetual virginity, the immaculate conception, the ascension into heaven --- all doctrines of a vivid imagination. And where is the attestation of any of this from a respectable early church father?

378 posted on 12/11/2006 4:59:11 PM PST by Uncle Chip (TRUTH : Ignore it. Deride it. Allegorize it. Interpret it. But you can't ESCAPE it.)
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To: stfassisi
Mary is the New Eve

Was Eve a perpetual virgin? How many children did she have?

379 posted on 12/11/2006 5:02:39 PM PST by Uncle Chip (TRUTH : Ignore it. Deride it. Allegorize it. Interpret it. But you can't ESCAPE it.)
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To: jboot
The number of times that Protestants have hijacked Catholic threads is innumerable. Here are some recent ones:

The Real Presence and Mary

Christ, God's Gift Through Mary

Mary not just for Catholics anymore

Through Mary to Jesus

Her saving grace - the origins of the Immaculate Conception

Open to Life: Asking Protestants to Ponder Mary

380 posted on 12/11/2006 5:35:07 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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