Laura Reads Matthew 2:1-12

 

Adoration of the Magi, Albrecht Durer, 1504

This is the story of the wise men visiting the Holy Family. It only appears in the gospel of Matthew. 

He doesn't say there were 3, nor does he say where they came from other than "the East." "Wise men" seems to be the best translation for the text, and later on they began referring to them as "kings," likely because there were prophecies that the messiah would be worshiped by kings. We also don't know when their visit occurred - right after the birth or later. Later seems plausible considering that we learn later that Herod ordered the death of all baby boys up to age 2. 

The concept of the wise men following a star is the troublesome aspect of all of this for me. Christians don't believe in seeking for signs in the stars, and yet we also say that these astrologers followed a star to Jesus. The explanation that I suspect I'd be given is that this is a special occurrence, but clearly, astrology was a regular practice for these guys. It takes a lot of brain twisting to justify this, and to be honest, I can't twist my brain that far. Is it possible? Sure. The God who I believe made the universe could do that, but it would mean that he sends mixed messages. 

The wise men came from the East, likely from the Parthenian empire where Zoroastrianism was the main religion. There was a legend in this tradition of magi and a star that predicted the birth of a ruler. Also, just a few years before the time we believe the gospel of Matthew was written, King Tiridates I of Armenia travelled to Rome to pay honor to Nero, thus providing an example of a King traveling from the East to give homage to another king. Tiridates was a Zoroastrian. Honestly, I think this story was a way to lend credence to Jesus as a king for a Jewish audience who would have been aware of the prophecies that said kings would come to worship him.

Another reason I doubt this story is that there is no historical corroboration for the massacre of the babies. We have a good bit of history from this time. A major tragedy such as as this would have been recorded. 

So, while I do choose to believe in the virgin birth (see the last post), I choose not to believe this story. I don't think it has much consequence to my discipleship to pass on this one.