2007-12-18 10:14:33 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Moe, Larry and Curly.
2007-12-18 10:17:43 · answer #1 · answered by Jonathan 2 · 3⤊ 3⤋
In some areas people build Nativity scenes that depict the Oriental visitors as three kings approaching the newborn Jesus with gifts. In other lands
Were There Three?
The number of Magi is not mentioned in the Bible record. Nevertheless, Nativity scenes and Christmas songs espouse the commonly held tradition that there were three. Evidently this springs from the fact that there were three types of gifts. Regarding these, the Bible says: “They also opened their treasures and presented [Jesus] with gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”—Matthew 2:11.
Is it sound reasoning to conclude that since the Magi gave three different gifts, there must have been three Magi? Let us consider the account of another notable visitor to Israel. The queen of Sheba once visited King Solomon and presented him with “balsam oil and very much gold and precious stones.” (1 Kings 10:2) Although three different kinds of gifts are spoken of, the only person mentioned as giving them is the queen of Sheba. The number of her presents does not indicate that three people approached Solomon on that occasion. Similarly, the three gifts made to Jesus have little to do with the number of people who brought them.
2007-12-18 18:20:00 · answer #2 · answered by Just So 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The Bible account never said there were 3 men, let alone kings. There were 3 gifts but it doesn't say 3 people gave them. It never says they were Oriental, but from the East. They are not named anywhere in scripture, to my knowledge.
2007-12-18 18:24:52 · answer #3 · answered by paula r 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Magi - the "wise men from the East" who came to adore Jesus in Bethlehem (Matthew 2).
No Father of the Church holds the Magi to have been kings. Nor is there any agreement that there were "three" of them. The only thing specified is that there were three GIFTS.
2007-12-18 18:19:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Jews have traditionally referred to their scholars as "kings" because of their acheivements. There were famous Jewish academies in the area around Babylon, and one of their areas of expertise was astrology. They had the benefit of centuries of Babylonian scholarship there, as well.
This is where the men came from.
2007-12-18 18:22:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They were what we would call astrologists, that's how they knew that the bright star meant there was an important person being born. They were from the land that is now Iran.
They brought him gifts and they knew the prophesy of what Jesus' life was going to be, and his death.
2007-12-18 18:25:21 · answer #6 · answered by Tigger 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The number of kings was not specified in the Bible, so any answer that attempts to name them is based on someone else's guesswork; not any scriptural account.
2007-12-18 18:18:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Caspar, Balthasar and Melchior are the primary names in the United States, however read the extensive wikipedia article on the subject.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magi
2007-12-18 18:27:42 · answer #8 · answered by OPM 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have heard that they were Zoroastrians from Persia. The Zoroastrians came from the east and placed great importance on astrology, so that would lead them to following a star. They were also in a great commercial country, where they could have easily found gold, myrrh(sp?), and frankencense.
2007-12-18 18:20:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
They were three wise men from the Orient.
They offered their treasures of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
from 'The Talmud Jmmanuel'
www.tjresearch.info/overview.htm
2007-12-18 18:34:19 · answer #10 · answered by TruthBox 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Burger King, King Kong, and Howard Stern (the "King of All Media") ;);););););)
2007-12-18 18:23:06 · answer #11 · answered by kr_toronto 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋