Who
Joseph was “a righteous man” of the house of David (Matthew 1:19; Luke 2:4), betrothed to Mary. When he learned she was with child, an angel told him in a dream that what was conceived in her was of the Holy Spirit, and he took her as his wife and named the child Jesus (Matthew 1:18–25), so becoming his father before the law; Luke writes that Jesus was “the son (as was supposed) of Joseph” (Luke 3:23). He took the Child and his mother into Egypt and back to Nazareth (Matthew 2:13–23), and with Mary sought Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41–51). The Church holds that he was Mary’s virginal husband, and Jerome, against Helvidius, that he too remained a virgin. Pius IX declared him Patron of the Universal Church in 1870.
Key verses
- Matthew 1:16
Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
- Matthew 1:19
Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.
- Matthew 1:20
But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
- Matthew 1:24
Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself;
- Matthew 2:14
He arose and took the young child and his mother by night and departed into Egypt,
- Luke 2:4
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
- Luke 2:48
When they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.”
- Luke 3:23
Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,
Where the Bible names him
Family
- Wife
Discussed by
Comments on the verses that name him (8 of 225).
- Bede on Luke 2:1–5Catena Aurea on Luke
The Son of God, about to be born in the flesh, as by His birth of a virgin He shewed that the grace of virginity was most pleasing in His sight, is therefore begotten in the most peaceful time of the world, because…
- A Greek expositor on Luke 2:1–5Catena Aurea on Luke
Christ is born also at a time when the princes of Judah had failed, and the kingdom was transferred to Roman governors, to whom the Jews paid tribute; and then was fulfilled the prophecy, saying, There shall not fail…
- Bede on Luke 2:1–5 (2)Catena Aurea on Luke
St. Luke points out, that this taxing was either the first of those which comprehended the whole world, for before this very many parts of the earth are often mentioned as having been taxed; or first began at that…
- Ambrose of Milan on Luke 2:1–5Catena Aurea on Luke
He has rightly added the name of the governor, to mark the course of time. For if the names of the Consuls are affixed to the tables of prices, how much more ought the time to be noted down, of that event which was…
- Bede on Luke 2:1–5 (3)Catena Aurea on Luke
Now the registration of property was so appointed by Divine guidance, that every one was ordered to go into his own country, as it follows, And they all went to be taxed, every one to his own city. Which so came to…
- John Chrysostom on Luke 2:1–5Catena Aurea on Luke
It was the Lord who directed Augustus to give this edict, that he might minister unto the coming of the Only-begotten; for it was this edict that brought Christ’s mother into her country as the prophets had foretold,…
- A Greek expositor on Luke 2:1–5 (2)Catena Aurea on Luke
Now he added, a city of David, that he might declare that the promise made by God to David, namely, that from the fruit of his loins there should go before him a king for ever, (2 Sam. 7:12.) was already fulfilled.…
- Cyril of Alexandria on Luke 2:1–5Catena Aurea on Luke
It is said that she was espoused, to imply that nothing more than espousals preceded the conception; for it was not by man’s seed that the Holy Virgin conceived.