Who is Joseph the Carpenter and what is her role in the life of Christ and the Bible?

Perhaps you didn’t know that Joseph the Carpenter, the husband of Mary, is recognized as a saint in both the Roman Catholic Church and other Christian denominations. Here’s what you need to know about Saint Joseph and the example he sets for us today.

We read about Saint Joseph in the Bible, but few of us know who he was. Although he doesn’t occupy much of the Gospels, and no one knows exactly when he passed away, we know he played a pivotal role in the birth of Jesus.

Here are some things about Joseph the Carpenter that we should know:

Who was Joseph the Carpenter?

Joseph the Carpenter was the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Although not Jesus’ biological father, he played a crucial role in His birth and upbringing. Joseph’s lineage traces back to the house of David, the king of the Jews. He is mentioned at the beginning of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, and a bit in the Gospel of John. The Catholic Church later chose him as the patron saint of the Church.

In the Bible, Joseph is described as a righteous, humble, and kind man. When he learned of Mary’s pregnancy, he didn’t want to cause her any disgrace or harm. Hence, he planned to end their relationship secretly so she wouldn’t be publicly accused of adultery. But God spoke to him through an angel in a dream, assuring him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife.

What the Bible says about Joseph the Carpenter: According to Matthew 1:18-21:

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’”

Joseph had strong faith in the Lord and was thus receptive to His will. When he was told in a dream to take Mary as his wife, he didn’t argue with God. Instead, he faithfully obeyed and completed the marriage.

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Joseph the Carpenter after the Birth of Jesus

After Jesus’ birth, an angel warned Joseph in a dream to take the child and His mother and flee to Egypt.

Matthew 2:13-14:

“When they [the Magi] had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt,”

Joseph obeyed the Lord and quickly took his family to Egypt. They stayed there until Herod died. After Herod’s death, Joseph returned his family to Judea and settled in Nazareth. Jesus became known as the “carpenter’s son” (Matthew 13:55). It is said that Joseph taught Jesus the trade of carpentry.

In the Gospel of John, we encounter a confused group of people questioning about Jesus and Joseph: “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?” (John 6:42). This is the last specific mention of Joseph the Carpenter in the Gospels, suggesting he was likely still alive at that time.

About three years later, at the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, while hanging on the cross at Golgotha, Jesus issued instructions concerning the care of His mother:

“When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home” (John 19:26-27).

In this passage, Jesus ensures someone will care for His mother after His death. Since women in ancient Judea were under the care of their husbands or sons, this could indicate that Joseph the Carpenter was no longer alive. He likely passed away during the three-year period when Jesus was traveling around Judea, preaching, and teaching His disciples.

When was Joseph the Carpenter Canonized as a Saint?

In 1870, Pope Pius IX declared Saint Joseph the patron of the Catholic Church. Additionally, the Catholic Church dubbed him “most chaste” and placed him among the virgin saints. Besides the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Oriental Orthodox Church also recognize Joseph as a saint.

On December 8, 2020, Pope Francis dedicated an entire year to Saint Joseph. In his apostolic letter, he said, “Each of us can discover in Joseph—the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence—an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble.” He added, “Saint Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the history of salvation.”

What Can We Learn from Joseph the Carpenter?

We can learn valuable lessons from the life of Saint Joseph that can help us in our daily lives and our spiritual journey.

1. Practice Righteousness: Joseph’s refusal to abandon Mary after learning of her pregnancy is a lesson for all of us. Even if we consider someone guilty, we should never judge and condemn them. Instead, we should lovingly seek to understand the truth, stand by them, and offer any help we can.
2. Be Receptive to the Truth: If we love the truth, the truth will set us free. Although Joseph might have felt disappointment and even betrayal upon learning of Mary’s pregnancy, he still had a desire to discover the truth. During that crisis, his mind was likely filled with negative thoughts. Nevertheless, God intervened and revealed the truth to him. This dream quickly freed Joseph’s mind, bringing him peace and comfort. One could say he found the truth he was seeking after that dream.

We, too, should always seek the truth and not give in to our emotions. Acting on emotions can lead us astray. We should seek and pursue the truth.

3. Protect Others: Joseph was responsible for protecting his family. After God spoke to him in a dream, he quickly took his family and fled to Egypt. Like him, we should become protectors of our families. We must ensure they are safe from harm. We should do everything in our power to keep them secure at all times.
4. Be Obedient: Joseph’s obedience to God when he was called to marry Mary is remarkable. His obedience is again evident when God instructed him in a dream to flee with his family to Egypt. As followers of Christ, we must learn to be obedient and not rebellious. In all things, we must strive to live our lives in a way that pleases God. An obedient servant brings great joy to his master.
5. Be Selfless: Nowhere in the Bible do we see Joseph thinking of himself. He always put Mary and Jesus before himself and was always concerned about their well-being. We should never quickly think of ourselves. Instead, we should prioritize the needs of others above our own. When we seek the interests of others, God will compensate by fulfilling our needs.

The life of Joseph the Carpenter reminds us that God can use the simplest of people to accomplish His purposes. Although the few sections of the Bible that mention this great man of God depict him as silent, his actions were heroic. The memory of Saint Joseph remains alive in the modern world, and today we have the privilege of learning many things from him.