2007-07-18 10:22:42 · 6 answers · asked by ken p 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar.
2007-07-18 10:27:28 · answer #1 · answered by gjmb1960 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Tradition agrees with the first answer, but this tradition arose long after the event. Many biblical scholars believe that they were Persians, as the Persian Empire was more ancient than any of the others both nearby and to the east. Remember also the credit the OT gives to Cyrus and other Persians with regard to the rebuilding of the Temple (Ezra, Nehemiah).
Nevertheless, there is no *evidence* that they were Persian. Anything that might be claimed about the wise men (including that there were 3) is mere supposition, except for:
1) they came from the east
2) they were astrologers
3) they recognized Jesus as the king of the Jews (and left gifts)
4) God sent a warning dream to them, and they obeyed the warning
Jim
2007-07-20 11:00:11 · answer #2 · answered by JimPettis 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They were kings of the Parthian empire who had come to pay homage to the King that was born. The reason they created such a stir in Jerusalem is the fact they did not come alone but with a large number of soldiers. At that time the only peoples who had ever stopped the Roman conquest were the Parthians. They were bringing Gifts of high value to a king they would not have been travelling without a large armed escort.
2007-07-18 10:27:29 · answer #3 · answered by Tzadiq 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some call them wisemen, others call them astrologers. Pretty much everyone agrees they came from Persia and other parts of the east. The greatest part of this happening is that they were not Jews but pagans -- yet they bowed down to worship the newborn King. No-one knows how many there actually were -- but because 3 gifts were offered -- gold, frankincense and myrrh -- it is supposed that there were 3 visitors.
2007-07-18 10:39:11 · answer #4 · answered by The Carmelite 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one really knows who they were, where exactly they came from, or how many there were. Tradition says that there were 3, 1 for each gift mentioned when they visited Jesus. They may have been Persian priests and philosophers.
2007-07-18 10:31:10 · answer #5 · answered by sdb deacon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they were students of Daniel. he had received from God future knowledge of the coming of the Messiah.
and these men from Babylon through the years waited for him to come. and then traveled to Israel to give him gifts.
anyone who looks for the Messiah based on what Daniel had been told, and bothers to travel to greet him... has to be Jews in ethnic descent
.
2007-07-18 10:45:23 · answer #6 · answered by opalist 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋