Why at Christmas are the 3 wise men given so much non biblical credit?
If you read the account in the Bible the three wise men or astrologers were sent by King Herod to reveal the location of Jesus so that Herod could have him killed. When they got to Jesus, God had to warn them to not carry out their mission so they split. Herod when he found out he was dumped went in a rage and killed every boy 2 and under.
The three wise men were not goody goodies they were sent to see Jesus killed. And Jesus was not a baby in a crib since Herod ascertained Jesus to be at least a 2 year old toddler.
You’re pretty close to being right.
The three wise men were indeed nothing special.
Some believe (including me), that the star was Satan.
It was he leading the astrologers to Jesus so that they could take his whereabouts to Herod.
November 7th, 2009 at 1:59 am
Traditions are more fanciful than Bible scriptures.
Edit: Brilliant deduction Alexanda and also though there was very likely more astrologers or magi in the kings court than the ones that were sent on the mission. Herod heard of the reports when comunication never return but it was certainly not a couple of years likely a few weeks.
Though the Bible doesn’t state how many went to find Jesus and people assume three because of the three recorded gifts but it could of been any of a small number.
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November 7th, 2009 at 2:24 am
You almost got the story right. The three wise men were men who studied the scriptures and recognized the sign in the sky (the star) and set off to follow it. Herod heard that these men were going to see the new King born and then Herod petitioned that they let him know where the babe was. Then, an angel visited them to advise them not to go back to Herod.
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November 7th, 2009 at 2:55 am
You’re pretty close to being right.
The three wise men were indeed nothing special.
Some believe (including me), that the star was Satan.
It was he leading the astrologers to Jesus so that they could take his whereabouts to Herod.
References :
November 7th, 2009 at 3:06 am
>>If you read the account in the Bible the three wise men or astrologers were sent by King Herod to reveal the location of Jesus so that Herod could have him killed.<<
If you read the account in the Bible, it never says there were three. And Herod tells them he wants to worship the child, not kill Him.
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November 7th, 2009 at 3:12 am
The explanation is rather simple.
Read v19 of Matthew Chapter 2
16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
The key sentence being: "from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men"
Herod was working from the intelligence that he was provided by the wise men. Travel was long and hard in the time of the wise men, who is to say that the Star that they followed came BEFORE Christ’s birth? So – if it occurred AT the birth, then by the time they made the journey from Persia to Bethlehem, Christ could have already been a toddler.
Keep up your reading, and your thinking – it’s both valuable and worthwhile!
Look at verse 11, it suggests that they are not in the cave behind the inn, but in a house…
11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh
In Orthodox Iconography you see this depicted clearly. The Shepherds are written next to Christ, and the wise-men are written as coming from afar off. Odds are good that there were two separate meetings (first the Shepherds, and only later (within 2 years later) the Wise men)
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