who were the wise men that came to see the christ child?

Answer 1

Not much is said about them but that they came from the East and that they were astronomers (not astrologers). I would rather question, how many were there? and when did they come?

It is commonly believed that there were three of them and there were there on the night of Jesus' birth. But, traditionally people like this traveled in bands of hundreds, and there is nothing that says that they were there on the night of his birth, but the implication of the Scriptures is that he would have been between one and two years of age.

Answer 2

there have been no longer 3 sensible men! 3 men using on camels over the style of long distance via inhospitable u . s . infested with thieves and wild animals might have been fools! The bible says there replaced right into a company of Magi---they further 3 kinds of presents. The sensible men did no longer meet with the shepherds interior the coolest around the manger. Matthew 2:11And while they have been come into the homestead, they observed the extra youthful newborn with Mary his mom, and fell down, and worshipped him: and while that they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him presents; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:sixteen Then Herod, while he observed that he replaced into mocked of the sensible men, replaced into exceeding wroth, and despatched forth, and slew all the infants that have been in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from 2 years previous and under, in accordance to the time which he had diligently enquired of the sensible men. so which you will discover the "classic" tale is incorrect, the sensible men weren't there while Jesus replaced into born and while they did see Him, He replaced right into a youthful newborn around the age of two.

Answer 3

Nativity scenes usually depict three robed men with their camels, arriving at a stable where the babe Jesus is lying in a manger. The splendidly dressed visitors are commonly called the three wise men. What does the Bible have to say about them?

According to the Bible, the so-called wise men were “from eastern parts,” and it was there that they had learned about Jesus’ birth. (Matthew 2:1, 2, 9) It must have taken a long time for these men to travel to Judea. When they eventually found Jesus, he was no longer a newly born babe in a stable. Instead, the men found Mary and “the young child” living in a house. Matthew 2:11.

The Bible calls these men magi, or “astrologers,” and it does not say how many there were. The Oxford Companion to the Bible explains: “The connection between magic and astrology is reflected in the visitors’ fascination with the star that had led them to Bethlehem.” The Bible clearly condemns all forms of magic and the Babylonian practice of trying to get information from the stars.

The information conveyed to these men did not lead to any good. It aroused wicked King Herod’s jealous anger. This, in turn, resulted in the flight of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus to Egypt and the murder of all male children in Bethlehem “from two years of age and under.” Herod had carefully ascertained the time of Jesus’ birth from what he learned from the astrologers. (Matthew 2:16) In view of all the troubles caused by their visit, it is reasonable to conclude that the star that they saw and the message about “the one born king of the Jews” came from God’s enemy, Satan the Devil, who wanted to do away with Jesus. Matthew 2:1, 2.

The star these men followed led them, not directly to Jesus’ birthplace in Bethlehem, but to Jerusalem, where King Herod ruled.

Matthew is the only Gospel that refers to these visitors. (2:1-12) But does Matthew mention that there were three and that they were kings, and does he record their names? The Catholic newspaper Kirchenzeitung für das Bistum Aachen admits: “The Three Holy Kings are not referred to as such in the Bible. Starting in the sixth century, the wise men were understood to have been, three kings, As to the number of astrologers, Matthew gives no details, In the ninth century they first appeared under the names Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar.” Furthermore, the Catholic reference work Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche notes that the Greek word ma'goi does not mean kings but, rather, “ones having secret knowledge of astrology.” Justin Martyr, Origen, and Tertullian each understood the word to mean “astrologer.” Modern Bible translations also use “astrologers” at Matthew 2:1, 7. The Living Bible; An American Translation.

So no one actually knows how many men came to see Jesus.

Answer 4

A mix of Christian Buddhist even Hindu traditions say these kings came from the "East" while the gospels say the "Orient". One Indian tradition claims they were Buddhist! Mixed traditions say they were looking for a transmigrated soul or bodhisattva - which many believe they DID find.

At least one of the Magi is believed by the Chinese to be the head astronomer of the Han dynasty. His time at court and two-year disappearance from it shortly after Christ was born is taken by the Chinese as evidence.

The "King Star" as the Chinese know it (The Star of Bethlehem) has been accepted by the Chinese as evidence of the event. Liu Shang is said to have been in attendance and this is how it is known to Chinese Christians today.

According to tradition they came bearing three highly symbolic gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Ordinary gifts for a king - or a newly located Bodhisattva. Lesser known of the gifts, myrrh was an anointing oil ("Messiah" means "anointed One" in Hebrew). They gave frankincense as a perfume, and gold for its value. Because history recorded that there were only three gifts it became tradition to say that there were three givers. although certainly there was an unspecified number of gifts and personal effects and an entourage of attendants to carry them.

These astrologer priests and their court were abbreviated to the spuriously coined names Melchior, Balthazar, and Casper by the Church and we've since lived with THAT tradition as well.

One can come up with dozens of other plausible theories.

Answer 5

The wise men (more than three) were a part of an order of magi set up by Daniel the prophet based on a prophecy given to him many years earlier while exiled in Babylon. Knowing that the Messiah was to come at an exact time (see page 6 of my study below) and that he was not going to live to see it, Daniel set up an order of priests to watch for it. He told the order to watch for when to start counting. Beginning at the moment the decree for the walls of Jerusalem to be rebuilt was given--count so many years--then watch for a star as a sign, according to a prophecy given in Numbers 24:17.

They brought the gifts as prearranged according to the mission of the Messiah--that is of a Prophet (Frankincense), Priest (Myrrh) and King (Gold).

Answer 6

The belief dating back to medieval times said that the names of these Three Wise Men were Gasper or Casper, Balthazar and Melchior. Some researchers argued that they were the representatives of three races. According to Bible, they were from the east, but Bible did not mention the exact location. Popularly it is assumed that they came from either Arabia or Babylon or Persia. Some traditions also say that Gasper or Casper was the king of India, Balthazar was the king of Arabia and Melchior was the king of Persia.

Answer 7

Their names are not given in the Bible

Probably came from Persia

brought three gifts
gold, frankincense, myrrh

gifts for a King, suffering, death

all the best

Answer 8

they came from EAST of isreal...which could mean anywhere
in the middle east or asia...

most likley they came from the area of old persia...

and the bible does not say how many there were other than
there was more than one... I.E "wise men"

Answer 9

They are orions belt who follow the star Sirius during the winter soltice. This all points to the direction of the sun, who is the representation of the Christ.

Answer 10

Legend says that they were astrologers and probably came from what is now modern day Iraq or Iran.