Would it be safe to assume that the magi in the bible were Zoroastrian.?

Question

And no, I do not want to hear that assuming makes an *** out of you and me.

Royal Racer, The person may have died in Mexico, but his ideals live on!

By the way, Zoroastrian is a religion, not a nationality.

Answer 1

That is what the tradition seems to indicate.

From a website about the famous hymn:

"According to tradition dating back to medieval times, their names were Balthasar, Gaspar (or Casper), and Melchior. They are often depicted as representing the three races. The Bible says they came from the East, but exactly where is not known. Arabia, Babylon, and Persia are popular choices. According to one tradition, Balthasar was king of Arabia, Gaspar was king of India, and Melchior was king of Persia.

An 8th century saint, Bede the Venerable, described the kings this way: "The first was called Melchior; he was an old man, with white hair and long beard; he offered gold to the Lord as to his king. The second, Gaspar by name, young, beardless, of ruddy hue, offered to Jesus his gift of incense, the homage due to Divinity. The third, of black complexion, with heavy beard, was called Baltasar; the myrrh he held in his hands prefigured the death of the Son of man."

The Bible, however, does not describe the kings or reveal their names. In fact, it does not call them kings at all, but simply Magi, or Wise Men. The Magi were a Median priestly caste who rose to power in ancient Persia (today's Iran). Their religion, Zoroastrianism, was founded around the 6th century BC by a Median man named Zoroaster. The Magi were held in awe as highly educated scientists and scholars who could interpret dreams and even control demons."

Answer 2

What I know of the magi was that they were astrologers. Each may have been leading their own tribe and that is why they too were called kings or most likely because of the three different gifts they gave the boy in a manger.
If for a chance they were assumed Zoroastrians, it could be because of the Frankinsence, Myrrh and gold that all are processed with fire.

Answer 3

Why play it safe? Assume what you like or assume nothing. Will your life change if you find its so or not so?

The point of the story is that Christ was revealed to all the nations not just the Jews. The extra sting in the tale, for the largely Jewish audience, was that these foreigners responded to the divine invitation when the Jewish leaders sat back and simply gave directions.

Personally I think their primary value is as literary devices.

Answer 4

Many seem to think that is possible; BUT they seem to be well-informed about Hebrew Scriptures, Prophecies, etc.

I had never heard it before, but do think Zoroastrianism might have been developed by people who learned some of what Daniel believed and practiced.

Answer 5

I've heard that theory. It's one of those things we hear that sounds logical and reasonable.

The way I heard it was that Zoroastrianism was actually started by Daniel and it was Daniel's own chronology that resulted in the dispatch of the magi at the time of Christ.

A very plausible possibility.
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Answer 6

the basic belief of zoroastrianism is the battle between good an evil. are you referring to the 3 magi that visited Jesus when he was born? im sure they believed in something like that if they believed he was the son of God. although they didnt have that term back then, i think they were just Jewish. but dont listen to me, im no theologian

Answer 7

I believe they were.

http://www.farsinet.com/wisemen/magi.html


The Magi were expecting a saoshyant, or savior, to come (Zoroatrianism teaches that a succession of what we would call messiahs to come to earth and each time they would establish a period of peace.) when they predicted the birth of Jesus through the use of astronomy.


The Infancy narrative of Jesus (an apocryphal book) mentions Zoroaster.


Hope that helps.

Oh and Happy Yalda :)

Answer 8

definately not they were astrologers from the east and eventually about 2 years later found Jesus and his parents living in a house not a manger gorbalizer

Answer 9

If the can pose with bended elbows, why not?

The Magis where astrologers from the east.

Answer 10

It's possible, but I'm not sure it's safe to assume