Saint Joseph and the "House of David"

[Terry_Ypsilanti]

Today is the Feast of St Joseph. Is it correct to refer to St Joseph as Our Lord’s “foster Father” or “Step Father”? In the scriptures our Lord is called “the son of Mary” and Joseph is referred to as “the husband of Mary” therefore of the House of David?

Jesus Christ is the true Son of David who sits on the true “Throne of David”. But as Jesus Christ adopted brothers and sisters where does this place us? Have we become “sons and daughters” of David through Jesus Christ?

Is Jesus Christ the Son of David and His humanity through the Incarnation and thus the “foster son” of Joseph but the true Son of Mary?

Did the House of David “end” with our Lord’s Ascension into Heaven?

Regards,
Terry Dishneau

 

[petra22]

The way I understand it, St. Joseph and his family were of the house of David so he had to go to Bethlehem to register for the census. Mary and her family were also of the house of David. I don’t know about the rest of your questions. But, I am eagerly waiting for the more knowledgeable answers we always get from the folks on this forum!!! Thanks for asking the questions.

 

[Gorgias]

Today is the Feast of St Joseph. Is it correct to refer to St Joseph as Our Lord’s “foster Father”?

Yes.

In the scriptures our Lord is called “the son of Mary” and Joseph is referred to as “the husband of Mary” therefore of the House of David?

As Jesus’ ‘legal’ father, Joseph’s status as being of the house of David is likewise ascribed to Jesus.

Jesus Christ is the true Son of David who sits on the true “Throne of David”. But as Jesus Christ adopted brothers and sisters where does this place us? Have we become “sons and daughters” of David through Jesus Christ?

I think it would be more significant to say that we’re sons and daughters of God rather than of David…

Is Jesus Christ the Son of David and His humanity through the Incarnation and thus the “foster son” of Joseph but the true Son of Mary?

Yes.

Did the House of David “end” with our Lord’s Ascension into Heaven?

No. Note that Joseph wasn’t the only one who had to travel to Bethlehem.

Blessings,

G.

 

[Gorgias]

By the way, Michelle Arnold’s blog post does a great job of covering the ground that you’re asking about: catholic.com/blog/michelle-arnold/joseph-the-father-of-god

 

[patrick457]

Did the House of David “end” with our Lord’s Ascension into Heaven?

Regards,
Terry Dishneau

No. The 2nd-century historian Hegesippus records a story about how two grandchildren of Judas, one of Jesus’ ‘brothers’, were tracked down by Domitian (81-96) because of their royal lineage. When they confessed that they were actually peasant farmers who had just over nine acres of land between them (which they eked out to make a living and pay the bills), and that Jesus’ kingdom was not an earthly one but a “heavenly and angelic” one, they were deemed to be insignificant and released, and went on to become leading figures in the Jerusalem Church.