Posted on 12/25/2017 10:17:56 AM PST by blam
Despite attempts by modern biblical scholarship to debunk the gospel account of three magi visiting the newborn Jesus in Bethlehem, the stories were “historically true” according to extensive research by author Dwight Longenecker. In his new book, Mystery of the Magi: The Quest to Identify the Three Wise Men, Longenecker, a scholar and Catholic priest, states that an impartial study of the relevant data “shows beyond reasonable doubt” that the Magi of Matthew’s gospel were historical figures.
For many years, Longenecker writes, skeptical scholars have rejected the possibility that the infancy stories about Jesus could be historical for a number of reasons, such as the fact that they contain supernatural elements.
“The first problem with this is that the skeptic simply assumes supernatural experiences are impossible, therefore any story that contains supernatural elements must be a fanciful invention,” he notes.
“In the early twentieth century, Bible scholars began to write off the stories of Jesus’ birth—especially the story of the wise men—as pious fantasies,” he continues. “They did so without considering if the stories might, at least, be rooted in real events.”
Because of this prejudice, most scholars never did the necessary research to “sift out the historical element buried beneath levels of legend,” he says.
Moreover, the idea that there might be a historical basis to the magi story “became an academic no-go zone,” Longenecker says. “When one’s academic reputation might be at stake the motivation to challenge the academic dogma and entertain the possibility of a historical basis to the magi story becomes even more remote.”
As one Biblical scholar noted: “If you want a career in New Testament scholarship that’s somewhere you just don’t go.”
As a result, within the vast realm of Biblical scholarship there is surprisingly little research
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
"Oppenheimer’s theory is that “ … the roots of the great flowering of civilisation in the fertile crescent of the Ancient Near East lay in the sinking shorelines of Southeast Asia. The Sumerians and Egyptians themselves wrote about the skilled wise men from the East, a fact often dismissed as the embellishment of a fertile imagination.” Purely as an aside, the infertility of the minds of some researchers protecting true knowledge can surely be offset against a true opposite, the imaginative minds of some lawyers in their role as protective inquisitors in an open court in the nations of the Anglo-West. "
Because of this prejudice, most scholars never did the necessary research to “sift out the historical element buried beneath levels of legend,” he says.
that statement could apply to any archeological area, the further back in time one goes, the stronger the prejudice.
Wise Men or just three pretty smart guys?
Which reminds me of the Pontius Pilate controversy. There is no contemporary mention of Pontius Pilate except in the Gospels. That led some “scholars” to conclude that he did not exist...that he was made up just to move the story along.
Then in 1961 the Pilate stone was found. There is now no doubt that Pontius Pilate existed, and that he was prefect of Judaea. Of course we Christians knew that all along.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilate_stone
I have never seen any evidence — in Scripture or otherwise — that there were exactly three Magi.
Well the wise men said they “saw his star in the east”.. The Nabateans were in the west so they could not have seen his star in the East. But Greeks and Egyptians could...
It was some wise guys from Sicily.
This will drive the Atheists and Agnostics heads as to . GOOD!!!
You are correct. There is no evidence that Mary traveled to Bethlehem on anything but her on two feet either.
We assume that because the magi brought three gifts, that there were three of them. It’s more likely that there was an entire caravan for safety.
Me too. The number is not given. Since they were bearing three gifts, I guess many have assumed there were three, each bearing one gift. But the bible does not say.
See the ‘The Star of Bethlehem’ on youtube. The Chaldean wise men did visit Yeshua on this date, when Yeshua was about two years old.
Yeshua was born on Yom Teruah, Day of Trumpets, 3BC. Some think the signs preceded Him and He was actually born later during the same Fall Feast time-frame, on the 1st day of Feast of Booths.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncoC9ZX2C6Y
Take a look at my post #7 here. It too should give the atheists and agnostics something to think about.
I recall having heard that Eastern churches have a tradition that there were 12 Magi.
Perhaps an Eastern Orthodox or similar FReeper could confirm.
Many also think the Chaldeans, were from the lineage of the Sages, started by Daniel. Daniel’s wealth was specificially stored in order to deliver it to the new born King, when the star sign announced His birth. It took time to actually launch the expedition and for it to travel there.
My bet is still with the magi being from the vicinity of Iraq/Persia rather than the Nabataeans living “next door”.
I agree. They may have come with a small army, which is why Herod didn’t mess with them. Who knows for sure, but you are right. There is nothing anywhere, that indicates there were only 3 of them.
Here is some related very good news:
(Freepers with high school students, take note!)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.