• Joseph
    Insight on the Scriptures, Volume 2

    • relations with her until after the birth of her miraculously begotten son.​—Mt 1:18-21, 24, 25.

      In obedience to the decree of Caesar Augustus for persons to get registered in their own cities, Joseph, as a descendant of King David, traveled with Mary to Bethlehem of Judea. There Mary gave birth to Jesus and laid him in a manger, because other accommodations were not available. That night shepherds, having been informed by an angel concerning the birth, came to see the newborn infant. About 40 days later, as required by the Mosaic Law, Joseph and Mary presented Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem along with an offering. Both Joseph and Mary wondered as they heard aged Simeon’s prophetic words about the great things Jesus would do.​—Lu 2:1-33; compare Le 12:2-4, 6-8.

      It appears that sometime after this, while residing in a house at Bethlehem, Mary and her young son were visited by some Oriental astrologers. (Although Luke 2:39 might seem to indicate that Joseph and Mary returned to Nazareth right after presenting Jesus at the temple, it must be remembered that this scripture is part of a highly condensed account.) Divine intervention prevented their visit from bringing death to Jesus. Warned in a dream that Herod was seeking to find the child to destroy it, Joseph heeded divine instructions to flee with his family to Egypt.​—Mt 2:1-15.

      After the decease of Herod, Jehovah’s angel again appeared in a dream to Joseph, saying: “Get up, take the young child and its mother and be on your way into the land of Israel.” However, hearing that Herod’s son Archelaus was ruling in his father’s stead, he feared to return to Judea, and “being given divine warning in a dream, he withdrew into the territory of Galilee, and came and dwelt in a city named Nazareth.”​—Mt 2:19-23.

      Each year Joseph took his whole family with him to attend the Passover celebration at Jerusalem. On one occasion they were returning to Nazareth when, after covering a day’s distance from Jerusalem, Joseph and Mary found that the 12-year-old Jesus was missing. Diligently they searched for him and finally found him at the temple in Jerusalem, listening to and questioning the teachers there.​—Lu 2:41-50.

      The Scriptural record is silent on the extent of the training Joseph gave to Jesus. Doubtless, though, he contributed to Jesus’ progressing in wisdom. (Lu 2:51, 52) Joseph also taught him carpentry, for Jesus was known both as “the carpenter’s son” (Mt 13:55) and as “the carpenter.”​—Mr 6:3.

      Joseph’s death is not specifically mentioned in the Scriptures. But it seems that he did not survive Jesus. Had he lived beyond Passover time of 33 C.E., it is unlikely that the impaled Jesus would have entrusted Mary to the care of the apostle John.​—Joh 19:26, 27.

      9. A half brother of Jesus Christ. (Mt 13:55; Mr 6:3) Like his other brothers, Joseph at first did not exercise faith in Jesus. (Joh 7:5) Later, however, Jesus’ half brothers, doubtless including Joseph, became believers. They are mentioned as being with the apostles and others after Jesus’ ascension to heaven, so they were likely among the group of about 120 disciples assembled in an upper room at Jerusalem when Matthias was chosen by lot as a replacement for unfaithful Judas Iscariot. It appears that later this same group of about 120 received God’s spirit on the day of Pentecost in 33 C.E.​—Ac 1:9–2:4.

      10. A wealthy man from the Judean city of Arimathea and a reputable member of the Jewish Sanhedrin. Although a good and righteous man who was waiting for God’s Kingdom, Joseph, because of his fear of unbelieving Jews, did not openly identify himself as a disciple of Jesus Christ. However, he did not vote in support of the Sanhedrin’s unjust action against Christ Jesus. Later, he courageously asked Pilate for Jesus’ body and, along with Nicodemus, prepared it for burial and then placed it in a new rock-cut tomb. This tomb was situated in a garden near the place of impalement and belonged to Joseph of Arimathea.​—Mt 27:57-60; Mr 15:43-46; Lu 23:50-53; Joh 19:38-42.

      11. One put up along with Matthias as a candidate for the office of oversight vacated by the unfaithful Judas Iscariot. Joseph, also called Barsabbas (perhaps a family name or merely an additional name) and surnamed Justus, was a witness of the work, miracles, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, Matthias, not Joseph, was chosen by lot to replace Judas Iscariot before Pentecost of 33 C.E. and came to be “reckoned along with the eleven apostles.”​—Ac 1:15–2:1.

      12. A Levite surnamed Barnabas and a native of Cyprus. (Ac 4:36, 37) He was a close associate of the apostle Paul.​—See BARNABAS.