[jo kus]

If Mary had taken a childhood vow of virginity for all her life, then why in the universe would she have agreed to become betrothed?

According to the Apocrypha, to protect Mary's virginity. By betrothing Mary to an elderly and righteous man as Joseph, Mary's virginity would be intact AND she would be provided for financially. This is not an unusual scheme, except to the 21st century American who is fixated on sex.

Regards

[Forest Keeper]

FK: "If Mary had taken a childhood vow of virginity for all her life, then why in the universe would she have agreed to become betrothed?"

According to the Apocrypha, to protect Mary's virginity. By betrothing Mary to an elderly and righteous man as Joseph, Mary's virginity would be intact AND she would be provided for financially. This is not an unusual scheme, except to the 21st century American who is fixated on sex.

I find this hard to believe. What exactly was in this arrangement for Joseph? Let's see, he agrees to marry a child, and provide for her financially and for all her other needs. She, in return, agrees to not be a wife to him. Hmmm. Deal, or no deal? Oh, and why do you say this was not unusual? What, the practice of older men marrying much younger women for sex was just invented? :)

WHY DID JOSEPH WANT TO MARRY HER? If he wanted to take care of her financially, he sure could have without marrying her. Why the charade, why the lie?