Do you think the three wise men were Astrologers?

Question

Sometimes I wonder, were the three wise men Astrologers, that read the stars, and thus predicted the birth of the Christ. I know that the church deems astrology as the 'evil', but was it considered so at the time of the birth of christ? What if a wise man was considered that man that knew of the 'secrets' eg...of God, or maybe Astrology, or Spirits/Spirituality.....your thoughts?

Answer 1

They were Astronomers that read the scriptures well and had a burning desire to know God on the highest level possible. God, in return, Gave them the insight to see things that others wouldn't take the energy to look for. They were very Holy men and feared God; so they wouldn't have looked for the answers in the stars exclusive of God, but they would have prayed to God about what they saw. That made them wise.

Answer 2

I've heard before-they must have been astrologers. Anyone who knew anything had to know how to 'read the stars'. There's a mention in Job...He says something about 'even the stars keep record of my deeds'...something like that. If you 'google' astrological references in the Bible, you'll probably pull up a ton of sites. I heard there were quite a few. I also remember seeing that the original word 'magi' was used, which is the plural for magician but it was changed to 'wise men' for obvious reasons.

Answer 3

Astrology has been defined as a stairway stronger into the deeper self. once you realize your self you have a extra constructive information of the worldwide around you. Astrology holds out the promise which you do no longer could desire to bypass by way of lifestyles reacting blindly to adventure, which you will interior limits direct your guy or woman destiny and interior the approach attain a extra true self information. it is the worldwide’s oldest technology and our technology’s maximum modern subject of inquiry. even with this new surge of pastime, besides the undeniable fact that, the final public has little or no know-how with regard to the priority. it isn't any longer a dismal paintings, and clever human beings use it familiar. Astrology grew to become into the 1st technology and properly-cherished astrologers blanketed the three smart adult males, Pythagoras, Nostradamous, and Isaac Newton.

Answer 4

Kaite's ans. here was was hitting on some good points until the last concluding paragraph which don't include the fact that the light not necessarily a star in the sky was being directed by fallen angels, first to Herod who wanted the child dead and then to the child .Go figure. And yes they were Astrologers ,men who would give gifts to a king.

Answer 5

Actually, what happened was that these three fellas were out to do a bit of robbing and looting.
They just nipped into this old barn to hide after robbing a rich merchant in the local brothel when they ran straight into the middle of this birth thing.
They soon sized the situation up and handed over the loot , bluffing their way out of the predicament with some BS about folowing a star and made good their escape.
So, instead of the headline " Three robbers executed in Bethlehem", we got this nice little bit of fiction about three wise men ( which indeed they were!)..
they got away with it but it cost them the loot!

Answer 6

No, astrology is not Biblical.

The Star of Bethlehem is associated with the visit of the Magi (Wise men) from the East as recorded in Matthew 2:1-12. From this passage we see three things of interest. First, the text implies the Star appeared only to the Magi in the East (the “East” most likely being the area of Persia, or modern-day Iran). There is no Biblical record of anyone else observing this phenomenon. While we cannot be dogmatic regarding this point, it is clear that the Magi observed something in the heavens that no one else observed that alerted them the Jewish Messiah was to be born (Matthew 2:2 refers to the Star as being “His Star”). Second, the Star prompted them to travel to Jerusalem, the Jewish capital. This would be the logical place to start looking for the birth of the King of the Jews. Third, when the Magi were told that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, not in Jerusalem, they left. Upon their leaving, the Star that appeared to them in the East re-appeared and led them to Nazareth, and stopped once it was over the place Joseph and Mary were then staying (Matthew 2:9).

Now, the Greek word that is translated “star” in the text is the word aster, which is the normal word for a star, a celestial body. The word is used 24 times in the New Testament, and in the majority of the uses it refers to a celestial body. It can be used to denote angels as it does in Revelation 12:4, when it is used to describe the fallen angels that followed Satan’s rebellion. However, in the sense it is used in Matthew 2, it is referring to a celestial body. Basic rules of Biblical interpretation state that we should take the normal sense of the word unless there is compelling evidence to suggest otherwise. In fact, many Biblical interpreters have done as much by suggesting a natural explanation of the Star of Bethlehem. Their suggestions range from calling it a supernova or a comet to saying it was the conjunction of several celestial bodies which provided a brighter-than-normal light in the sky.

However, there is compelling evidence to suggest that what we see in Matthew 2:1-12 is not a natural stellar phenomenon, but something inexplicable by science. That evidence lies in the three things noted above. First, the fact that the Star only appeared to the Magi indicates that this was no ordinary stellar phenomenon. Furthermore, what led the Magi to travel to Jerusalem was the fact that they were looking for the sign of the Messiah. How would Persian Magi know about the Jewish Messiah? They would have been exposed to the ministry of the Jewish prophet Daniel who was the chief of the court seers for Persia. In Daniel 9:24-27, we see a prophecy that gives a timeline for the birth of the Messiah. Second, they would have been aware of the prophetic utterance of the pagan prophet Balaam (who was from the town of Pethor on the Euphrates River near Persia) in Numbers 24:17 (a prophecy that specifically mentions a “star coming out of Jacob”). Finally, celestial bodies normally move from east to west due to the earth’s rotation, yet this Star led the Magi from Jerusalem south to Bethlehem. Not only that, but it led them directly to the place where Joseph and Mary were staying; stopping directly overhead. There is no natural stellar phenomenon that can do that.

So if the normal usage of the word “star” doesn’t fit the context, what does? What we likely have here in Matthew 2:1-12 is a manifestation of what the Jews call the Shekinah Glory. The Shekinah, which literally means “dwelling of God,” was the visible presence of the Lord. The most notable example of the Shekinah can be found in Exodus 13:21. The Shekinah was the pillar of cloud that led the Israelites by day, and the pillar of fire that led them by night. The Shekinah fits all of the Biblical evidence available in Matthew 2:1-12. The Shekinah can appear to specific individuals, it can disappear and re-appear, it was seen frequently in connection with Christ’s ministry (e.g., Matthew 17:5; Acts 1:9), and it can lead people to specific locations. It shouldn’t surprise us that God would use a miraculous sign to signal the advent of His Son, the Messiah, into the world.

Recommended Resource: God's Gift of Christmas by John MacArthur.

Answer 7

First of all, we don't know if there were 3 of them or how many. We do know that there were 3 kinds of gifts, though.

They were referred to as magi (plural of magus) from which we get the word "magic" but they were NOT magicians as we understand that word today. They were just very wise and well informed people, likely well versed in the sciences and mathematics, astronomy, literature, culture & languages, etc. Very learned and they knew many things that the uneducated and the un-learned did not know, so they would seem to be like "magicians." Look, I could do some "magic tricks" but they would be no more than "tricks" based on simple science.

As for their being astrologers, there was not a very clear distinction between astronomer and astrologer in those days. What they did was to look at the sky and observe the celestial bodies, recorded and studied the movements. They noticed what was called "signs" in the heavens: movements of stars, comets, novas, meteors, eclipses. In that sense they were astronomers. But they also tried to interpret the movements of the celestial bodies with people and happenings/events on earth. So in that sense they were astrologers too.

The Bible does not specifically say it is bad or sinful to be an astrologer. The Bible in fact makes lots of references to signs in the heavens. The things which is wrong and sinful is to trust in heavenly bodies for direction rather than in God. The thing which is wrong in astrology is looking to the stars and planets for guidance. Because God says we must trust in Him. But to study the skies and to look for signs to see what God might be telling us,... that is NOT wrong. Especially if God Himself tells us what signs to look for in the skies.

In fact, that was what the magi did. They noticed the bright "star," and somehow they knew that it meant a new king of the Jews was born, and so they went on their investigative journey. Not only was there no sin in that, they actually were giving honor to God, the God of the Jews. Now, why should they do that if they were not Jews? (they were not). It is this action that gave them favor in God's sight; throughout the Old Testament we see that God honors those who honor Him and believe Him, and God counts that as righteousness. So, astrologer or not, their actions were borne of faith, and that faith was recognized by God. And God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod.

So, let's not judge these men saying that as astrologers they were evil. The Bible honors them. They are honored because of their faith in the God of Israel. They were not Jews yet they went to so much trouble to seek out and worship the King of the Jews, the King who was specially appointed by the God of the Jews.

I know there still will be many who will disagree with me, but at the very least we have to say that they were magi, and that means wise, learned men. And they were not judged as sinners or as bad.

Answer 8

Yes and they were reading the original Bible written in the heavens. The year starts with Virgo land ends with Leo. The Lord has advanced His word many times over since the days of Job.

Being able to speak with Him, his children should have no need of astrology in its fallen state. Many today can be compared to King Saul, who being cut off from the Word of God, had to join those who attempt to access understanding and power aside from God's provided way.

If you can't pray for rain and receive it, or call off the storm, the next best thing is being able to forecast the weather.

Answer 9

Dear friend.
NO OF COURSE NOT!!! They were not the astrologers.You are correct that they read the stars but do you think can any body even see the stars & tell its own birth time if not How can they predict the age or birth time of others .
Yeh!!!!! you should belive in God,if not ,atleast in any power that is static.Because God is always there with u.
FRIEND NOW ANSWER MY QUESTION, which is a answer to your question.
Now a days (science era) mention three wise men:

YET CONFUSED???
they are who is healthy with respect to
**mentality
**freeminded
**tention free
**PROPERLY Educated.
*****mainly a man who is ""LOGIC""
here's your answer(I think!!)

Answer 10

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east[b] and have come to worship him."
Matthew 2:1 Traditionally Wise Men