The way in which clear statements and actions in the Bible can be arbitrarily adapted to one’s own traditions and sometimes infantile wishful thinking is demonstrated by the interpretation of Joseph’s motive for wanting to send away his pregnant wife Mary. He said he wanted to do this out of “reverence” and his recognition of her insignificance.
Suspicion of adultery?
How one can dream up one’s own fantasies and then present them as fact is presented in the explanation of the Roman Catholic magazine “catholic.com” about the motives of Joseph, Mary’s husband, for wanting to send her away after her pregnancy with Jesus was revealed. (Source).
Regarding the presentation according to Matthew 1:18-19:
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.“
Apparently, the suspicion was of adultery, and this should not necessarily be made public. This pregnancy after an extramarital affair would indeed be a disgrace. The statements of “Saint” Thomas Aquinas also support this. In his work Catena Aurea, Aquinas cites the opinions of the Catholic “great men” Augustine, Ambrose, and John Chrysostom, as the magazine explains. They were unanimous in their view that Joseph suspected Mary of adultery. However, Aquinas himself did not share this theory.
“Confused” and “Awe”
But there are other views, and therefore one should not be hasty and accept Joseph’s motive for wanting to send Mary away as clear. Aquinas himself offered further interpretations in his “masterful” work. One is the “confusion theory.” This states that Joseph did not accuse his wife Mary of adultery, but was merely confused by her pregnancy.
Another theory is called the “reverence theory.” According to this theory, Joseph knew exactly what was going on. He knew that his wife Mary was pregnant with the promised Messiah. Just as it is written in Isaiah 7:14:
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.“
Thomas Aquinas, in Catena Aurea, advocates the “reverence theory,” as do Jerome and Origen. According to this theory, Joseph knew that Mary was descended from David. Therefore, Joseph also knew that the prophecy in the Old Testament would now be fulfilled in Mary. Since he considered himself unworthy to live in such great holiness, he wanted to send his wife away.
According to Catholic Tradition
The Catholic magazine certainly admits that this interpretation may be an “overly pious” overstretch, but this is not the case. With this explanation, the mouthpiece of the Roman Catholic Church also highlights another problem in this seemingly Christian religious institution. While the magazine is right not to focus on individual verses but also to understand the context, the “content and unity of the entire Holy Scripture” must be read and observed within the “framework of the living tradition of the entire Church.”
The emphasis is on not reading the Word of God as it is written, but rather on understanding the meanings of the Word of God according to the traditions of the Church. For example, the Dogmatic Constitution “Dei Verbum” states in paragraph 12:
“Everything concerning the manner of interpreting Scripture is ultimately subject to the judgment of the Church, whose divinely devoted mission and ministry it is to preserve and interpret the Word of God.”“.
The reference points to the Vatican Council, Dogmas on the Catholic Faith “Dei Filius”, Chapter 2, in 1788. So only about 10 years before the political papacy was abolished by Napoleon’s General Berthier (Info).
Once again the usual detached arrogance of this church, as it has confirmed itself numerous times elsewhere (Info).
So what is true?
How can the “ordinary mortal,” even a believer who is not devoutly subject to the Roman Church, come to the correct interpretation of Joseph’s motive for wanting to send Mary away? Simply by reading the Bible for yourself. And for that, it’s enough to read just a little beyond Matthew 1:18-19, because the answer already appears in verse 20 (verses 20-25).:
“But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.“
Now for simple logic, without any need for a theological degree, let alone considering Catholic traditions. At first, Joseph wanted to send his wife away, and the very next night, an angel appeared to him to explain what was going on. Thus, this ominous, infantile, dreamy “reverence theory” is off the table. Because this fable, supported by Aquinas, simply turns the tables by suggesting that Joseph already knew why Mary was pregnant. This completely contradicts the written word.
Case closed.
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
Proverbs 17:4
Bible verses from King James Version (1611)
