who were the three wise men
Almost everyone knows about the magi, the “wise men from the East” who herald the birth of Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. However, since the Bible does not tell us the number of magi, we can only speculate. But few realize that these three kings of Orient are not Christians or Jews, but Zoroastrians, members of an ancient faith that survives to this day. The Greek word mágoi (translated magi or wise men) is plural, so we’re sure there were at least two. The Three Wise Men all came from lands east of Jerusalem after seeing a special star in the sky that indicated the birth of a special king. Where were the Wise Men on Christmas? Many people now write as if religion were for the magi only. The traditional view that three wise men journeyed to see Christ is likely based on the fact that three gifts were given. The idea of the three wise men being kings developed much later after Christianity became the religion of the Romans. The Bible doesn't say how many. They would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought practical gifts. There is the same variety of impression still. T hey’re the three men in glittering velvet robes and fake beards ... of course, of the Magi. . It is said that King Herod secretly met with the Wise Men and asked them to report back after they had found the child since he too wanted to go and worship the child, although secretly Herod was plotting to kill the child. By the 3 rd century, they were viewed as kings. We know there were at least two magi, and there may have been many more. The best-informed children will tell you that the names of the three … The three wise men were visiting the little baby Jesus As Melichior leans over to get a closer look at the infant he bumps his head on the roof of the manger and shouts, "Jesus Christ!" Knowing that Jesus … It is highly unlikely that heathen, idolatrous astrologers would go to the great effort to travel many, many miles to … Although this hypothetical scenario is to be taken as a joke filled with satire, there is much to be said in defence for the three wise men (actually, we do not know how many Magi visited, only that there were three gifts, hence the tradition that they were three wise men). But a traveling caravan could have been far larger. Who were the wise men? Zoroastrians the three wise men from the east. They entered the house and saw the little child with Mary. The Magi may have even been the first missionaries. That idea comes from the three gifts they brought. Although the carol ‘We Three Kings of Orient Are’ remains popular, it’s not clear that the Magi are kings, that there are three, that they are from the Orient, or even that they are very wise. Even scriptures tell us of Herod the Great receiving those visitors, seeking the child “King of The Jews.” Conniving Herod told them to let him know when they found him, so he could reverence the “child-to-be-king.” The Quest to Identify the Three Wise Men. It is possible that Jesus' Great Commission at the end of Matthew is based on the missionaries Zarathustra sent out as there is little history of missionaries in Judaism or any ancient ethnic/tribal faith. The three “wise men from the east” appeared in Jerusalem inquiring, “Where is he who has been king of the Jews? As the years passed, traditions became increasingly embellished. . I would like to submit to you that these wise men were wise for other reasons besides their education. Additionally, the names given to these Biblical figures differ based on tradition. Luke says that it was the plainest sort of people, the shepherds, who first greeted that coming. The wise men were astrologers, and the star was an astronomical sign they saw that signified the prophecy of the Jewish king. However, Matthew’s account of the magi’s visit in the Gospel (which is the only reference in the Bible to these famed visitors) tells us none of these characteristics. In Daniel 2, the wise men were unable to tell King Nebuchadnezzar his dream, before attempting to interpret it. That is why Matthew 2:11 says the wise men visited and worshiped Jesus in a house, not at the stable. They were wise men because they were intellectual, intelligent. One natural explanation is to see it in the sense of “We saw his star when we were in the east and have come from the east to worship him.” Several traditions place their number at three, with the conjecture of three gifts for three givers: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. I remember when I was a little boy I wondered who those guys were. What Were the Wise Men’s Names? In addition, the wise men who visited Jesus knew in advance who they were going to visit and that the purpose of their visit was to worship Him (Matthew 2:2, 11). Are you ready for that? The idea of three wise men probably comes from the fact that they brought three gifts. 2 Minute Read Traditional nativity scenes depict three "Wise Men" visiting the infant Jesus on the night of his birth, in a manger accompanied by the shepherds and angels, but this should be understood as an artistic convention allowing the two separate scenes of the Adoration of the Shepherds on the birth night and the later Adoration of the Magi to be combined for convenience. By Amy-Jill Levine, PhD, Vanderbilt University The Magi, the ‘Three Wise Men’ who provide gifts for the Virgin and the baby, appear in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 2. The legend that there were three, and that we know their names, is just a legend. When and Where Did They See the Lord Jesus Christ? That doesn’t mean a star led them from Arabia to Jesus. Can … Verse 1 says they were "men" (meaning male and more than one) and came from east of Jerusalem. How many were there? How Many Wise Men Were There in the Christmas Story? For we have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:1–2). By the 6 th century they had names: Bithisarea, Melichior, and Gathaspa. Or is it wise men? Wait ... were considered kings. The Three Wise Men are believed to have been knowledgeable men who studied the stars and the natural order of the world. Matthew says that the wise men of the time were the first to appreciate the coming of Christ. The shepherds find their place, and the three Wise Men and their camels join them. When they found Jesus in Bethlehem, the three gifts that they offered were gold, frankincense and myrrh. During the time of Jesus, the Parthian Empire was the name of what was formerly the Persian Empire. We know that the magi were wise men from "the East," most likely Persia, or modern-day Iran. Matthew chapter 2. The Magi -- usually known as the "Three Wise Men" or "Three Kings" -- are easily the most famous of the visitors who appear at Jesus's birth in the Gospel accounts of the Christmas story. Were … By Dwight Longenecker. It has generally been assumed that the wise men (or magi) were three in number because Matthew 2:11 makes mention of three gifts: “. ... lays out an intriguing alternative. Discover the meaning of each of their gifts and the significance of this story relating to the life of Jesus. Traditional Christmas says there were 3. The rulers informed them that it was to be in Bethlehem in Judea. 1. The biblical account of the wise men (or magi) is found in Matthew 2:1-12. Scholars believe that gold is either a simple valuable or a symbol of kingship. What would have happened if it had been three Wise Women instead of three Wise Men? Who were the three kings in the Christmas story? To track down who the Wise Men were, we must first look East. The Eastern church has traditions of 12 wise men, but there’s no more biblical evidence of this The Three Wise Men reached Jerusalem and inquired where the Savior was to be born. It’s likely that one of the Wise Men is Asian, one African, and one Caucasian.
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