Joseph and Potiphar's wife

[Charlie_Zeaiter]

I’ve heard of some parallels between the OT Joseph and the NT Joseph.

The OT Joseph refused sexual relations with Potiphar’s wife (see Genesis 39). Do you think this is an affirmation that the NT Joseph refrained from sexual relation with Mary - and consequently adds to our belief that Mary was ever-virgin?

 

[puzzleannie]

I have never read anything that describes the Joseph of Genesis as a type of the Joseph of the infancy narratives, so I can’t say.

 

[Charlie_Zeaiter]

Hi puzzleannie,Joseph of ancient times, son of the patriarch Jacob, was the type of St. Joseph, and the former by his glory prefigured the greatness of the future guardian of the Holy Family. And in truth, beyond the fact that the same name—a point the significance of which has never been denied—was given to each, you well know the points of likeness that exist between them; namely, that the first Joseph won the favor and especial goodwill of his master, and that through Joseph’s administration his household came to prosperity and wealth; that (still more important) he presided over the kingdom with great power, and, in a time when the harvests failed, he provided for all the needs of the Egyptians with so much wisdom that the King decreed to him the title “Savior of the world.”
The above was taken from ewtn.com/library/ENCYC/L13JOS.HTM
Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII On Devotion to St. Joseph (QUAMQUAM PLURIES)

Consider the OT Joseph and how he delivered food to the starving Israelites. And consider the NT Joseph who delivered as the spritual food - Jesus, the Bread of Life - to us starving sinners.

Well, maybe I’m stretching it a bit too far but I do think it is fascinating.

 

[Penitus]

I’ve heard of some parallels between the OT Joseph and the NT Joseph.

The OT Joseph refused sexual relations with Potiphar’s wife (see Genesis 39). Do you think this is an affirmation that the NT Joseph refrained from sexual relation with Mary - and consequently adds to our belief that Mary was ever-virgin?

Could be, but then again, how far do you want to take the typology? Naturally Mary never tried to seduce Joseph, right?

 

[sarah_anne_628]

The parallels are usually drawn between Joseph and Jesus…not Joseph and the father of Jesus.

Joseph of the OT refused to have relations with Potiphar’s wife because it was immoral. It would not have been immoral for the father of Jesus to sleep with his wife.

Just because someone in the OT did or did not do something does not make evidence of a parallel character in the NT doing or not doing something.

 

[Penitus]

The parallels are usually drawn between Joseph and Jesus…not Joseph and the father of Jesus.

Joseph of the OT refused to have relations with Potiphar’s wife because it was immoral. It would not have been immoral for the father of Jesus to sleep with his wife.

Just because someone in the OT did or did not do something does not make evidence of a parallel character in the NT doing or not doing something.

No, no. There’s definitely some connection between OT Joseph and NT Joseph: they’re both called “just” or “righteous”, guided by dreams, go into Egypt, etc.

 

[sarah_anne_628]

No, no. There’s definitely some connection between OT Joseph and NT Joseph: they’re both called “just” or “righteous”, guided by dreams, go into Egypt, etc.

Being ‘just’ or ‘righteous’ can be said of any number of people described in the Bible.

As far as going into Egypt…it was not the decisions of OT Joseph that brought him into Egypt-but the decisions of others. Joseph of the NT, however, had a choice-to obey God’s command or not. It was not in the power of Christ the Child to go into Egypt…it happened through the decisions of others (all under the divine guidance of God, though). So in regards to going to Egypt, the case is definately stronger for the parallel to be between OT Joseph and Jesus, not OT Joseph and NT Joseph.

I am not saying that there aren’t parallels between the two Josephs. I am saying that Mrs. Potiphar and going into Egypt are poor examples.

Peace.

 

[Penitus]

I am not saying that there aren’t parallels between the two Josephs. I am saying that Mrs. Potiphar and going into Egypt are poor examples.

Peace.

Yeah I understand yout point, but I’m paraphrasing information passed on from several Catholic Bible commentaries and some spiritual books I’ve read on NT St. Joseph.

 

[sarah_anne_628]

Yeah I understand yout point, but I’m paraphrasing information passed on from several Catholic Bible commentaries and some spiritual books I’ve read on NT St. Joseph.

Fair enough.

It’s too bad we don’t know more about Mary and Joseph and Jesus’ childhood. I believe that Catholics celebrate them as the “first family” and something that should be modeled and revered (I don’t rightly remember because this was a mass at the beginning of January, before we started RCIA…we were still trying not to look like dopes by not knowing how to do anything)…but we know very little about how that family functioned.

Oh well, we do have God the Father’s example as how a husband and father should be…and the obedience of Christ and The Church as an example of how to be a mother and wife.