Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, likely died before Jesus's crucifixion, probably when Jesus was in his late teens or early twenties, as he's absent from the cross scene where Jesus entrusts Mary to John. Scripture doesn't give an exact date, but mentions Joseph when Jesus was 12, and then he disappears from the narrative, suggesting his death occurred between Jesus's childhood and start of public ministry (around age 30).
We don't know for sure. It seems very possible he passed before Christ started his ministry and very probable that he had passed before the crucifiction. Unlike Mary, church tradition is also fairly silent on Joseph's death. The Catholic encyclopedia sums it up well.
We know from the gospels that Joseph was at least still alive when Jesus was twelve years old. Luke tells us how Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to Jerusalem at that age, where he spoke with the teachers of the law in the temple. But Joseph seems to have died by the time Jesus was 30 and began his ministry.
Joseph's death aged 111, attended by angels and asserting the perpetual virginity of Mary, takes up approximately half the story.
FROM: SUNDAY'S OPEN Q & A "How many years are there between Genesis and Exodus?" EBF response: The book of Genesis concludes with the death of Joseph at the age of 110 (Genesis 50:26). We know that Joseph was born in the year 1916 BC. Therefore, he died and the book of Genesis came to a close in the year 1806 BC.
Some apocryphal accounts state that at the time of her betrothal to Joseph, Mary was 12–14 years old, and he was ninety years old. According to ancient Jewish custom, Mary could have been betrothed at about 12.
Jesus speaks of forgiveness beyond what anyone had ever considered before: seventy times seven! Many commentaries understand this to mean that Jesus was telling Peter that he should forgive his brother a limitless number of times.
Joseph has one wife, Asenath the daughter of Potiphar the priest of On, whom he marries in Egypt. She gives birth to two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Since in the Bible, unlike in later Jewish law, ethnic identity is determined by the father, the fact that their mother is not an Israelite does not affect their status.
According to Christianity.com, Mary was 46 to 49 years old when Jesus died. Britannica states that she “flourished” from 25 B.C. to A.D. 75. Assuming this is in reference to her lifespan, according to Britannica, Mary was approximately 54 to 59 years old when Jesus died.
-Joseph had to wait 22 years to see his brothers, father, and family: from the time he was 17 years old until he was 39. -Joseph's father Jacob died when Joseph was about 56 years old. That meant he would have lived nearly half his life (54 years) in harmony with his brothers without the protection of their father.
While Jesus is unquestionably the most well-known child of Mary and Joseph, Scripture indicates He was not their only one. Despite traditions, especially within Roman Catholicism, that teach Mary remained a perpetual virgin, the Bible presents clear evidence that Mary and Joseph had additional children after Jesus.
The day came when God revealed to Mary that her father Joachim would pass from this mortal life to the eternal and immortal life. He said to her, “His death will happen shortly and He will pass in peace and shall be placed among the saints in limbo, to await the Redemption of the human race.”
John was banished by the Roman authorities to the Greek island of Patmos, where, according to tradition, he wrote the Book of Revelation. According to Tertullian (in The Prescription of Heretics) John was banished (presumably to Patmos) after being plunged into boiling oil in Rome and suffering nothing from it.
Joseph's Disappearance from the Narrative
Scholars believe he likely passed away before Jesus' public ministry. Mary continued to play a significant role, present at the crucifixion and among the disciples after the resurrection (John 19:25-27; Acts 1:14).
The Apostle John
John was the one disciple present at the foot of the cross during the crucifixion of Jesus, at which time Jesus instructed John to take Mary as his own mother, which he did.
And Joseph said to his brothers, 'I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.
It is often said that Joseph was 90 and Mary was 11-12 years old when they got married. There is not one verse that says this. Though one can guess Joseph was older than Mary since he died before even Jesus did.
At this time blessed Mary Magdalene, wishing to devote herself to heavenly contemplation, retired to an empty wilderness, and lived unknown for thirty years in a place made ready by the hands of angels. According to this account, she died after receiving Holy Communion from a priest friend of hers who lived nearby.
The Bible is silent about Jesus' life between ages 12 and 30, known as the "Lost Years," but scholars generally believe he worked as a carpenter (or stonemason) with his stepfather Joseph in Nazareth, learned Jewish traditions, and prepared for his public ministry, though some fringe theories suggest travels to India or Egypt. These theories lack historical evidence, with most scholars pointing to a quiet, formative period rooted in his Jewish upbringing and family responsibilities.
The Gospel of Matthew explains that Joseph was a “righteous man, yet unwilling to expose [Mary] to shame” so he decided to “divorce her quietly.” (Matthew 1:19).
Scripture is quite clear that Mary conceived Jesus in a virginal way – by the power of the Holy Spirit. Additionally, it is the constant teaching of the Church that she always retained her virginity. She had no other children and never engaged in the marital act with Joseph.
Article. Solomon, third king of Israel (reigned c. 968–928 B.C.E.), is said to have had a harem that included 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kgs 11:3).
490 is the numerical value of the biblical Hebrew word “tamim” which means to “complete,” “perfect,” or “finished.” A person who can't forgive will always live an imperfect, and incomplete life that lacks a true understanding of the “finished” gracious work of the cross.
10 Signs You Haven't Truly Forgiven Someone (Even If You Think You Have)
The holy things and the pearls represent the things of God, perhaps the gospel itself. The dogs and pigs represent hostile, unworthy people. And so the statement translates into something like this: Do not preach the things of God to hostile, unworthy people.