OU Professor Says Ancient Text Reveals Startling Information About Magi, Star of Bethlehem

News Oklahoma ^ | 12/25/10 | Carla Hinton

[marshmallow]

University of Oklahoma professor and Harvard grad Brent Landau's new book “Revelation of the Magi: The Lost Tale of the Wise Men's Journey to Bethlehem” reveals startling details about the Magi and star of Bethlehem.

NORMAN — Many Christians can recite the basics of the Christmas story, complete with the account of the three wise men from the East following a bright star to Bethlehem.

It's essentially saying that the people who recognized the significance of Jesus were not just Jews but people from a totally different culture and a totally different religious system. One of the points I made in the book is that Christ tells the Magi that even as excited as they are that their prophecy has been fulfilled, that this is actually one of a number of occurrences in which Christ has appeared to people in the world. So, this text seems to be claiming that Christ has actually been the foundation of a number of humanity's religious revelations.”

As the story goes, the men known as the Magi find the infant Jesus in a lowly manger. They fall down and worship Him, presenting the babe with frankincense, gold and myrrh.

Brent Landau, of Norman, grew up entranced by the familiar story and the lore surrounding the star of Bethlehem.

So, he was delighted when he got the chance to translate an ancient text that reveals many details surrounding the star and the trio that offered those first gifts to the newborn Messiah.

Landau, a University of Oklahoma religious studies professor and ancient biblical languages expert, shares his findings in his new book, “Revelation of the Magi: The Lost Tale of the Wise Men's Journey to Bethlehem” (HarperOne, $22.99). The Episcopalian said the book had its beginnings in his Harvard University dissertation and then evolved into much.....

[Ciexyz]

The manger scene outside church shows three wise men approaching the manger scene. Not seven years later. That is good enuf for me. Tradition, tradition!

[Ripliancum]

Good catch.

[Ripliancum]

Only insulting in the babylonian tongue.

[I_Publius]

It's so cool to hear stories from around the world in today's times of Christ appearing to those of other faiths, especially in the Muslim world.

[Ripliancum]

I didn't say it was seven years later.

And I don't put the traditions of men above the revealed word of God.

Although, I did play Tevya once... ;-)

[Ripliancum]

The Muslims of today are much different than they were a couple thousand years ago, or even earlier. Abraham was promised by the Lord that Ishmael would begat a great nation. It’s a shame what it has become.

[Ripliancum]

But, not sure how this is about the Muslims, as the document says the twelve magi were from China, and descended from Seth.

[Netizen]

And I don't put the traditions of men above the revealed word of God.

bingo

[webstersII]

“And this is just the record of the Jews. I believe that God loves all his children. If he has the sons of Seth following his will, and chose to given them knowledge, who am I to argue?”

The Jews were God’s chosen people. It doesn’t say that God appeared to other people.

[JoeFromSidney]

Beat me to it.

[Ripliancum]

Um, that’s the whole point of the ancient document that this thread is about:

I’m quoting the author, who is quoting the ancient text.

“This is one of many occasions on which I have appeared to the peoples of the world...”

Really, I don’t have a problem with it. First off, we know that the promise of Abraham was that his seed would be a blessing among every nation. Further, Israel has been scattered time and time again throughout the earth, and not just the tribe of Judah, most of which is the story and history of the Bible.

You might be defining “chosen” an little more tightly than I would.

[aruanan]

The Muslims of today are much different than they were a couple thousand years ago, or even earlier.

First of all, Muhammad was born in the late 6th century and didn't get things cranked up with Islam until the 7th century. Muslims have been around only for a little over 1300 years.

Abraham was promised by the Lord that Ishmael would begat a great nation. It’s a shame what it has become.

The Arabs are not descendants of Abraham. This notion got its start by Muhammad trying to expropriate the religious mojo of the two high tech civilizations (and the builders of the first permanent cities) of the Arabian Peninsula, the Christian and Jewish kingdoms that had gotten their start on the Arabian Peninsula at least as long ago as the first century AD, almost 600 years before little Mo was born. Islam's relationship to Ishmael is almost exactly the same relationship as the Mormon Church to the so-called 10 lost tribes of Israel. Both are convenient fictions designed to place the originator's ancestors far enough back in the Biblical flow to try to gain some sort of legitimacy as the new people God has chosen to convey his truth to the world after a crooked religious establishment had turned aside to follow its own ways and hide the truth (think of the other groups in Christendom that did the same thing).

[Uri’el-2012]

The Jews were God’s chosen people. It doesn’t say that God appeared to other people.

The Jews are YHvH's Chosen People.

Try reading Romans 11.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

[Ripliancum]

Well, as a Mormon myself, I would have to disagree with your premise.

Ishmael was the father of the islamic nations. What they have become is not how they started.

Further, the scattering of the Jews among all nations is well documented in scripture.

Here's a few.

I will scatter you among the heathen, Lev. 26:33
The Lord shall scatter thee among all people, Deut. 28:25, 37, 64
I will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, Jer. 29:18–19
I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, Amos 9:9 (Zech. 10:9).
Jesus was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, Matt. 15:24
I have other sheep which are not of this fold, John 10:16

[Red Badger]

You are a wise...............man..

[Red Badger]

You are a wise...............man..

[Red Badger]

You are a wise...............man..

[redhead]

Time to get a copy of This.

[Domestic Church]

I thought the wisemen prompt the Holy Family’s travel to Egypt. They know about Herod’s plan to kill the Baby Jesus.

[Louis Foxwell]

Try this:
http://ldolphin.org/magi.html

A pretty thorough treatment.