What was the age difference between Mary and Joseph?

[Sammy-San]

The Bible never says the age difference between Mary and Joseph (from what I know about it.) Does anybody here know what their age difference possibly was? I've heard that Jesus's mother was only around 14-15 yrs old, but I've never heard that Joseph was a teenager. If Joseph was an adult and Mary was a teenager, why would she be married to an adult, especially an adult much older than her?

 

[StassiT]

Because people didn't live as long as they do now. Just taking a wild guess, their ages are never said.

 

[RDKirk]

The Bible never says the age difference between Mary and Joseph (from what I know about it.) Does anybody here know what their age difference possibly was? I've heard that Jesus's mother was only around 14-15 yrs old, but I've never heard that Joseph was a teenager. If Joseph was an adult and Mary was a teenager, why would she be married to an adult, especially an adult much older than her?

When my grandparents married, my grandfather was 23 and my grandmother was 15. That was back in 1925, and it wasn't unusual.

I would suspect that Joseph was in his late 20s or early 30s because that's how long it took for a man to fully establish himself financially. Until then, it was not uncommon for a man to still be living with his parents--possibly long betrothed to a young girl, but not actually yet married.

Joseph could have become betrothed to Mary several years earlier.

An interesting note in the OT is the difference between Genesis 5 (pre-Deluge) and Genesis 11 (post-Deluge) in identifying the ages at which men fathered their first child. In Genesis 5, it's well after 100 years old, sometimes hundreds of years old.

In Genesis 11, however, scripture seems to normalize the late 20s and early thirties as the age of a man's first child. I don't think that's an irrelevant point--I think the Hebrews probably did normalize age thirty as the age most men fathered their first children.

 

[Sammy-San]

When my grandparents married, my grandfather was 23 and my grandmother was 15. That was back in 1925, and it wasn't unusual.

I would suspect that Joseph was in his late 20s or early 30s because that's how long it took for a man to fully establish himself financially. Until then, it was not uncommon for a man to still be living with his parents--possibly long betrothed to a young girl, but not actually yet married.

Joseph could have become betrothed to Mary several years earlier.

An interesting note in the OT is the difference between Genesis 5 (pre-Deluge) and Genesis 11 (post-Deluge) in identifying the ages at which men fathered their first child. In Genesis 5, it's well after 100 years old, sometimes hundreds of years old.

In Genesis 11, however, scripture seems to normalize the late 20s and early thirties as the age of a man's first child. I don't think that's an irrelevant point--I think the Hebrews probably did normalize age thirty as the age most men fathered their first children.

If Joseph was in his 20s/30s, then why did he marry Mary, who was only a teenager and wasn't even an adult at the time?

 

[RDKirk]

If Joseph was in his 20s/30s, then why did he marry Mary, who was only a teenager and wasn't even an adult at the time?

In ancient times--for that matter, still in many places-girls were considered marriageable after menstruation began, certainly by age 16. It's even possible in the US today in some states under certain circumstances for a girl to marry as young as 14.

Although males began to take on adult responsibilities as early as 12 or 13, they were usually not financially able to take a wife until much later. It was not at all uncommon in the US for a man to be in his late 20s and a woman in her late teens when they married.

It is a weird abomination of both religion and nature that modern Western Christians expect young people to remain unmarried and celibate for 10 to 15 years after sexual maturity.

 

[Sammy-San]

In ancient times--for that matter, still in many places-girls were considered marriageable after menstruation began, certainly by age 16. It's even possible in the US today in some states under certain circumstances for a girl to marry as young as 14.

Although males began to take on adult responsibilities as early as 12 or 13, they were usually not financially able to take a wife until much later. It was not at all uncommon in the US for a man to be in his late 20s and a woman in her late teens when they married.

It is a weird abomination of both religion and nature that modern Western Christians expect young people to remain unmarried and celibate for 10 to 15 years after sexual maturity.

Just because it was legal for children to marry adults 2000 years ago, it doesn't make it right. legal doesn't equal right.

What exactly are you trying to argue about Christians in the west? Please elaborate.

 

[RDKirk]

Just because it was legal for children to marry adults 2000 years ago, it doesn't make it right. legal doesn't equal right.

You asked the question "If Joseph was an adult and Mary was a teenager, why would she be married to an adult, especially an adult much older than her?"

I just told you why: It was and is common in most cultures for women to marry any time after menstruation began.

What exactly are you trying to argue about Christians in the west? Please elaborate.

Until the early 20th century in the West, there was no such thing as "adolescence." The very concept of adolescence was invented only about 100 years ago. Prior to then, children were children, then at sexual maturity, they became young men and young women. They were expected to begin taking up the responsibilities of adults, and to assume those roles as soon as they became capable.

That was true regardless of economic level. Wealthy or poor, by the time a person became a teenager, he or she began operating in the world of adults. There was none of this extended childhood business--that has now been extended as late as 30 years old.

Until the early 20th century in the West, there was no such thing as "adolescence." The very concept of adolescence was invented only about 100 years ago. Prior to then, children were children, then at sexual maturity, they became young men and young women. They were expected to begin taking up the responsibilities of adults, and to assume those roles as soon as they became capable.

 

[ALEA40]

The Bible never says the age difference between Mary and Joseph (from what I know about it.) Does anybody here know what their age difference possibly was? I've heard that Jesus's mother was only around 14-15 yrs old, but I've never heard that Joseph was a teenager. If Joseph was an adult and Mary was a teenager, why would she be married to an adult, especially an adult much older than her?

You will get different answers on different forums. I have read that Catholics believe that Joseph was an older man with children from a previous marriage. As others have mentioned, the protestant bible doesn't tell us much. Early writings by Christian saints (that Catholics use in addition to the bible) may shed more light and underscore their faith in Mary as the new Arc of the Covenant. She was kept holy and pure throughout her entire life. Only someone pure and holy could carry in her womb and subsequently raise someone as perfect and holy as Jesus Christ. It's a very interesting topic to research online. I'm not sure that this is a belief of all Catholics, as I am not Catholic.

 

[retlaw]

I don't think the bible specifies. It's important not to try to Americanize while you are reading. In the ancient middle east a girl didn't normally get educated. Her job was to be a wife, mother and in many cases be a business partner with her husband. A girl is most often physically ready to take on those rolls by time she is 14. To wait would have just wasted some of the most fertile years of her life. What would she be waiting for? She wasn't going to the prom, she wasn't going to college, she wasn't going to a toga party or to "hang out" with her friends at the drive in. Life in their culture was tied to reality.

I'v noted in a related observation that our culture is causing young people to mature more slowly. When I was a kid many would marry and start a family by their mid 20's. A girl that reached 30 without being married was considered and old maid. I've got kids in their mid 20's and they couldn't take care of a goldfish without help.

I work with youth now at our church and I can assure you the maturity level is not the same. They aren't stupid, They aren't necessarily making bad decisions, they just don't think like someone who will be out of high school soon. Many say they still think of themselves as "kids".

Legislatively it's even changing. A few years back the insurance companies changed the age that I could cover my kids from either 18 or 22 depending on their student status to 26 with no restrictions as long as they don't have a baby themselves. More and more I see legislators trying to tie the bad behavior of ever older children to their parents. I keep wondering when they think the cord is cut?

 

[Shadow316]

not all who call themselves 'Catholic' believe that.

the CC claims that about Joseph to help support their opinion that Mary didn't have sex or other children. IF there were other children they were Joseph's / not born to Mary. They have an obsession with keeping Mary a virgin. Tho, their own teachings on marriage would be violated by that.

And I agree that our society is supporting that people wait til an older age to marry. It encourages/causes sex outside of marriage during younger yrs and abortions so that one might strive for more material things. A very worldly goal.

 

[RDKirk]

And I agree that our society is supporting that people wait til an older age to marry. It encourages/causes sex outside of marriage during younger yrs and abortions so that one might strive for more material things. A very worldly goal.

You have alluded to an important point that the Body of Christ should recognize: It's all about the Benjamins.

The counsel from many Christian parents to their children to hold off on marriage until they're in their mid to late 20s is all about making more money, not about living righteously.

So we're in a society in which even the youngest children are encouraged to have a "boyfriend" or "girlfriend"--causing them to believe even by the first grade that if they don't have a "special" friend of the opposite sex, something is wrong with them.

Their toys are sexualized (examine a "Bratz" doll or even lately a "My Little Pony?"). Their entertainment is sexualized. There is Victoria's Secret sexy underwear for pre-teens. They are sexualized in beauty pageants even as pre-schoolers.

And Christian parents are just as much involved in that world that as non-Christians. Christian parents participate in the sexualization of our children, invest them fully into a culture in which they are expected to be sexually active at the first moment of puberty, they can't be denied birth control, they can't be denied abortions...

...but we're going to deny them marriage? Does that make sense?

 

[JoshuaDaryl]

Your all spot on

 

[Sammy-San]

You will get different answers on different forums. I have read that Catholics believe that Joseph was an older man with children from a previous marriage. As others have mentioned, the protestant bible doesn't tell us much. Early writings by Christian saints (that Catholics use in addition to the bible) may shed more light and underscore their faith in Mary as the new Arc of the Covenant. She was kept holy and pure throughout her entire life. Only someone pure and holy could carry in her womb and subsequently raise someone as perfect and holy as Jesus Christ. It's a very interesting topic to research online. I'm not sure that this is a belief of all Catholics, as I am not Catholic.

I read somewhere that Joseph was 90 yrs old when he married Mary (or when Jesus was born). Is that true or false? I'm skeptical of that claim, because it sounds very far fetched-but is there any Biblical evidence that it is true?

 

[BryanW92]

The Bible never says the age difference between Mary and Joseph (from what I know about it.) Does anybody here know what their age difference possibly was? I've heard that Jesus's mother was only around 14-15 yrs old, but I've never heard that Joseph was a teenager. If Joseph was an adult and Mary was a teenager, why would she be married to an adult, especially an adult much older than her?

14-15 was an adult in those days. In fact, people married and worked at that age up until the beginning of the 20th century.

Girls married young because the best chance to produce healthy children (and lots of them) was to start early. Men married when they were older because they had to be able to support their wife and children, so they learned their trade first.

My grandparents were married in 1924. She was 16. He was 28. They had 10 children from 1925 to 1944.

 

[BryanW92]

And Christian parents are just as much involved in that world that as non-Christians. Christian parents participate in the sexualization of our children, invest them fully into a culture in which they are expected to be sexually active at the first moment of puberty, they can't be denied birth control, they can't be denied abortions...

...but we're going to deny them marriage? Does that make sense?

It makes sick sense for our fallen society that tells us to keep our religion private and then shows Viagra commercials in prime time.

 

[Sammy-San]

14-15 was an adult in those days. In fact, people married and worked at that age up until the beginning of the 20th century.

Girls married young because the best chance to produce healthy children (and lots of them) was to start early. Men married when they were older because they had to be able to support their wife and children, so they learned their trade first.

My grandparents were married in 1924. She was 16. He was 28. They had 10 children from 1925 to 1944.

But is it true or false that Joseph was 90 years old when Mary married him (or when Jesus was born)? I read that online somewhere, and I'm not sure if it's true or false.

Similar to me. My paternal grandparents had about a 10 year age difference when they got married. (not sure about my mom's parents, though.)

 

[RDKirk]

My grandparents were married in 1924. She was 16. He was 28. They had 10 children from 1925 to 1944.

My grandparents were married in 1925. She was 15, he was 23. They had seven children precisely two years apart, although one died in infancy. My grandmother lived to 77, but my grandfather lived to 102.

 

[RDKirk]

I read somewhere that Joseph was 90 yrs old when he married Mary (or when Jesus was born). Is that true or false? I'm skeptical of that claim, because it sounds very far fetched-but is there any Biblical evidence that it is true?

Evaluate who said it: Is this someone who had been proven reliable by other known reliable sources in the past? Has this particular information been supported by other sources? Does this person have the background to know what he's talking about?

 

[JoshuaDaryl]

False, Joseph was in his 30s, Mary was 14 at the time of her pregnancy, 15 when Jesus was born, there are records, and also there are clues in scripture. The Romans were as good at keeping records as the U.S., and the records from the tax collection, believe it or not, are possessed by the Catholic church. The scripture clues are thus, Joseph was in the process of building a house, he was financially strapped, he walked leading the donkey with Mary to Bethlehem. 2000 years ago they aged much as we do today, a bit healthier due to the life style, cleaner food and air, but the aging at that time is what you would expect today. A 90 year old man would have been more financially set, and would not have been participating in a lot of heavy physical labor. A 90 year old man would have needed a lot more time to walk to Bethlehem, would probably have wanted his own donkey.

 

[BryanW92]

But is it true or false that Joseph was 90 years old when Mary married him (or when Jesus was born)? I read that online somewhere, and I'm not sure if it's true or false.

Its not true. He was older than Mary, but still a young man.