witchcraft in the bible?

Question

I have always wondered... if the Bible refutes witchcraft and the like (suffer not a witch to live and all)... Why did Jesus's mother and father allow three astrologist sorcerors in to visit their infant? If God frowns apon such people, why are they such an integral part of the nativity? (Wouldn't it make more sense to have the non pagans fill the roles?)

They were called Magi, which means a magician or mystic.

Good stuff people. I'd like to clarify, I don't refer to the individuals in this story as "sorcerers" myself. Just the general thoughts on other people fitting the profile by many Christians I have spoken with.

Miss Alexis, Thank you, but I have researched this, a lot. And I doubt you would agree with the conclusions I have drawn regarding the Biblical texts. So I have tried to leave my own opinion out of this. I simply wondered what people's *opinions* were, since no one living can truly prove or disprove the events.

Thank you all. I underestimated the r&s people. Sorry about the ruse, wanted to rouse people a bit. I am so used to seeing the outspoken, under read Christians. It's good to see many of you have knowledge religious texts, and a surprisingly good ratio of well versed Christians to Athiests responses. I'm shocked not to have been berated by mindless sheep. This will be tough to pick a best answer, wish I could choose a few of them.

Props to those that pointed out that the original translation was a reference to oath breakers, in regards to the "witch" comment. And those that refered to astrological alignments. And especially to those that pointed out there was no reference to there being three of them.

http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/magus

Answer 1

1) "Witchcraft" had nothing to do with astrology. The Jews were actually avid astrologers clear into the Middle Ages, and incorporated astrological symbolism into the design of the Temple in Jerusalem.
2) The three "magi" were probably astrologers, but were probably not "sorcerers."

Answer 2

First, not all magi were astrologers, for Daniel the prophet was the chief of the magi in Nebuchadnezzar's court. Through his influence, undoubtedly many of the magi carried on their religious and political duties as worshipers of the One true God.

Second, there are some biblical scholars who believe that Isaiah predicted that a star would appear when the Messiah was born. If this interpretation is correct, then the magi who worshiped the newborn king were clearly following in Daniel's train, for he almost surely taught them from Isaiah.

Third, although a few believe that the 'star' they saw was a natural phenomenon--such as a conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter--this cannot explain how the star stood right over Bethlehem. Clearly, the 'star' was completely of supernatural origin. If so, it probably had nothing to do with astrology.

Therefore, the magi most likely did not subscribe to such superstitious folly. If so, they were truly wise men . . . In Deuteronomy 17, God commands his people to execute all astrologers by stoning. Jean Dixon wouldn't stand a chance in such a theocracy!

Answer 3

Good question. These three Magis, learned men where supposed to be from other religious groups who came to witness a spiritual event that was foretold in the stars.

Without having been there the answer I have to give is that all religions have groups within the groups that follow the mystical aspects of all religions. Christian Gnostic's felt there was much more to the religion than just what finally ended up in the Old Testament. So, long story short I guess everyone will have their own interpretation and Pagans will still be slightly tolerated!

Answer 4

Exactly. I believe that, in the original language, there was no prohibition against "witchcraft" in the Bible. Such gifts as the Magi and others (including the ability to do miracles and heal) evidenced were considered to be from God, and should be used to help God's people instead of being wasted in ignorance.

Most of the sniping at "witches" and "oracles" and "prostitues" and all the stuff about "snakes" comes because the Goddess priestesses at the time used venom to induce a trance-like state to see the future (and had temple "prostitutes" of both sexes) for rituals and to help the masses with certain needs. (Sex wasn't seen as evil or sinful by them.) The early churchmen couldn't break the women and some of the men away from "the old ways", so they threatened the new recruits with hell if they didn't come into line.

The particular passage you speak of was actually rewritten on purpose. The original, I believe, was that a liar (or thief-someone who had broken trust) should not be allowed to live. I read this on the web very recently, from a reliable source, but I can't remember the address. Probably a Gnostic or Templar site. It struck me because many of the Bible's inconsistencies could be attributed to typos, but in this case the change, and the misinformation and problems it has wrought were done deliberately, with malice and forethought by actual church forefathers. It makes you wonder, doesn't it?

If caught doing it once, what else have they done that we haven't unearthed yet?

Answer 5

If you read the story, you will find that the Magi did not come following witchcraft or astrology. They came following an Old Testament prophecy given by the prophet Balaam recorded in the book of Numbers. Recently a pillar which appears to date from around 1000 BC was uncovered near Babyon which has the entire prophecy engraved on it. It appears that the prophecy would have been commonly known amoung the people from whom the Magi came.

Why were they included at the birth? Because God was showing that His Word was going to be expanded so that it would include the gentiles. But that they would come, not through pagan beliefs and witchcraft, but through the same scriptures that the Jews had already came.

Answer 6

Actually the OT (Old Testament) would be the only place that even speaks of witchcraft and the such. The point there being that God is calling out a people for Himself and one that would separate them from the other nations around them is that they seek God (Yahweh) and not the stars or sorcerers or anything in that realm. The future and the destiny of the world lies in His hands, so He is the sovereign one we seek.
In the NT(New Testament), you begin to see the beauty of Jesus message already reaching the whole world even in the birth and incarnation of God in human flesh. So we are already seeing that God's message or Gospel is not just for Israel or a select few, but for the whole world. So having astrologers at the birth narrative is already revealing the interest of all mankind and how this message of hope will eventually reach the ends of the earth. I actually find it to be pretty amazing that God could have anyone at the manger scene and he chooses Shirley Mclaine and her likes to come and see this invasion into human history for the purpose of renovating all that has gone wrong.

Answer 7

They were learned men from the east. They did not study astrology, which is more of a mystic, supernatural idea, Rather they practiced an archaic form of astronomy. They believed the stars would lead them to the birth of a king which had been prophesized. They were not trying to predict the future by studying the stars.

I believe it is important that they were there as it represents, in a sense, all manner of people. The kings represent royalty, wisdom, and non-believers. The shepards represent the lowly. Even the animals and angels were there all adoring the true King. In this way, all of creation was meant to adore Jesus, all societies and classes of people.

Answer 8

They were not astrologist sorcerers that came to Jesus. They were "wise men". But if you read the Bible you would also know that God told them of Israel's king planning to kill them, to take a different way home. So maybe God told them to come to Jesus too, so that it was there for them to follow?
Do you think the shepherds out in the field that also saw the star over Jesus and went there too are sorcerers too?

Answer 9

From what I have read, it seems that the role of the magi or wisemen was to serve as a symbol of the gentile acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah or developed even further the "Christ".
Matthew's gospel in a way bookends this understanding. In the beginning of his gospel the gentile acceptance of Jesus as the Christ is found in the persons of the magi and at the end of his gospel he completes this with the centurion's proclamation, "Truly, this was the Son of God". Thus from the start of his gospel and at its finish we find that Christ Jesus is the Messiah of all 'nations' and not just the Jews and would be accepted by all.

Answer 10

It's possible that Joseph & Mary did not know these men were astrologers. They knew what their child was and accepted that these men came to honor him at face value. They were actually there on Herod's mission cuz he wanted the Messiah dead. The account says they received "divine warning in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another way." (Matthew 2:12)

There is no indication that these men were sorcerers, per se, but they were also not kings. There is no scriptural reference to them as anything other than astrologers (Matthew 2:7) Such an important position would have been mentioned in the account.