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
according to PEW majority of preachers have not read a single book in the past year Michael Ellis Carter Jr.
Michael Ellis Carter Jr.
Troy Day and that’s a shame
RichardAnna Boyce
Charles Bing and Jodie Dillow books
Henry Milligan
Charles Finney
Varnel Watson
so no systematic theology book thus far?
RichardAnna Boyce
Lewis Sperry Chafer (Systematic Theology, completed 1947)
Varnel Watson
wow Chafer
lots in theology since him
RichardAnna Boyce
none better as his Free Grace will be Jesus’s book in Millennium hehehe
John Duncan
The Nature of the Atonment
Greg Baldwin
Wayne Grudem Systematic Theology
J Rodman Williams, Renewal Theology
Jerome Herrick Weymouth
Greg Baldwin Both Calvinist!
Greg Baldwin
Robert Shank, Elect in The Son and Life in the Son
Greg Baldwin
Finis Dake, God’s Plan for Man
Varnel Watson
speaking of systematic theology alone I would go with
Erickson
Horton
Grudem
Jerome Herrick Weymouth
Gruden is a spirit-filled Calvinist! ( Is there such a person!)
Brian Roden
Some have observed that it is through the Charismatic Calvinists that Reformed soteriology/TULIP is making inroads into classicaly Arminian Pentecostal groups. We like their defense of the continuation of the gifts, so we start using their material as textbooks. But unless we specifically point out where the disagreements are (soteriology, women in ministry leadership, etc.), their views start taking hold among those who consume their writings indiscriminately.
I was just talking with a fellow minister at a district function yesterday who said a young man from his church had gone full TULIP and enrolled in Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (where the seminary president is Jason K. Allen, a protege of Albert Mohler from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)
Greg Baldwin
Brian Roden
Many years ago a great Holiness preacher sat me down and explained books to me. Very simple but true. Use them like eating fish. Throw away the bone. It is sad if someone ( young novice) let’s say doesn’t know the difference
The preacher who took time with me was Mike Roberts from Richlands VA
Brian Roden
Greg Baldwin At least he used the proper meat and bones illustration. I too often hear it where people are talking like it’s steak or pork chops — super easy to tell the difference. Separating fish meat from bones takes training and skill — which is why when I was little, my mother would pick through my Ma-ma’s fried catfish for me, mashing the meat up to make sure the bones were extracted before she put the plate in front of me. Discernment doesn’t just happen; it has to be honed.
Jerome Herrick Weymouth
Foundations of Pentecostal Theology and Stanley Horton’s Systematic Theology.
Greg Baldwin
Jerome Herrick Weymouth
I have The Foundations of Pentecostal Theology
I will use it a little more
I may have been overlooking a treasure
Greg Baldwin
Jerome Herrick Weymouth
I have found Stanley Horton rather general and not very deep
I sold his stuff in my 1st library but will add it to my current studies
Jerome Herrick Weymouth
I have Bible soft and have both on my computer. I have in print the Full life Bible commentary by French Arlington and Roger Stonghart. I also got my Dake’s, Hayford’s Bible Handbook, and Jimmy Swaggert’s Expositors Study Bible.
Varnel Watson
Horton is general but in a good way
Brian Roden
Greg Baldwin The weakness of Dr. Horton’s volume was that it was an edited collection of chapters by multiple scholars. It didn’t cohere as well as a systematic theology written by one person (like Erickson, Grenz, or Grudem) or a pair/small team (Lewis and Demarest).
Jerome Herrick Weymouth
Check out Arminians Society recommended books, plenty of good theologians and Arminian web sites.
Greg Baldwin
Jerome Herrick Weymouth
Thanks
Brian Roden
http://www.evangelicalarminians.org
Louise Cummings
Bible, Like a Mighty Army understand Parables , by Brian Cutshall
Johnny Baca Sr.
The only book I read is the bible
Varnel Watson
speaks volumes Michael Ellis Carter Jr.
Louise Cummings
Johnny Baca Sr. You can’t beat that.
Varnel Watson
hey Cecil Carpenter you should ask Greg Robinson about the 3 theological books they had them read @ Regent
Greg Robinson
Troy Day I was merely making an attempt at humor…. I did not read Erickson at Regent. We read a variety of Pentecostal/ Charismatic scholars. I’m not sure what’s required there now.
Varnel Watson
pls tell us YOUR TOP 3 of that variety – I think Erickson should be pre-req for getting into any Bible college – like before NT 101
Varnel Watson
ok you are right one of them was Erickson not even Pentecostal per se
Varnel Watson
what are surprise it would be if someone connected reading of theology books with best TOP preachers out there
Michael Ellis Carter Jr.
Michael Ellis Carter Jr.
Troy Day wouldn’t that be amazing but you know over in Pentecost to read anything beside the Bible is a sin
Varnel Watson
they dont teach you that in seminary (I think)
Louise Cummings
I never knew that.
Brian Roden
I read so many as assignments for my MATS, plus others I picked up because of interest areas, it’s hard to name the top 3. So I’ll just go for some very influential ones.
Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God by Gordon Fee
The Transforming Power of Grace by Thomas Oden
Salvation by Allegiance Alone by Matthew Bates
Varnel Watson
Fee Oden good choices – what is MATS?
Brian Roden
Troy Day Master of Arts in Theological Studies — 48 hour degree. Kind of the academic/research courses of an MDiv, but not the counseling/preaching type classes.
Varnel Watson
I should have known Back in the day my MDiv ended being 120hrs incl CPE – like another BA almost In a basic comparison a MBA is just about 50hrs while 1 of my semesters I ended up 26 hrs incl Greek and Hebrew
Varnel Watson
FIRE from HEAVEN ?