Matthew 1:19 is the nineteenth verse of the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. It is part of the description of the events that surround Jesus' birth. Joseph has found Mary pregnant and in this verse considers leaving her.
The original Greek Koine, according to Westcott and Hort, reads:
- ????? ?? ? ???? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ?? ????? ?????
- ??????????? ???????? ????? ???????? ?????
In the King James Version of the Bible, the text reads:
- Then Joseph her husband, being a fair man, and do not want
- make it public example, think to get rid of it personally.
The New International Version translates this section as:
- Because Joseph's husband is faithful to the law,
- but do not want to expose himself to public disgrace,
- he had in mind to divorce her calmly.
For other versions of the collection, see BibRef Matthew 1:19
That this verse refers to Joseph as Mary's husband does not contradict or means a change in the state of Matthew 1:18, where he is only his fiancee. The engagement period is a formal setting and the couple can be considered as husband and wife when engaged.
Actually what this verse means by Joseph as a "fair man" is much discussed. The Greek term is dikaios , and it has been variously translated as fair, straight, straight, and good character. Brown outlines three basic interpretations. Most of the ancient commentators of the Bible interpret it as meaning that Joseph was law-abiding, and thus decided to divorce Mary according to the Mosaic Law when he found him pregnant by another. However, his truth is muted by mercy and hence he keeps the matter secret. The second view, first put forward by Clement of Alexandria, is held by most modern Christians. This view sees Joseph's truth, not in his rigid obedience to the law, but rather to his own compassion. With this view the decision to make sure Mary is not humiliated is not an exception to Joseph's truth, but the proof. With this view mercy is more true than obedience. The third view is based on the idea that Joseph already knew that Mary's child had been born divinely. This corresponds to Luke's Gospel where Mary is quickly told how she became pregnant. With this interpretation, Joseph's truth is his great piety that leads him to immediately accept the story of Mary and his desire not to interfere with God's plan for his new wife.
Some scholars have tried to get rid of the disquieting word divorce in this verse, and most of the older translations do it. Because Joseph has just been described as the right person because he thinks divorce can imply that divorce is true. Especially in the nineteenth century, some scholars tried to read alternative meanings into the term. One proposal is that it only means separate: that the couple will be separated but legally they will remain married. But recent discoveries have found that the legal path to divorce is at the moment. One of the clearest evidences is the divorce record of 111 AD, incidentally between a couple named Mary and Joseph, found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Greek word here translated as divorce is aphiemi , and the only other time that arises is in 1 Corinthians 7:11 where Paul uses it to describe the separation of the law of a man and wife. Almost all modern translators today feel that divorce is the best word. Today, versions that do not use the word divorce do so for doctrinal reasons. This verse also gives one of the major biblical reasons for divorce for the churches who accept the practice. Since the marriage in question never materialized, the divorce that Joseph had planned did not violate the beliefs of churches, such as the Roman Catholic Church, which rejected divorce.
What that verse means by personally is also open to discussion. The rabbinic law of that period provides two methods of divorce for reasons of adultery. One is to bring this issue to the village council, which will convene the hearing and, if the allegation is proved, the divorce. The second method is to have evidence submitted and approved by two witnesses who will then legalize the divorce. By secret most experts believe that verse means that Joseph will take the second option. Gundry argues that witnesses are needed to prevent a woman from denying that a divorce has taken place. Gundry believes that with the secrecy of the verse means that even witnesses will be defeated and separation will be entirely private affairs.
Video Matthew 1:19
See also
- The Christian view of divorce
Maps Matthew 1:19
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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