Posted on 12/26/2018 1:58:28 AM PST by SunkenCiv
One of the most compelling, recently translated into English by Bible scholar Brent Landau, is the so-called Revelation of the Magi, an apocryphal account of the traditional Christmas story that purports to have been written by the magi themselves.
The account is preserved in an eighth-century C.E. Syriac manuscript held in the Vatican Library, although Brent Landau believes the earliest versions of the text may have been written as early as the mid-second century, less than a hundred years after Matthew’s gospel was composed. Written in the first person, the Revelation of the Magi narrates the mystical origins of the magi, their miraculous encounter with the luminous star and their equally miraculous journey to Bethlehem to worship the child. The magi then return home and preach the Christian faith to their brethren, ultimately being baptized by the apostle Thomas...
In the Revelation of the Magi, there are not just three magi, as often depicted in early Christian art (actually, Matthew does not tell us how many there were), nor are they Babylonian astrologers or Persian Zoroastrians, as other early traditions held. Rather from Brent Landau’s translation it is clear the magi (defined in this text as those who “pray in silence”) are a group—numbering as few as 12 and as many as several score—of monk-like mystics from a far-off, mythical land called Shir, possibly China. They are descendants of Seth, the righteous third son of Adam, and the guardians of an age-old prophecy that a star of indescribable brightness would someday appear “heralding the birth of God in human form.”
(Excerpt) Read more at biblicalarchaeology.org ...
A lost Syriac manuscript, the Revelation of the Magi, translated into English by Bible scholar Brent Landau, may help answer that key question from the Christmas story: “Who were the magi?” Photo: Ms Vaticanus Syriacus 163, © 2011 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana
Later
Anno Domino
It’s not CE (common as cat shit) to me, it’s in the year of our Lord.
Whenever anybody writes that, he loses me.
Every time. Amen.
You can’t necessarily blame the author.
Writers working for these magazines have to adhere to style guides as a condition of employment.
numbering as few as 12 and as many as several score—of monk-like mystics from a far-off, mythical land called Shir, possibly China.
Shir is not likely China.
More likely the ancient kingdom of Shambhala, also known as Shar-lung , or Shangri-la. It was shortened to “Shir.”
This Kingdom is inaccessible today, according to legend.
It is said to be located in the area North of Tibet, towards
Eastern Tajikistan.
Ah ha, a text of secret society with secret knowledge; a hallmark of these false stories. You have to ask yourself, 'Why is it not in the Apocrypha'?
Ah ha, Brent seeks to undermine the Scriptures. Matthew says "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem" Matthew 2:1. It doesn't say Mary and Joseph lived there always as Brent implies. Another Red Flag.
Okay, so if they are almost entirely made up, then why did Matthew and Luke create these stories about Jesus’ birth?
Uh Huh, just as predicted - more undermining of the Bible based on conjecture. Final RED FLAG. BUSTED!
Recent research has shown that the conception of Jesus was on Sept. 3, 3 BC, when Virgo had the sun in her hair with the crescent moon at her feet. The best evidence is that Herod died on December 29, 1 BC, during a total lunar eclipse of the moon, not in 4 BC as the consensus of the experts have claimed. On June 17, 2 BC, Jesus was born when Venus and Jupiter merged in the sky, an event that has not occurred previous or since. Jupiter performed a triple conjunction around the central star Regulus, in the constellation Leo the Lion. On Dec. 25, 2 BC, Jupiter stopped its prograde motion in its third trip over the top of Regulus, the heart of Leo. On that day Jupiter sat still over Bethlehem to the South, as viewed from Jerusalem. Jupiter had stopped its prograde motion of its triple conjunction above Regulus, forming a triple crown. Jupiter’s motion would become retrograde, against the motion of the stars. This is the most likely time when the wisemen visited Jesus, Dec. 25, 2 BC, when Jesus was a toddler.
30 years later Jesus began to preach to Good News of the Gospel. On Friday, April 3, 33 AD, Jesus laid down His life for us. The full moon rose that night engulfed in a total lunar eclipse (a blood moon), representing a full life lived with a sacrifice. Remember that Jesus was born during a crescent moon, a full life yet to be lived. Jesus rose again victorious on the third day after His death. If you project the eclipse of the moon on April 3, 33 AD, back onto the sky towards the sun, you will find that it points to Aries the Ram, the Lamb of God, sacrificed for the sin of the world.
-Frank
This is cool.
Totally agree!
>>>It’s not CE (common as cat shit) to me, it’s in the year of our Lord.
Given that this journal deals with Biblical archealogy, many of the the authors and readers may be Israeli Jews. For that group of people, we are still in BC, as they await the coming of the Messiah, or Christ. The use of CE and BCE could be in deference to those researchers.
It’s a fascinating story, but does it actually bring us any closer to understanding who the actual magi of the Christmas story might have been? Unfortunately, the answer is no, says Landau, although it may provide insight into the beliefs of an otherwise unknown Christian sect of the second century that identified with the mysterious magi.“Sadly, I don’t think this is actually written by the historical wise men,” said Landau in an interview with National Public Radio’s Diane Rehm. “In terms of who wrote it, we have no idea. [But] the description of the magi and [their religious practices] is so remarkably detailed and I’ve often wondered whether it’s reflecting some actual community out there that practiced and kind of envisioned themselves in the role of the magi.”
Well, that was wild..
I’m with you.
It’s Anno Domini; there, I’m officially the Latin Gestapo. Sorry.
Yeah. The Bible alredy tells sreaight out who the "wise men" were, and where they came from.
The μαγοι (magoi, plural of μάγος = magus) were Aramaic (= Chaldean) astrologer religionists residing in ἀνατολή (anatolay, the eastern part of what is now called Turkey, which is still called Anatolia on any detailed map). That area is generously referred to in the Old Testament as Padan, or Padanaram. This is the area of eastern Turkey that includes what was once called "Ur of the Chaldees (Chaldean/Aramaic mountains)" and now is Sanliurfa (Glorious Ur), a city just above the boundary between Turkey and Syria.
It is from this area that Abram came to Canaan and settled, by the direction of Jehovah Elohim. Padan, or Padanaram, is the place to which the emissary of Abram/Abraham went to find a bride for Isaac, and to which Jacob fled from Esau's wrath after he winkled the birthright of the land from their father.
Padanaram is where Jacob worked for fourteen or more years for the Syrian Laban, his uncle, at the region occupied by Grandfather Bethuel. It is where he got Leah and Rachel, his wives, and where most of his children were born.
That is on the lower edge of Anatolia; to the Greeks, "The East"--the land bridge over which the Greeks and Persians back and forth until Alexander overcame them. But, of course, that is directionally to the north of Palestine, though the compatriots of Jesus , speaking Greek, still called that area Anatolia, as it is still called today.
However, it is more likely that the Magoi lived a bit further east, up in the Chaldean mountains, near Lake Van, from which in the time of Abraham the constellation that we call "the Southern Cross" could be clearly seen. However, according to celestial mechanics, the astrologers noted that year by year, decade by decade, the inexorable declination of this constellation began to draw them further and further south to observe it, as it continued to be seen only at its height in the southern skies, and at the time of year coinciding with that of Jesus' birth.
It was on their last sortie that the brightest star of the Southern Cross appeared for only a few moments on the low horizon. It was two years after the year of Jesus birth that the magoi caravan arrived as reported in Matthew 2:1, it could yet be seen, but only from Bethlehem, whose elevation was a few yards above that of Jerusalem.
Actually, today the Southern Cross can be seen briefly from Brownsville, Texas, which is quite a bit further south than Bethlehem.
And that is the story of the wise men and the Star, which they had followed as it declined, hoping to find at some future year the prophesied King of the Jews. If you want to see the Star of "The East" go to Brownsville. Or Mumbai.
Translated:
Three good wise men, earthly monarchs,
Whither are you searching?
Will you tell us, Oh great patriarchs,
Do you seek the Infant.
In a manger, without a throne,
No scepter does He hold,
What is destined, has been long known,
By all prophets foretold.
Three good wise men, malice fearful
Persecutes the new King,
Tidings dismal, tidings dreadful,
Herod is conspiring.
In a manger…
Yet the monarchs will not frighten,
To Bethlehem hasten,
While the star proclaims the Savior,
Life and Hope Redeemer!
In a manger…
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