Joseph of Arimathea

Joseph of Arimathea
Joseph of Arimathea
All that is known for certain concerning him is derived from the canonical Gospels

Catholic Encyclopedia. . 2006.

Joseph of Arimathea
    Joseph of Arimathea
     Catholic_Encyclopedia Joseph of Arimathea
    All that is known for certain concerning him is derived from the canonical Gospels. He was born at Arimathea — hence his surname — "a city of Judea" (Luke, xxiii, 51), which is very likely identical with Ramatha, the birthplace of the Prophet Samuel, although several scholars prefer to identify it with the town of Ramleh. He was a wealthy Israelite (Matt., xxvii, 57), "a good and a just man" (Luke, xxiii, 50), "who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God" (Mark, xv, 43). He is also called by St. Mark and by St. Luke a bouleutes, literally, "a senator", whereby is meant a member of the Sanhedrin or supreme council of the Jews. He was a disciple of Jesus, probably ever since Christ's first preaching in Judea (John, ii, 23), but he did not declare himself as such "for fear of the Jews" (John, xix, 38). On account of this secret allegiance to Jesus, he did not consent to His condemnation by the Sanhedrin (Luke, xxiii, 51), and was most likely absent from the meeting which sentenced Jesus to death (cf. Mark, xiv, 64).
    The Crucifixion of the Master quickened Joseph's faith and love, and suggested to him that he should provide for Christ's burial before the Sabbath began. Unmindful therefore of all personal danger, a danger which was indeed considerable under the circumstances, he boldly requested from Pilate the Body of Jesus, and was successful in his request (Mark, xv, 43-45). Once in possession of this sacred treasure, he — together with Nicodemus, whom his courage had likewise emboldened, and who brought abundant spices — wrapped up Christ's Body in fine linen and grave bands, laid it in his own tomb, new and yet unused, and hewn out of a rock in a neighbouring garden, and withdrew after rolling a great stone to the opening of the sepulchre (Matt., xxvii, 59, 60; Mark, xv, 46; Luke, xxiii, 53; John, xix, 38-42). Thus was fulfilled Isaiah's prediction that the grave of the Messias would be with a rich man (Is., liii, 9). The Greek Church celebrates the feast of Joseph of Arimathea on 31 July, and the Roman Church on 17 March. The additional details which are found concerning him in the apocryphal "Acta Pilati", are unworthy of credence. Likewise fabulous is the legend which tells of his coming to Gaul A.D. 63, and thence to Great Britain, where he is supposed to have founded the earliest Christian oratory at Glastonbury. Finally, the story of the translation of the body of Joseph of Arimathea from Jerusalem to Moyenmonstre (Diocese of Toul) originated late and is unreliable.
    FRANCIS E. GIGOT
    Transcribed by Mike McLeod

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VIII. — New York: Robert Appleton Company. . 1910.


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  • Joseph of Arimathea — n. Bible a wealthy disciple who provided a tomb for Jesus body: Matt. 27:57 60 * * * (1st century AD) a rich supporter of Jesus who appears in the Bible. He asks for Jesus’ body after he dies and puts it in his own tomb. In traditional English… …   Universalium

  • Joseph of Arimathea — n. Bible a wealthy disciple who provided a tomb for Jesus body: Matt. 27:57 60 …   English World dictionary

  • Joseph of Arimathea — Once the elders returned to the cell, the seal was still in place, but Joseph was gone. The elders later discover that Joseph had returned to Arimathea. Having a change in heart, the elders desired to have a more civil conversation with Joseph… …   Wikipedia

  • Joseph von Arimathea — Stich William Blakes mit dem Titel Joseph of Arimathea Among the Rocks of Albion Josef von Arimathäa oder Joseph von Arimathia war ein reicher Jude und wahrscheinlich ein Mitglied des Sanhedrins, des altjüdischen Gerichts in Jerusalem, der aber… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Joseph of Arimathea — Joseph of Ar|i|ma|the|a, Saint in the New Testament of the Bible, a rich follower of Jesus who asked to be given Jesus s dead body so that he could bury it in the ↑tomb that he had built for himself. There is also an old story that he brought the …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Joseph of Arimathea, Saint — ▪ biblical figure flourished c. AD 30, ; Western feast day March 17, Eastern feast day July 31       according to all four Gospels, a secret disciple of Jesus (Jesus Christ), whose body he buried in his own tomb. In designating him a “member of… …   Universalium

  • Joseph of Arimathea —    A minor figure in the Gospels, who entered folklore when *Glastonbury claimed he founded a church there in ad 63; this story first appears in 1247, as a forged chapter inserted into William of Malmes bury s treatise On The Antiquity of… …   A Dictionary of English folklore

  • St Joseph of Arimathea — ➡ Joseph of Arimathea * * * …   Universalium

  • Joseph of Arimathea — Date: 14th century a rich councillor of the Sanhedrin who according to the Gospel accounts placed the body of Jesus in his own tomb and according to medieval legend took the Holy Grail to England …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Joseph of Arimathea —    He received and buried the body of Christ, and also possessed the Holy Grail until he passed it on to Bron …   The writer's dictionary of science fiction, fantasy, horror and mythology

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