The Magi’s story is one of the best loved tales in the Bible. It is possible we would not have the gift giving at Christmas today without the story of their gifts for the young Jesus. The Magi bring the first Christmas gifts. But, today many Christians wrongly believe that the Magi were “Kings”. Let’s examine how this idea came about.
Early Christian writers said the Magi were Zoroastrian priests (see this Catholic Bible history link). Not a single early Church writer calls the Magi “kings.” Their journey from the East, following a magical star is in Chapter two of Matthew. Matthew’s gospel was written to Jewish followers. For the Zoroastrian Magi to recognize Jesus would add to the Hebrew belief of Jesus as the Messiah. It was widely believed by the Jews that Zoroastrians prophesied three saviors to be born. The three gifts they bore may represent the gifts of “Good Thoughts, Good Words and Good Deeds” – the ancient Zoroastrian motto.
To see the Magi as “Kings” is to completely miss the importance of their visit to Jesus. It is the first time in the Christian Bible that Jesus is recognized as a “Savior.” Almost any 1st Century Jew would have understood the significance of the Magi’s visit. When we repeat the myth of them being kings we are taking away their importance in Mathew’s gospel. Another good site is Wikipedia’s page on the Magi of the Bible http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magi
Even if the Magi visit is completely legend (and many Persians and Zoroastrians have thought it fictional) Matthew has created a brilliant literary twist for his 1st century audience. in first chapter Matthew records Jesus’ full genealogy, back to King David. Today our eyes gloss over the long genealogies of Chapter One. Yet, these were vitally important to Matthew’s audience. He leaves no doubt about his beliefs on who Jesus was and what his mission was to be. The Magi are in Chapter Two confirming what Matthew states in Chapter One – that Jesus is the future ruler and savior of the world. To change the Magi and make them “kings” takes away the power of the opening book of the gospels.
Mathew’s first century audience would likely have laughed at a story that made the Magi into kings. However, when the kings story arises, nearly 600 years after the death of Jesus, the Magi were no longer respected – and neither were the Jews. Once Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire it became important to full full the Bible verse which says that all the kings of the earth would bow before Jesus. But, no early church historian taught that the Magi were kings rather than traveling Zoroastrian priests or missionaries. The idea of the three wise men being kings developed much later after Christianity became the religion of the Romans.
The Magi may have even been the first missionaries. It is possible that Jesus’ Great Commission at the end of Matthew is based on the missionaries Zarathustra sent out as there is little history of missionaries in Judaism or any ancient ethnic/tribal faith. Only Zarathustra’s Magi were sent to all nations to teach a better way of living. There had never been anything like the Magi in the ancient world.
Let’s read the Gospel of Matthew as he intended it and as his first readers read it. The Magi were priests and astronomers. They were NOT alchemists or magicians (although the term “magic” comes from Magi). However, the word Magi actually means “generous” or “benefactor” – as in the word “magnanimous.” The Magi were traveling missionaries – their faith called for them to seek “saviors” and to teach that each of us is a potential savior of our world. The word “savior” had a different meaning to the Magi as it does to today’s Christians.
Early Christian writers said the Magi were Zoroastrian priests (see this Catholic Bible history link). Not a single early Church writer calls the Magi “kings.” Their journey from the East, following a magical star is in Chapter two of Matthew. Matthew’s gospel was written to Jewish followers. For the Zoroastrian Magi to recognize Jesus would add to the Hebrew belief of Jesus as the Messiah (http://members.efn.org/~opal/therealmagi.html).
The Magi opened the heavens for their followers and found the savior of the world. This ministry proudly bears the “name” Magi for they were strangers in a strange land turning their world upside down with their supernatural revelations and, yes, their gifts. They came from no where and left to go back home to obscurity but left their mark on history by pointing out to everyone the child on which all of history pivoted on, Jesus.
Patti Jo
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