Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Delbert
If we all agree that the Bible is the word of God and divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit, why would we think that we are supposed to take these words at anything other than face value?

What you're doing is looking for birth records in a foreign country using an Ellis Island name.

The bible was divinely inspired. That is not in question. Where the problem is has to do with culture and an ignorance of historical culture. See, what history scholars have to say doesn't dispute the story or any part of the bible, but more of it makes sense with some archiological background considered.

However I have never seen mention in the scriptures while speaking of the nativity story, that it mentions anything about Joseph and Mary trekking across the desert to the Bethlehem version of the Motel 6 looking for accomadations for the 2 of them plus six other kids.

Joseph was a widower. That's there somewhere. As I understand it, at the time, families lived in big groups in multi-level dwellings. The ground floor was where livestock was kept (stable) and the next floor up was a common room which translates to the word "inn" in English. The word in Greek for messenger is "angel--". It's assumed Mary went into labor and they put her in the only quiet place in the house to deliver the baby, which was the ground floor. When she delivered, they sent the kids out to the fields where the older relatives were tending to the flock to tell them that all was well. Because it's not in the bible exactly this way you might not believe it, but language wise, in the orginal Greek, I understand, it does fit.

As to why any children Joseph would have had from a previous marriage are not mentioned, I don't know, but that doesn't mean they didn't exist. Even the gospels say they they are not a complete narrative. Assuming they are one, is not wise, IMO.
156 posted on 11/01/2002 1:27:52 PM PST by Desdemona
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 140 | View Replies ]


To: Desdemona
Nice reply ..thanks : ) ...actually the first time in my life that I have EVER heard of Joseph being a widower was on Free Republic, I have not seen it in the Bible nor have I ever heard it in church.
162 posted on 11/01/2002 1:35:02 PM PST by Delbert
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 156 | View Replies ]

To: Desdemona
Joseph was a widower.

If you mean at the time of the conception of Jesus and as a means to account for the other children in the family so as to preserve the perpetual virginity of mary, there is no evidence for this. Period.
167 posted on 11/01/2002 1:44:12 PM PST by aruanan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 156 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson