It has always puzzled me a little, but by anyof those definitions of the Magi, they were practitioners of occult arts.
The OT is pretty clear about its position on occultism of any sort. Just as clear as it is about idolatry, murder, adultery, and homosexual acts.
So how is it that these magicians were among the first to worship Christ? Did they thereafter repent of their practices and give them up.
I don’t expect an answer, really, but if someone has an opinion, I’d like to hear it, and the reasoning behind it.
“but by anyof those definitions of the Magi, they were practitioners of occult arts”
Magi is a Greek word, a translation of the original Hebrew word for “wise man” “sage”, etc. It is not the original term, but at the time of writing (the first century), its meanings were close enough to “wise sage” to suit. (It later came to have additional meanings added on.)
There are some who believe the wise men actually came from China—based on the two-year period necessary for them to arrive (the same time as taking the silk road to Judea would take).
You can leave out astrology as playing a part in their understanding of the star, because that same astrological “knowledge” was not confined to Persia (and points east), but was also known in the Roman world. Ergo, had the star had an astrological meaning, everyone—not just people in the east-would have seen and interpreted the “sign”.
But the bible says that when they arrived and mentioned they had seen the star, all Jerusalem was stirred. Why would this be so if everyone had seen the “sign” and interpreted it the same way?
The wise men came to Jerusalem, to Herod, to find the newborn king. Had they been Jewish sages, they would have headed to Bethlehem (as Herod’s own sages told him was the place the messiah was to be born). Hence, we might—might—deduce they were not Jewish.
(all just thoughts for discussion)
The bible doesn’t say anything more about these fellows after they left the scene. Or even if their worship contained a personal salvational acceptance. Sometimes we have to be satisfied with not knowing.
We do know one thing, to be living in this world is to still sin.
It’s written in the Bible that the stars were put there for signs, at least in part, so condemning every act that could be interpreted as astrology is apparently not correct. The Bible is full of signs in the sun, moon and stars as well as astrological symbols. I tend to think that the condemnation centers upon those who seek personal gain, like Herod, rather than those who seek God. Others will no doubt disagree, it’s a controversial topic.
They are people who studied the sun, moon and stars... astronomers..
Those were the ‘wise men’.
The bible and plan of salvation is written in the heavens and it is an amazing story when compared to when Israel observes their Feasts.
Heavens do declare His Glory..and His Plan is up there way before it was written down by man.
And those people were taught what to look for.. by Daniel..and seemed to have come two years after as we hear that Herod was commanding to kill children two and under.
And down the line, over hundreds of years, they finally saw it and they knew that the King of Israel was born..
Revelation 12 has His birth day embedded in it if one studies the sky.
And it is nowhere near December 25.. maybe in about 4000-6000 years that sign would appear near December 25..
Let me put it this way, astrology is bogus and fake.
Astronomy is real.
Satan will always counterfeit what YHWH creates.