The Magi (Three Kings) – a Difference Between Truth and Tradition

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The story of the Magi (also called the Three Wise Men or Three Kings) can be found in The Gospel According to Saint Matthew, chapter 2, verses 1–12. These important travelers were searching for Jesus, and they carried gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to present to him. The Magi are part of traditional nativity celebrations of Christmas and Christian tradition. It is interesting to note that these important men from distant lands were not Jews, so they were the first Gentiles to worship Jesus and bestow gifts upon him.1

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Despite traditional beliefs, there are a couple of misconceptions concerning their visit to see our Lord. First, the Gospel does not indicate how many Magi there were. Christians have always assumed they were three in number, but that is probably based upon the fact that they brought three gifts.2 Accounts gleaned from apocryphal literature, such as the Revelation of the Magi, suggested the Magi were a group numbering twelve or more monk-like mystics traveling from China.3

While many Christian writers do believe they came from China, some early philosophers and authors, such as Justin Martyr and Tertullian, suggested these wise men came from Arabia,4 but there are other theories, too. While most bibles indicate they were ‘from the east’, that original Greek phrase literally means coming from the ‘direction of the rising sun’.

The second misconception is that the travelers did not arrive immediately after our Lord’s birth, but quite some time later. The Bible does not specify the interval between the birth and the visit, but it took much time to prepare for the trip and then travel a long distance, so by the time the wise men located where Jesus was living, it is figured that he must have been between six months and two years of age.5

Scripture states that the Magi found him, and “on entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage” (Matthew 2:11, NRSV).6 So, when Jesus was found, he was not a newborn baby in a manger, but a child living in a house with his mother. Consider this, too. When King Herod heard that the Magi were searching for the young ‘King of the Jews’ — and considering the time of birth was not known — Herod sent soldiers to kill all male Jewish children up to two years of age, in an effort to destroy the child (see Matthew 2:16-18).

So, it is evident that the traditional nativity scene depicting the Three Wise Men arriving right after Jesus’ birth, along with shepherds and angels, is nothing more than displaying two separate incidents combined for convenience.7

One Catholic author, Dwight Longenecker, suggested another possible misconception of the Magi — riding upon camels. He said that the tribes of Arabia were famous for domesticating camels and using them in their trade caravans, and that they gave camels to Assyrian kings as tribute gifts, as well as bred them for sale and trade. However, during the reign of King Aretas III (who ruled Damascus and Lebanon after 85 BC)8 ancient Arabians adopted more Greek ways, and one of the results was the increased use of the Arabian horse as a prestigious and comfortable method of transport. “Camels continued to be pack animals, but horses were desired by those wishing to ride in style.”9

 

The Magi’s Gifts

In the eighth century, a Catholic author and teacher, Bede the Venerable (Saint Bede), produced a work10 which included naming the three Magi. He wrote, “The Magi were the ones who gave gifts to the Lord. The first is said to have been Melchior, an old man with white hair and a long beard . . . who offered gold to the Lord as to a king. The second, Caspar by name, young and beardless and ruddy complexioned . . . honored him as God by his gift of incense, an oblation [offering] worthy of divinity. The third, black-skinned and heavily bearded, named Balthasar . . . by his gift of myrrh testified to the Son of Man who was to die.”11

All gifts presented by the Magi were considered, at the time, as ordinary offerings given to a king: gold is money, frankincense is a perfume and incense, and myrrh is an anointing and embalming oil. But spiritually, opinions abound, for instance: gold as a symbol of kinship on earth, frankincense as a symbol of deity12 or priestly role, and myrrh as a symbol of death.13

Although frankincense and myrrh have well-known uses as perfumes, cosmetics, spices, oil, and incense, some writers have suggested they also had medical uses. One bible dictionary mentions frankincense (a gum of Boswellia plants) was used to stop bleeding, cleanse wounds, and cure hemlock poisoning.14

Myrrh (a gum of Commiphora plants) was taken internally to help fever, poisoning, ear, eye, and liver complications. It was also used for pain, because of its narcotic properties. We shouldn’t forget that it was offered to our Lord mixed with wine, before his crucifixion (see Mark 15:23).15

 

Modern Customs Celebrating the Magi

Western Christianity celebrates the Magi on the Day of Epiphany (January 6), immediately following the Twelve Days of Christmas. This is the traditionally accepted day that the Magi visited the Christ child, and is sometimes called ‘Little Christmas’.16 Besides Church services, the celebration involves many varying customs, depending upon country and location, and is particularly important in many Spanish-speaking parts of the world where the Magi visit houses of children. Several countries have a tradition of providing special pastries for family and friends.17

There is one unique Magi custom in which I have participated many times. I was born and raised in the city of New Orleans, in the state of Louisiana, situated along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico; it is a French-Catholic region of the United States. The Christmas season there is but the start of traditional celebrations that lead all the way to Easter in the spring of the following year: Christmas, the Twelve Days of Christmas, the Day of Epiphany, Mardi Gras, Lent, then Easter.

Anyway, on the Day of Epiphany, which we called ‘Three Kings Day’, bakeries begin to sell ‘King Cakes’ which are available through the end of Mardi Gras, the day before Lent18 begins. This circular cake is made with sweet twisted dough and has a cinnamon-flavored sugary frosting displaying the colors of gold, green, and purple. Inside is hidden a small figurine of the baby Jesus and whoever gets the slice with the figurine is expected to provide the next King Cake.19 Today most citizens have forgotten the religious connection of the King Cake and just partake of them as an excuse to party.

We and our three children’s families now live in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S., but the kids still have King Cakes shipped up from New Orleans, when they are seasonally available. I hope this coming season someone saves a piece for me, for they are really delicious.

As January 6th approaches,
A cautious excitement fills the air,
For all throughout New Orleans,
Arrive the King Cakes with Mardi Gras flare.

As the King Cake boxes arrive,
At schools and offices all around,
We cut the King Cakes and sink our teeth,
Into a delicious sugary mound.

Then we all begin to wonder,
As our mouths water, and hope that maybe,
We might just be the lucky one,
To receive the King Cake Baby.
(Selected verses are from: “The King Cake Baby” by Jeffrey Pipes Guice) 20

 

Conclusion

This Outlaw Bible Student web site has several articles related to the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Included are studies about the two Bethlehems, the real date of Jesus’ birth, the date of Mary’s conception, and answers the question, “Was Mary really a virgin?” A list of these bible studies is in References & Notes at the end of this discourse.21

The music selection related to this article is a jazz-blues-rock-classical rendition of the Christmas song We Three Kings in 5/4 time. The artists — The Piano Guys — truly spanned the spectrum of music to produce this instrumental video. Already in New York for a 2012 television appearance, they arranged to use Citipond Ice Rink in Bryant Park for the video shoot. See References & Notes for a link to the music video.22

Copyright © 2022, Dr. Ray Hermann
OutlawBibleStudent.org

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References & Notes

  1. Knowles, Andrew, (Ed.), The Bible Guide, (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 2001), p. 411.
  2. Vermes, Geza, The Nativity: History and Legend, (London: Penguin UK, 2006), p. 22.
  3. “Strata: Lost Syriac Text Gives Magi’s View of the Christmas Story,” (Biblical Archaeology Review, OBS, Nov/Dec 2011), vol. 37, no. 6. pp. 14–15.
  4. Orr, James, et al., (Eds.), The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, (Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company, 1915), vol. 3, p. 1962.
  5. Hovind, Eric, “The Wise Men and the Star.” (Creation Today, 28 November 2011), https://creationtoday.org/the-wise-men-and-the-star/
  6. Scripture is quoted from The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989). Used with permission.
  7. “Biblical Magi”, (Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 October 2022), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magi
  8. Longenecker, Dwight, Mystery of the Magi: the Quest to Identify the Three Wise Men, (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2017, ch. 9.
  9. “Aretas III”, (Encyclopedia Britannica, retrieved 13 November 2022), from main article “Nabataean”, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aretas-III
  10. A work called the Excerpta et Collectanea attributed to the English monk Bede the Venerable (673-735).
  11. Saunders, William, “The Magi”, (Catholic Education Resource Center, CERC, 10 November 2022), https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/the-magi.html
  12. “Biblical Magi”, (Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 October 2022) — see above.
  13. “Strata: The Magi’s Gifts — Tribute or Treatment?” (Biblical Archaeology Review, BAS, Jan/Feb 2012), vol. 38, no. 1, p. 16.
  14. Barry, John D., (Ed.) Lexham Bible Dictionary, (Bellingham WA: Lexham Press, 2016).
  15. Ibid.
  16. “Epiphany (holiday)”, (Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 9 July 2022), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)
  17. “Biblical Magi”, (Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 October 2022) — see above.
  18. Lent: An annual fast of forty days, beginning with Ash Wednesday and continuing till Easter, observed from very early times in the Christian church, in commemoration of Christ’s forty days’ fast (Matthew 6:2), and as a season of special penitence and preparation for the Easter feast.
    American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th edition.
  19. “Biblical Magi”, (Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 October 2022) — see above.
  20. Selected verses from “The King Cake Baby” by Jeffrey Pipes Guice of New Orleans (© 2020 Jeffrey Pipes Guice). Complete poem available online. (POEMist, retrieved 16 November 2022). Used under ‘fair use copyright’ for teaching under Section 107 of the United States Copyright Act of 1976. https://www.poemist.com/jeffrey-pipes-guice/the-king-cake-baby
  21. Articles related to the birth of Jesus:
    (1) “There are Two Bethlehems: In Which was Jesus Born?”, https://outlawbiblestudent.org/there-are-two-bethlehems-in-which-one-was-jesus-born/
    (2) “Puzzle Solved: Here is Jesus’ Birth Date, and the Date of Mary’s Conception, too”, https://outlawbiblestudent.org/puzzle-solved-here-is-jesus-birth-date-and-the-date-of-marys-conception-too/
    (3) “Mary & Joseph — Mother & Foster-Father of Jesus”, https://outlawbiblestudent.org/mary-joseph-mother-foster-father-of-jesus/
    (4) “Jesus’ Mother was a Virgin — What? Is That Even Possible?”, https://outlawbiblestudent.org/jesus-mother-was-a-virgin-what-is-that-even-possible/
    (5) “A few questions about Christmas – and what is it with all that glitter?” https://outlawbiblestudent.org/a-few-questions-about-christmas-and-what-is-it-with-all-that-glitter/
  22. “We Three Kings”, Artists: The Piano Guys (Piano & Cello); Location: Bryant Park in New York City, USA, December 2012; Arrangement written by van der Beek, Schmidt, Nelson; (licenses: MasterWorks, SME, Kobalt Music Publishing, AMRA, Wise Music Group, SonyATV, others). Used under ‘fair use copyright’ for teaching under Section 107 of the United States Copyright Act of 1976 — MUSIC VIDEO: https://youtu.be/qu5RY94ldDc
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