Question about Mary

[brendenseth]

Hi everyone, me and my wife got into a discussion and I didn’t know the answer. I was wondering if you guys could help me out? Does anyone know if and when Mary got married to Joseph. Was it before Jesus was conceived?

 

[Immacolata]

It’s unknown when exactly Mary married Joseph, but it is commonly believed (at least I see it commonly) that Mary was betrothed to Joseph (the first step of the marriage ceremony in those times – around a year later she would be taken into his home where normal married life would take place) before she was told by Gabriel that she would conceive Jesus.

Most apocryphal accounts, such as the Gospel of James and Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew, differ on the actual marriage between Mary and Joseph’s timing. In the Gospel of James, it takes place after the Annunciation, but in Pseudo-Matthew, it comes before it.

 

[1ke]

Matthew 1:18

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,* but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

…18* Now the birth of Jesus Christ * took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; 19 and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. 20 But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; 21* she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23* “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, …

Matthew 1:18-24 I read this to say that at the time of Jesus’ conception they were betrothed,but had not completed the ceremony by mary entering Joseph’s household. The angel tells him to take her home and then he does - which completes the marriage ceremony.