There only seem to be three options I’ve heard or seem possible:
- Adultery (Post-marriage)
- Fornication (Pre-marriage)
- He knew the child was born of the Holy Spirit and want to remove himself from the relationship because he though he was unworthy. (Catholic gave me this view)
If there are any others please mention and provide verses for them.
Here is the story that seems (to me) to point to Joseph suspecting (or in His mind knowing) Mary had slept with another man.
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. – Matthew 1:18-25
However, there doesn’t seem to be a simple way to explain all the details that seem to come up that make this hard to fit into any specific model.
My Notes So Far:
Mary and Joseph were “espoused” or “betrothed” all the way up to Jesus birth. This is important because they were not quite “married” nor “single”. Espousal/Betrothal is a binding covenant prior to the marriage feast and consummation – which is why separate rules are given for it in Deuteronomy 22. Joseph is legally her “husband” and she is is “wife” though they are not yet “married”.
“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. – Luke 1:26-27
“To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. – Luke 2:5-6
“Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. – Matthew 1:24-25
People both thought Jesus was legitimately Joseph’s son (the statement in John 8:41 is sometimes readinto against this idea, but nothing supports that view)
Is not this the carpenter’s son? – Matthew 13:55
And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, – Luke 3:23
Joseph was a “just man”:
“Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, – Matthew 1:19
Knew his action would make her a publick example (either death or shame)
“Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. – Matthew 1:19
Worth noting that the “exception” clause for divorce is only mentioned in Matthew where this situation with Joseph thinking about putting away Mary comes up.
But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication – Matthew 5:32
And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. – Matthew 19:9
Divorce only seems legal under fornication:
“The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?” – Matthew 19:3 “And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication” – Matthew 19:9
If the “public example” was the death penalty, it seems to require three specific situations.
The death penalty once married (which they were not yet):
“If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her, And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid:…” – Deuteronomy 22:13-14
“…if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father’s house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you. – Deuteronomy 22:20-21
Also death if already married:
“If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel. – Deuteronomy 22:22
Also death if betrothed and in a city:
“If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour’s wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you. – Deuteronomy 22:23-24
This last one is interesting because perhaps this is what Joseph was thinking happened (Mary had just gone to the “country” to visit Elizabeth.
And no death if betrothed, but it happened in the country:
“But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die: But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter: For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her. – Deuteronomy 22:25-27
If Joseph thought this last case might have happened, then what is the whole “make a public example” about since there is no fault of her’s here? Also, how could he legally divorce her (even quietly)? Perhaps he ascribed to the standard teaching Jesus refuted about divorce for any reason?
Varnel Watson
Link Hudson spoke to the ATT head honcho north of your area Said 5G already there coming this way. Then spoke to the guy who actually builds the 5G towers – says not by a long shot
Varnel Watson
Link Hudson I spoke to the ATT head honcho north of your area Said 5G already there coming this way. Then spoke to the guy who actually builds the 5G towers – says not by a long shot
Joe Absher
Social media is rapidly becoming controlled by Artificial intelligence.
Strongholds of idolatry, occult imagery, lust, greed and fear are being built.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The balm of Gilead. He is Mighty to save. and a shelter in the storm.
Varnel Watson
any 5G in SF yet?
Joe Absher
Sorry I wouldn’t know
Joe Absher
Social media is rapidly becoming controlled by Artificial intelligence.
Strongholds of idolatry, occult imagery, lust, greed and fear are being built.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The balm of Gilead. He is Mighty to save. and a shelter in the storm.
Varnel Watson
any 5G in SF yet?
Joe Absher
Sorry I wouldn’t know
Varnel Watson
Joe Absher look on your phone if it says 5G upthere
Charles Page does fedex use 5G technology to track pack yet? Learne AMAZON is implementing 5G drones to deliver
Philip Williams have considered using 5G tech to uncover the ark or that project went down the drain too?
Varnel Watson
Joe Absher look on your phone if it says 5G upthere
Charles Page does fedex use 5G technology to track pack yet? Learne AMAZON is implementing 5G drones to deliver
Philip Williams have considered using 5G tech to uncover the ark or that project went down the drain too?
Joe Absher
It says LTE
Joe Absher
It says LTE
Philip Williams
I just spoke about this to my nephew who has replaced me as the last-mile expert. (About 40 years ago, I led the group that introduced digital switching and fiber optics, making it possible to be doing what we are doing.
Mark(my nephew) doesn’t understand why bringing fiber all the way to the home isn’t a far better solution than 5G. He is certain that the commercial carriers will ignore the rural areas with 5G as they have always done.
I can see some technical problems with 5G handing off so frequently.
I am now in archaeology as I once was in telecom. I have already mentioned no more updates here. But you will be able to follow this project from your ordinary news sources.
Varnel Watson
so you worked for a com company but turned to theology at last 🙂
Philip Williams
Troy Day
Well, as a young man I did go to work for the world’s first and still oldest telephone consulting engineering firm which my own company later owned and which is still headed by my brother. He has been quoted in The NY Times concerning his view of the competition between the telephone and cable companies. This is the company that engineered the world’s first buried telephone cable.
I created the world’s first telecommunications software company, 30 years after my retirement the software that I created still running networks in America and Europe. Amazing! But they haven’t figured out how to replace it or have any good reason to do so. My company teamed with what is now Verizon to win the contract to manage the telecommunications network for the Department of Defense. I think that has become the most expensive software project ever.
I personally engineered the first digital switch in America. I first worked in an optical electronics lab as a graduate student around 1970. Fiber optics was then only used in medical, but was in the hotel room in the Atlanta IEEE meeting when Dow Corning met with my colleagues at Superior Cable to form the team that would manufacture the first fiber-optic cable, why that industry is still centered in North Carolina. My firm engineered the first fiber to the curb.
True, I am now a telecom dinosaur, but the principles governing fiber, wireless etc do not change. After retiring in 1990, I only assist poor countries with their infrastructure needs. There is a good chance that your friend’s company was once one of my telecom engineering clients.
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams I have an uncle who is retired ATT vet He was among the first ones in the ATL area to install DSL He is not speaking of 5G too kindly either BUT I’ve seen the technology used for various discoveries and was wondering if you plan to use it in your expedition
Philip Williams
Troy Day If you have watched ArkInsight’s video of my climb, the first thing that you will see is my photo of the cell tower. I took that photo from the SUV that transported me to the Land Rover that took me to base camp where we mounted on horses that carried us to high camp.
High camp is visible just above the cell tower. I doubt they have 5-G on that cell tower, but even if they do, they certainly don’t have cell towers on that mountain as would be necessary for 5G.
I will be overseeing the technical climbers on this archaeological survey from the Research Center at the foot of the mountain via spotting scope and iPhone.
On my first visit to the site, my brother tracked me using the Find Friends App. My brother knows the location of this famous ship, but not so the spies who were chasing us to discover the site. Moments before I took that cell phone photo, we saw the entire group beside the road taking photos of the mountain as they were giving up the chase.
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams I did not watch your video cause it wasnt there remember it was a dead Link I watched the other guy but you got upset with it though it was his original photo I was just wondering if you will use the 5G penetrating technology for any new finds Straight digging is an overdig
Philip Williams
I just spoke about this to my nephew who has replaced me as the last-mile expert. (About 40 years ago, I led the group that introduced digital switching and fiber optics to the local network, making it possible to be doing what we are doing here.)
Mark(my nephew) doesn’t understand why bringing fiber all the way to the home isn’t a far better solution than 5G. He is certain that the commercial carriers will ignore the rural areas with 5G as they have always done.
I can see some technical problems with 5G handing off so frequently.
I am now in archaeology as I once was in telecom. I have already mentioned no more updates here. But you will be able to follow this project from your ordinary news sources.
Varnel Watson
so you worked for a com company but turned to theology at last 🙂
Philip Williams
Troy Day
Well, as a young man I did go to work for the world’s first and still oldest telephone consulting engineering firm which my own company later owned and which is still headed by my brother. He has been quoted in The NY Times concerning his view of the competition between the telephone and cable companies. This is the company that engineered the world’s first buried telephone cable.
I created the world’s first telecommunications software company, 30 years after my retirement the software that I created still running networks in America and Europe. Amazing! But they haven’t figured out how to replace it or have any good reason to do so. My company teamed with what is now Verizon to win the contract to manage the telecommunications network for the Department of Defense. I think that has become the most expensive software project ever.
I personally engineered the first digital switch in America. I first worked in an optical electronics lab as a graduate student around 1970. Fiber optics was then only used in medical, but was in the hotel room in the Atlanta IEEE meeting when Dow Corning met with my colleagues at Superior Cable to form the team that would manufacture the first fiber-optic cable, why that industry is still centered in North Carolina. My firm engineered the first fiber to the curb.
True, I am now a telecom dinosaur, but the principles governing fiber, wireless etc do not change. After retiring in 1990, I only assist poor countries with their infrastructure needs. There is a good chance that your friend’s company was once one of my telecom engineering clients.
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams I have an uncle who is retired ATT vet He was among the first ones in the ATL area to install DSL He is not speaking of 5G too kindly either BUT I’ve seen the technology used for various discoveries and was wondering if you plan to use it in your expedition
Philip Williams
Troy Day If you have watched ArkInsight’s video of my climb, the first thing that you will see is my photo of the cell tower. I took that photo from the SUV that transported me to the Land Rover that took me to base camp where we mounted on horses that carried us to high camp.
High camp is visible just above the cell tower. I doubt they have 5-G on that cell tower, but even if they do, they certainly don’t have cell towers on that mountain as would be necessary for 5G.
I will be overseeing the technical climbers on this archaeological survey from the Research Center at the foot of the mountain via spotting scope and iPhone.
On my first visit to the site, my brother tracked me using the Find Friends App. My brother knows the location of this famous ship, but not so the spies who were chasing us to discover the site. Moments before I took that cell phone photo, we saw the entire group beside the road taking photos of the mountain as they were giving up the chase.
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams I did not watch your video cause it wasnt there remember it was a dead Link I watched the other guy but you got upset with it though it was his original photo I was just wondering if you will use the 5G penetrating technology for any new finds Straight digging is an overdig https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_f9gpg4t6c
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams the G cells reset faster and are better than fiber in a storm Also MUCH MUCH cheaper to replace but this is beyond the question Are their waves really dangerous? BTW what Hz they run on? – this part of the info seems to be undisclosed yet
Philip Williams
Troy Day “much better than fiber in a storm.” Absurd propaganda.
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams says who – certainly not the experts
Philip Williams
Troy Day What is your expertise in this??
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams meaning what? My expertise is in theology and ancient linguistics But the guy who owns the company that builds the towers around here said so and I have also experienced my fiberoptics flood after rain and internet down He also said they already have 5G UP Link between Atlanta and Memphis that should soon fill the whole perimeter I know the ark in KY has 5G too and 5G was used in the recent discovery of John the Baptist bones Are you using it yet?
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams the G cells reset faster and are better than fiber in a storm Also MUCH MUCH cheaper to replace but this is beyond the question Are their waves really dangerous? BTW what Hz they run on? – this part of the info seems to be undisclosed yet
Philip Williams
Troy Day “much better than fiber in a storm.” Absurd propaganda.
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams says who – certainly not the experts
Philip Williams
Troy Day What is your expertise in this??
Varnel Watson
Philip Williams meaning what? My expertise is in theology and ancient linguistics But the guy who owns the company that builds the towers around here said so and I have also experienced my fiberoptics flood after rain and internet down He also said they already have 5G UP Link between Atlanta and Memphis that should soon fill the whole perimeter I know the ark in KY has 5G too and 5G was used in the recent discovery of John the Baptist bones Are you using it yet?
Varnel Watson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_f9gpg4t6c
Varnel Watson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_f9gpg4t6c