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?
Ed Brewer
no
Louise Cummings
I m not to familiar with that word. Even though I read the article on it. I believe everyone has a choice to receive God. Or a choice to reject Him. I don’t believe God president some to go to hell. And some to go to Heaven. I believe He died for us all to go to Heaven. But man is the only one that God made to make choices. And a lot of people doesn’t choose God by their
Own choice. God gave every one a chance. I Choose God.
Varnel Watson
Jon Sellers pointed out that John is speaking against the backdrop of Jewish belief that they are all descendants of Abraham by birth. They can identify themselves by tribe. But Jesus has already rebuked the Pharisees for claiming to be children of Abraham, but not doing the deeds of Abraham http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/does-john-112-13-teach-monergism/
Varnel Watson
Monergism is the position in Christian theology that God, through the Holy Spirit, works to bring about the salvation of an individual through spiritual regeneration http://www.gotquestions.org/monergism-vs-synergism.html
Louise Cummings
I still don’t understand these terms all together. You mad each category clear. But not really for me. We didn’t bring these words up in any of our Bible studies that I know of. One I have heard of before. But I do not believe in unconditional eternal security. I would be afraid The Blood of Jesus would be required at my hands to tell people they could be born again or saved. And lived for the Lord a little while then start sinning again, like before. But because they were saved once. When Jesus was talking to the Churches in Revelation. John wrote to them chapter 3:20-22. Jesus said ( Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone or any man hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and with him, and he with Me. ). ThenHe told the Laodiceans Because you are lukewarm , and neither hot or cold I will spue you out of My mouth. I believe if you are a Christian , live like one. I believe that was the reason the forbidden tree was put in the garden of Eden. Was to give man a choice to listen to God and obey Him or turn Him away and do their own thing. ( my opinion ) l don’t believe God wants to make us serve Him. But because we believe in Him and love Him. I do believe God is Omniscience. All knowing. But still wants everyone to Love and serve Him because He died for us. She’d His Blood for us. Payed my penalty for me. But He gave us a choice to except it. Like He gave the children of Israel a chance to look to the brazen serpent , when bitten by a poison snake. Represented sin. The only way they could live was to look on the brazen. Pointing to theCross in The New Testament. The only way we can have Eternal Life , is look to The Cross. Because Jesus is The Door. The only way in to Eternal life. I don’t know category that puts me in. Lol.
Louise Cummings
I don’t believe in predestination. The way some people does. It’s somewhere in the Bible , I didn’t look it up. He said He is not willing for any to perish. But that all should come to repentance. I believe that’s the same place where He said He is Long suffering. Not willing for any should perish. ( what a great God we serve. ). Willing that none should perish. I got up with a song on my mind this week. I hadn’t heard in a long time. It says , There is a Fountain Filled With Blood. Drawn From Immanuel’s Veins. And sinners plunge beneath the flow. Lose all their guilt and shame or stains I cry just writing about it. Immanuel means God with us. But to think of what a Savior that was willing to become man and walk this lowly path that led to Calvary. Where His Blood Red stains. It Broke All The Chains. And Said That ( I) Could Still. Go Free. Even said He would put me inHis Will. Oh what God has in store for those that Love Him. I heard a saying once that’s so true. He takes a black heart ( meaning sin ) and washed it in Red Blood , and washed it White As Snow. Only God could do that.
Mary Ellen Nissley
This article got it backwards. The verse has it the other way around.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
#1. There was first a choice whether or not to receive Him.
#2. Next, all who received, became sons of God.
#3. And then, it says that the process of becoming a son of God is not by our own will, but by God’s.
But notice that first the choice was made to receive, before the birth happened. It is the birth that was of God’s will. Not the choice to receive.
Because it is not God’s will that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
If it were all up to God, every man would repent of their sins.
(I dare you to say it’s not his will for every man to repent!)
But He doesn’t force them to, does he?
Therefore, just because something is God’s will, doesn’t mean it happens. He leaves some things up to us.
Varnel Watson
yeah Ricky Grimsley I dont think so.Christ is Son from Eternity and to Eternity
Ricky Grimsley
Sure this scripture implies synergism since we have “the right” “if we believe” but i dont see how this scripture proves that past eternal sonship.
Charles Page
The salvation context here is synergistic
Varnel Watson
Biblical synergism is the expressed cooperation of God’s will and the will of man working together toward the salvific restoration of the creation
Ricky Grimsley
Im not a Calvinist but its only by grace that we even want to get saved right?
Philippians 2:13 KJVS
[13] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Charles Page
Semi Pelagianism?
Ricky Grimsley
No. Grace alone. It’s by grace you even want to do good or do good. We cant choose to regenerate if the spirit doesnt draw us?
Charles Page
We can’t choose to be regenerated
Regeneration is a monergistic grace
It’s unmerited favor
Tony Conger
How do we even have the option for salvation if we can’t choose it? Obviously no man comes to God unless the Spirit draws him so the question is does man have the ability to say yes or no
Ricky Grimsley
You cant answer if the question isnt asked?
Charles Page
If you hold to the orthodox doctrine of original sin you understand monergistic regeneration
If you reject OS then you are either Pelagianism or semi-pelagianism
Varnel Watson
If Pentecostal / Charismatic theology rejects OSAS how can it advocate for once delivered always delivered (ODAD) i.e. eternal entire sanctification?
Ricky Grimsley
Osas is ridiculous. Saving a soul from death kinda jumps out at me?James 5:19-20 KJVS
[19] Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; [20] Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Varnel Watson
If you were right Ricky Grimsley a born again Christian can very well have a demon b/c neither eternal security nor entire sanctification guarantees anything ???
Varnel Watson
ask a gnostic like RichardAnna Boyce
Mike Partyka
Can be used but there are others that Calvinist use more often.
Varnel Watson
in what way?
Mike Partyka
Troy Day they would position it as not every person has the right to be a child of God or heir of His promises simply by being born. Only those who are born anew spiritually and trust in Christ will have that right. To become children of God we must be born again John 3 1:14. To be born again is an act of grace alone and only God can bring us to new spiritual life
Varnel Watson
Mike Partyka But this is not really monergism is it? Sounds like a mix up with synergism if you ask me