Joseph of Joseph, the shepherd

Shepherd of Bethlehem (of Saba). Orphan, son of Joseph, one of the shepherds of the Nativity killed during the massacre of the innocents while saving himself and his mother. Faced with the concerns of the apostles James and Jude, cousins of Jesus, with their father Alphaeus, he is "astonished, in his lot as an orphan, unaware that a father could be a cause of sorrow":

"I thought I was the most unhappy of all, because I am fatherless. But I see that it is better to moan over his death than to bewail him as an enemy."

One of the seventy-two disciples. Companion of Levi and Elijah. He holds a special status: without being counted among the apostles, he benefits from the training reserved for them:

"I am keeping this son (and He points at Joseph) because I will delegate to him the task of referring My words to his companions, so that also there an efficient group may be formed, that will announce Me not by simply stating that I exist, but by explaining the most essential features of My doctrine."

Character and appearance

A common face that takes on a nobility, a charm, coming from an inner light.

"«[...] Joseph. Do you know that he is a promising young man?» says Thaddaeus.

«Yes. Isaac is an angel, but his strength is entirely spiritual. Joseph is strong also physically. He is almost our age.»

«And he learns quickly. Did you hear what Hermas said? “If he had studied he would be a rabbi besides being a just man”. And Hermas knows what he is talking about.»"

Apostolic journey

Witness to the Crucifixion - the Resurrection and Pentecost.

Disciple of John the Baptist, he is one of the three servants with him at Machaerus thanks to the intercession of Manaen. He is commissioned by Jesus for evangelization:

"I will delegate to him the task of referring My words to his companions, so that also there an efficient group may be formed, that will announce Me not by simply stating that I exist, but by explaining the most essential features of My doctrine."

Wounded in the throats of the Cedron with Elijah, he was almost killed by a stone to the head, the first victims of the nascent persecutions. He finds refuge in the house of Solomon where Jesus heals him.

"I glory in having shed my blood for You, as my father did. I bless You for making me worthy of that!"

Presented for the place of twelfth apostle to replace Judas, but where Matthias was chosen.

His name

Joseph means "May God add!". Historical reference: eleventh son of Jacob by Rachel. This preferred son was sold by his brothers and became Pharaoh's steward. The nickname Barsabbas (son of his father) comes from his personal story.

Where is he mentioned in the work?

GRM 75 GRM 76 GRM 77 GRM 79 GRM 81 GRM 82 GRM 86 GRM 87 GRM 88 GRM 89 GRM 90 GRM 91 GRM 92 GRM 93 GRM 94 GRM 95 GRM 96 GRM 97 GRM 98 GRM 99

GRM 100 GRM 102 GRM 103 GRM 104 GRM 105 GRM 108 GRM 136 GRM 164 GRM 198

GRM 208 GRM 209 GRM 210 GRM 270 GRM 271 GRM 272 GRM 273 GRM 274 GRM 275 GRM 276 GRM 280

GRM 333 GRM 334 GRM 348 GRM 349 GRM 350 GRM 387

GRM 404 GRM 418 GRM 446 GRM 466 GRM 467 GRM 488

GRM 502 GRM 519 GRM 538

GRM 608 GRM 609 GRM 623 GRM 624 GRM 626 GRM 639

Learn more about this character

The Church celebrates Saint Joseph Barsabbas, on July 20.

Joseph Barsabbas and Joseph Barnabas: one or two persons?

When it was decided to find a replacement for Judas, Luke tells us:

"They nominated two: Joseph called Barsabbas, surnamed Justus, and Matthias".

Then a little further on, he recounts the generous gift of a disciple:

"Joseph, moreover called Barnabas by the apostles - which means son of consolation - a Cypriot Levite by birth".

The same first name, two almost similar nicknames, and probably some unfortunate copyist errors, it was enough to raise the question. Are these two different characters, or one and the same disciple? Opinions among biblical scholars are divided, and no one has succeeded in convincing all their peers.

Maria Valtorta distinguishes two persons

For Maria Valtorta, the question does not even arise. The companion of Matthias, one of those men who accompanied the apostles for all the time that the Lord Jesus went and came among them (according to Acts 1:21), is the shepherd Joseph, whom Jesus specially chose as a disciple as early as summer 27, saying:

"I will delegate to him the task of referring My words to his companions, so that also there an efficient group may be formed, that will announce Me not by simply stating that I exist, but by explaining the most essential features of My doctrine."

In "The Gospel as Revealed to Me", he cannot be confused with Joseph Barnabas, the Levite, faithful disciple of Gamaliel, and future companion of Saint Paul, officially received as a disciple at the last hour, just before the Passion:

"you, Barnabas, who have left your companions to follow Me today"

(Excerpts from "The Valtorta Enigma" - Jean-François Lavère)

The Vulgate and tradition confirm Maria Valtorta

The Vulgate thus describes the two persons:

• "and they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias".
• "But Joseph, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles, which is interpreted Son of consolation, a Levite of Cyprus by race"

If we compare these two data, two distinct persons clearly appear:

Name	call name (vocare)	Nickname (Cognomen)	Remarks
Joseph	Barsabbas	Justus	Barsabbas: It is a usual call name
Joseph	-	Barnabas	Barnabas: It is a nickname

Saint John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church (4th century), in his "Homily on the Acts of the Apostles," separates good Joseph Barnabas from Joseph the Just.

Saint Anne-Catherine Emmerich

Anne-Catherine Emmerich mentions Joseph the Just as the first bishop of Eleutheropolis: He "was consecrated in Antioch as the first bishop of Eleutheropolis. He had a widely dispersed troupe and was crucified on a tree during a persecution".

Eleutheropolis is the name given by the Romans to Beth Lehi.