Jesus Christ and his disciples as family men

[MaryM]

I find myself reflecting on how very little is known about Jesus and the apostles in their personal lives. He appears aged 30, a solitary figure in terms of any connection other than we know his mother, sisters and brothers existed. His father Joseph remains a mystery during Jesus's adulthood. How realistic is it that there was no woman in His life?

In those days life must have been much shorter, a man by that age would be married with children. It would be seen as strange to be otherwise. After all Mary his mother was said to be little more than a child herself when she bore Him. I assume marriage was an early business for most people, bear children while young.

Same for his disciples, they followed Him, eventually to their deaths, but they must have had families - wives and children? Paul is presented as a solitary figure. John the Baptist, a man in the wilderness, alone.

In other religions such as Islam, Sikhism, the Buddha - the main figures had wives and children. Just a thought.

Facts and truth are what I am after. Biblical evidence bring paramount. I believe it is not only fine but vital to question these matters.

 

[Seeker47]

I think this is a good question to ask. Significant conclusions can be drawn from the answer.

1 Corinthians 9:5 provides a little bible based information, but not much else is indicated. Peter, and at least some of the disciples were married. Extrabiblical information from the earliest church fathers would also result in this same conclusion but this source is similarly vague.

It appears pretty clear that marriage was approved for the disciples, although some may have chosen to follow Yeshua's example and remain single. For others, their commitment to serving apparently took their full attention.

 

[MaryM]

There couldn't have been any reason not to marry, certainly no shame. Which is why I don't understand the emphasis on celibacy that is often apparent, in the lives of monks and nuns over the centuries.
I wonder why Jesus didn't marry and if that meant marriage was undesirable in some way. It's worth thinking about.

 

[Eli1]

It's worth thinking about.

Maybe it's because He was God incarnate and defied the laws of physics by doing miracles which cannot be achieved today or any other time in the future and maybe because of this He had complete control of his body.
Maybe this is also why He stayed without food or water for 40 days.

This is why He is no average man like anybody in year 2024 or any other time who want to be extraordinary with words but lack action.
He had divine wisdom AND defied the laws of physics with His actions.

 

[Magenta]

Same for his disciples, they followed Him, eventually to their deaths, but they must have had families -
wives and children? Paul is presented as a solitary figure. John the Baptist, a man in the wilderness, alone.

We know Peter was married, for he had a mother-in-law, at least, and it is possible Paul was widowed.

1 Corinthians 9:5 asks, Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife
along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

 

[Seeker47]

There couldn't have been any reason not to marry, certainly no shame. Which is why I don't understand the emphasis on celibacy that is often apparent, in the lives of monks and nuns over the centuries.
I wonder why Jesus didn't marry and if that meant marriage was undesirable in some way. It's worth thinking about.

The suppression of sexuality by the church, especially of women, is a fascinating topic. It is worth exploring but it is also one that is filled with land-mines and pitfalls.

I can recommend a book, The Subversion of Christianity by Jacques Ellul. He proposes that women more clearly represent the true elements of Christianity; grace, love, charity, concern for others, non-violence, interest in the little thing, and hope for new beginnings. The emerging church, which sought world-wide domination contrary to Christ's teachings, had to suppress those very elements to succeed. Marginalizing women, by holding them to an impossible standard, was one means to accomplish their goals.

True or not is for each to decide, but it does provoke though...

 

[Lynx]

I find myself reflecting on how very little is known about Jesus and the apostles in their personal lives. He appears aged 30, a solitary figure in terms of any connection other than we know his mother, sisters and brothers existed. His father Joseph remains a mystery during Jesus's adulthood. How realistic is it that there was no woman in His life?

In those days life must have been much shorter, a man by that age would be married with children. It would be seen as strange to be otherwise. After all Mary his mother was said to be little more than a child herself when she bore Him. I assume marriage was an early business for most people, bear children while young.

Same for his disciples, they followed Him, eventually to their deaths, but they must have had families - wives and children? Paul is presented as a solitary figure. John the Baptist, a man in the wilderness, alone.

In other religions such as Islam, Sikhism, the Buddha - the main figures had wives and children. Just a thought.

Facts and truth are what I am after. Biblical evidence bring paramount. I believe it is not only fine but vital to question these matters.

1 Corinthians chapter 7 explains this well. Some people have the gift to be single, so they can devote their full attention to ministry. People who are married should have their first attention devoted to their spouses, as is right.

1 Corinthians chapter 7 also says not everybody has this gift...

Those who have this gift should not despise those who don't. God wants them to be busy doing his work.

Those who do not have this gift should not despise those who do. They should just be glad they are not burdened with the tasks allotted for those who do have the gift.

And of course neither group should wish to be part of the other group. We should all be what we were made and do what we can.

 

[MsMediator]

There couldn't have been any reason not to marry, certainly no shame. Which is why I don't understand the emphasis on celibacy that is often apparent, in the lives of monks and nuns over the centuries.
I wonder why Jesus didn't marry and if that meant marriage was undesirable in some way. It's worth thinking about.

Jesus didn't need to marry for our sake, and probably didn't want/need to marry. His family probably didn't pressure Him either since they knew He is special.

Also Jesus cares more about spiritual legacy rather than biological legacy, so no need for him to have children.

It doesn't appear that many in the New Testament were not married as you mentioned, such as Jesus, Paul, John the Baptist, at least some of the disciples, and also probably Mary Magdalene and some of the women following Jesus. Also, Jesus' friends Lazurus, Martha, and Mary do not appear to be married (they were siblings living together); I am assuming they were around the same age as Jesus which was too old to be unmarried back then. All these examples just show that marriage isn't the greatest priority in life. This does not mean that marriage is bad though. However, marriage could be seen as undesireable because of the added responsibility which is why people avoided it.

 

[p_rehbein]

Scriptue says:

Matthew, Chapter 19:

27Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
30But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

That should answer your question,,,,,,,,,,