The Other Person in the Picture

Philip Walker Jacobs teaches art history at Newberry College, South Carolina. He is the author of Joseph the Carpenter: His Reception in Literature and Art from the Second to the Ninth Century (2016).

In this thought-provoking and beautifully illustrated volume, Jacobs invites us to reconsider the significance of Joseph of Nazareth and the role and influence he had in the life of Jesus. Relying on a careful reading of Scripture and recent archaeological studies, he challenges the historic and contemporary assumptions of those who have sought, through their writing and art, to marginalize Joseph and his importance in Christian history and the life of the church. Recognizing that Joseph is often minimized or left out of religious and cultural representations of the holy family, in plays and in Christmas cards, he reminds us that like Mary, Joseph was chosen by God to care, teach, and shape the one who would bring salvation and hope to the world. In the process, Jacobs encourages us to see Joseph as Scripture presents him--as believer, dreamer, prayer, protector, teacher, husband, and father--and as more than just the other person in the picture.