Where did the names of the "Three Kings" came from?

Question

We all know this from tradition but based on what historical account did they know the names? (Please mention your source)

Also, what is the significance of the celebration of the "three kings"?

Why did it became (or termed) as "kings" when scripture states that they were magis or wise men?

I think the number of magis was not mentioned in scripture because it is of no significance BUT the gifts presented to our Lord was mentioned because of its symbolic meaning.

Answer 1

The only facts we know about these mysterious strangers are those disclosed in Matthew's gospel. All we know for sure is that they purported to be some sort of astrologers and that their journey originated somewhere east of Palestine shortly after the birth of Christ. They were called "Magi" by Matthew.

There has been a lot of speculation about their identity but nothing is certain. They might have been Zoroastrian priests, sorcerers, mystics, but probably not kings.

Matthew does not say how many there were. That there were three gifts has led to the idea that there were three magi, but that is sheer speculation.

Matthew does not mention any of their names. There are ancient Christian traditions giving them various names but again these are human inventions.

Answer 2

In the conventional version of the Christmas story, the wise men or magi (Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar) started the gift giving custom of Christmas by bringing gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ child on Epiphany. Epiphany is the end of the Christmas season, 12 days after Christmas.

The earliest written mention of their names seems to be found in the work of the Venerable Bede (died 8th century). There are other traditions. The earlier tradition of "three kings" comes from the fact that three gifts are mentioned by Matthew and that the gifts were costly.

The wise men were not Jews; scholars tell us they were priests of an Eastern religion that consulted the stars (Zoroastrian priests). One of them may have been a king (there is speculation that one of them was Azes II of Bactria who reigned from 35 BC to 10 AD). Therefore we could say they were followers of some kind of pagan religion. Yet in some miraculous way God inspired them about the birth of Jesus.

Best always
Brother Ron