Joseph's Dilemma

The story of the birth of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew is told in eight verses. Embedded in this short narrative is "Joseph's dilemma". Listeners are told that: "When Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit" (1:18). What happens next has long been debated. We are made to assume that Joseph discovers that Mary is pregna...