Expert: Paul Walker - 5/2/2005

Question
Please tell me what happened to Joseph, Jesus' earthly father.  I don't recall him being spoke of much after they find Jesus as a youth teaching in the temple.  Thank you.

Answer
Boone Lowe,

Joseph just fades out of the picture, there is no information given about him. It is important to remember that no one knows anything more than what the Bible says of him. We do know that he and Mary had several more children, other than that he does not play any part for whatever reason God has.

    Matthew 13:55-56  Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called
    Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?  (56)  And
    his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these
    things?

At the crucifixion Christ turns his mother, Mary, over to John to be taken care of.

    John 19:26-27  When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple
    standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy
    son!  (27)  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that
    hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

I, personally, assume from this that Joseph had died by this time, but that is just one possibility.

Your Servant In Christ Jesus,

Paul Walker
www.aficj.org