The Mystery of Joseph and Mary’s Ages in Biblical Contexts
Why are you people always asking the same questions? The Bible doesn’t provide explicit information about Mary’s or Joseph’s age.
Canon Law and Jewish Custom
By Jewish law, a man must be over 12 years of age to undergo a Bar Mitzvah, marking his transition into adulthood. Marriages in ancient Israel typically took place when people were quite young. Given this, Joseph would most likely have been around 15 to 30 years old, with a more probable age of 20. However, the Bible does not specify Joseph’s or Mary’s age.
Traditions and Private Revelations
Many people believe, based on traditions and private revelations, that Joseph was 33 years old when he married Mary. Moreover, both Mary and Joseph made a vow of virginity or celibacy before their marriage, as confirmed by certain traditions. Consequently, they remained celibate and only raised Jesus as their only child, leading to Mary being officially called 'ever virgin.' This belief is rooted in non-biblical historical accounts and private revelation.
The reliability of these traditions can be challenged by those who only rely on the Bible. However, exploring apocryphal texts, such as the Protoevangelium of James, provides an alternative narrative and deeper understanding of early Christian beliefs.
The Protoevangelium of James
The Protoevangelium of James, written in the second century AD, presents an alternative account that differs from the canonical Gospels. This text portrays Joseph as an elderly man, the leader of the local synagogue, with several children from a previous marriage. Mary was a young woman who had grown up under Joseph’s care in the synagogue.
According to the Protoevangelium of James, when it was discovered that Mary was pregnant before they had consummated their marriage, Joseph was accused of being the father. Under Jewish law, this could have led to both Joseph and Mary being condemned to death by stoning for adultery. However, a miraculous event occurred, and none of those present could lift a stone to cast at them. This event was seen as a sign of their innocence, and they were allowed to go free. Joseph then took Mary and fled to Egypt to protect her and the unborn child.
Conclusion
These stories, less known to many, offer a richer picture of the beliefs and traditions that existed in early Christianity. They also illustrate how different religious texts and traditions have influenced each other throughout history. Whether Joseph ever married Mary or not remains a topic of speculation, but the wealth of traditions and apocryphal texts provides an intriguing glimpse into the historical context of the early Christian narrative.