3 Reasons the Magi Were Persian ie Iranians

Hormuz Shariat ^ | 22 December 2017 | Hormuz Shariat

[Cronos]

In the story of Christ’s birth there are many familiar characters: Joseph, Mary, Herod, the Jewish leaders, and shepherds. But there are also several (at least three) strange foreigners called “Magi” who unexpectedly come out of nowhere. Even more shocking is that they are more alert, more knowledgeable, and have deeper spiritual understanding of the meaning of the birth of Jesus than most of Jesus’s ethnic relations.

Hossein-Behzah-Birth of Jesus-Magi

But who are these Magi who mysteriously appear around the time of Jesus’s birth and who are prepared to worship him and give him gifts? Where are they from? How do they know so much about his birth and who he is?

People from many nations—places such as Pakistan, India, and even China—claim that these Magi were from their lands. But I say they were from Iran. I say this not because I am from Iran and want to force Iran into the Bible—the Bible already has a lot to say about Persia (Iran)—but I say this because of the evidence.

May I present to you three reasons that support the fact that the Magi were from Iran?

1) The word “Magi” is a Persian word. The Magi were not kings but were dignitaries and advisors in the court of Persian kings. They were high priests of the Zoroastrian religion. The Persian kings respected them, valued them, and sought their advice in their decisions.

2) Images in the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem depict the Magi as Persians. The Church of Nativity was erected in AD 329 by Empress Helena, Constantine’s mother, in the area believed to be where Jesus was born. In AD 614, a mosaic of the Magi on the floor of the church saved it from destruction by a Persian rampage. The mosaic depicts the Magi in Persian clothing. (A ninth-century synod in Jerusalem quoted this example to show the utility of religious images.) This early image does not prove the identity of the Magi, but it shows an early, widespread understanding of who they were.

3) The Magi were familiar with the prophecies of the Old Testament. As we can see in Matthew 2, the Magi were not just following a star out of curiosity; they had great preknowledge about this birth and the identity of Christ. They knew who they were seeking, and what to do when they found him: worship.

When they saw the star, they knew instantly that it was pointing to the Christ child. They told Herod, “We saw his star” (Mt 2:2, emphasis added). They knew that a child would be born around that time and were expecting it. They knew Jesus was a King, asking Herod, “Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?” They also knew that the child was not only a King but was God. They proclaimed, “[We] have come to worship him.”

Zoroastrians believe there is only one God, and he alone must be worshiped. The name of God in Zoroastrian books is “Ahura Mazda” (meaning “the good Lord”). Incidentally, the short form of this word is “Hormoz”—yes, the Zoroastrian name for the One God is where I get my name.

But how did these men know about the coming King? The answer is easy: Daniel. Daniel was (and is even now) respected in Persia as a prophet from God. His book, written in Iran, was available and revered by Persians. Not many people know that for centuries, many who lived in Iran were true believers in the God of the Bible. This was not just because of Daniel, but also because of Nehemiah, Habakkuk, and Esther. At the end of the book of Esther, we read that many Persians came to know the God of Israel.

The Bible also says that when Persian King Cyrus set the captive Jews free, only a small number went back to their land. They returned at several stages, and the total number of those who returned are estimated to be only around 50,000 people. Therefore, millions of Jews stayed in Persia and lived there for centuries.

It is probable that the high priests of the Persian kings were required to know the Old Testament and especially the prophecies of Daniel. That is the reason these Magi were so knowledgeable about who Jesus was and the timing of his birth.

Conclusion: What Can We Learn? It is not really important to prove where these Magi were from. What is important is that “non-Jews” found the Christ child and worshiped him long before hardly any Jews even knew he existed. This teaches us that God’s great desire is for people from all nations to know him and worship him.

We also learn that giving is an inseparable part of worship. Yes, we should worship God with praises on our lips, but that alone is not enough and might even be considered as an empty worship—just lip service.

Giving is an integral part of worship. We should worship God with our gold (possessions), our myrrh (willingness to suffer for him, to deny ourselves, to carry our cross, and to participate in his work), and our frankincense (becoming the fragrance of Christ to this world, as in 2 Cor. 2:15, by reflecting his character and loving the lost).

Worshiping God in this manner is exactly what you are doing by standing by us, loving the Muslims enough to share the gospel with them. Persia once worshiped the God of the Bible and Jesus, his Son. Many Persians are seeking him once again. Thank you for showing them the light of God’s star, that they might follow him.

[gitmo]

You are exactly right.

[Ezekiel]

Many have speculated what that "Star" was. Some have said that it was an astronomical alignment of planets, others say it was a Comet... all these to me, are unsatisfactory. The Star MOVED to lead the Magi to the Messiah's home.

Something completely different, for real-time:

In Western Christianity, the feast commemorates principally (but not solely) the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, and thus Jesus Christ's physical manifestation to the Gentiles.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)

Matthew 2
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

In a modern visual that everyone can look down upon, to see and touch (or not):

^ 6

& 7

* 8

( 9

) 0

In Hebrew, a house is a "byte" [בית], which by nature is 8. 🧊

Sarah was 90 when she was ( ); i.e. great with child.

The Jewish tradition is that Rachel is the mother of all Israel -- by nature a big house.

Rachel [רחל]

= 238, &

2^3 = 8. Plenty of room:

The Star MOVED to lead the Magi to the Messiah's home.

x, y, z... & t.

🌅

Keep on the Sunnyside (Johnny Cash)

Isa 40.3
A voice cries, Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God:

Epiphany: "Now 工 &!"

(amp)

[aimhigh]

I’ve wondered if the wise men were experts on the Book of Daniel, and figured out from Daniel’s writings when Jesus would be born.

[rollo tomasi]

Lol, names were never mentioned in the Bible. Whoever Luke or Matthew were interviewing could care less about that detail since they were probably an infant at the time.

[Cronos]

naps - the Bible doesn’t say the number of Magi nor does it call them kings. The Bible wasn’t added to or changed for the Magi.

[Cronos]

well, they definitely were not kings - the Bible calls them specifically Magi - and magi were Zoroastrian priestly caste (like Brahmins)

The journey would not have taken months or years. A journey from the eastern Parthian empire (Afghanistan) to Bethlehelm by FOOT would have taken about 40 days, but by camel would be about a month.

There is nothing about Jesus as a child living in a house - where do you get that?

As to their number, it’s not there in the Bible, but the earliest tradition is Ethiopian which numbers them as 40 — though “40”is a symbolic number in the bible and most likely is not to be taken as literally forty.

[Cronos]

you’re right.

[Cronos]

Why would there be a comparison to Islam? The traditional religion of Iran is Zoroastrianism

[Cronos]

Wish you the same

[Cronos]

Good point and we need to also note that many of today’s “Arabs” are really Arabized Arameans, Assyrians, even Israeli, Syriacs, Egyptians, Berbers etc. etc.

[Cronos]

It’s been known since the 1st century. It’s just important to remind people every now and again

[Cronos]

Mayflower - sorry, I mistyped in my response to you above.

Arthurus - well, it might suggest, but it’s not defined. “house” could mean manger, child could include newborn babe etc. or it could mean a 2 year old - it’s just not clear.

The up to 2 years of age massacred isn’t clear either - if He was 2, then why not only boys around 2?

[MayflowerMadam]

“There is nothing about Jesus as a child living in a house - where do you get that?”

“Matthew 2:11 - And when they were come into the HOUSE, they saw the YOUNG CHILD with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him”

” As to their number, it’s not there in the Bible, but the earliest tradition is Ethiopian which numbers them as 40 “

Christians aren’t supposed to “do” tradition. The Bible is the sole Authority.