Who were the wise men and how many were there? (Jesus, tradition)

Bishka · #1 01-09-2007, 04:55 PM

In Matthew 2, it is mentioned that some wisemen came to Jesus.

Who were they? Where did they come from? How many of them were there? How did they know about the star?

logician · #2 01-09-2007, 06:21 PM

Let's see, there was Grumpy, Happy, Sneezy, Bashful -

whoops, wrong fairy tale.

Mike182 · #3 01-09-2007, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderer085

Let's see, there was Grumpy, Happy, Sneezy, Bashful -

whoops, wrong fairy tale.

it's almost expected that threads will go off topic - but did you really have to de-rail it in the second post?

Bishka · #4 01-09-2007, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderer085

Let's see, there was Grumpy, Happy, Sneezy, Bashful -

whoops, wrong fairy tale.

If you have nothing to contribute of worthwhile attention to add to this thread. Please leave it out.

sojourner · #5 01-09-2007, 06:28 PM

We don't know (Biblically) where they were from or how many there were. The number is traditionally set at 3 because of the mention of the 3 gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. They knew about the star, because they were astrologers.

Bishka · #6 01-09-2007, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sojourner

We don't know (Biblically) where they were from or how many there were.

Do you think at one time it may have been in there?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sojourner

The number is traditionally set at 3 because of the mention of the 3 gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

But you don't necessarily believe it was a set number of three?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sojourner

They knew about the star, because they were astrologers.

How do we know that?

sojourner · #7 01-09-2007, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Do you think at one time it may have been in there?

No. I don't believe the story was that liberally edited.

Quote:

But you don't necessarily believe it was a set number of three?

No. The story doesn't specify. It is what it is...not what it is not.

Quote:

How do we know that?

Because astrologers were the ones who studied the stars for portents.

Bishka · #8 01-09-2007, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sojourner

Because astrologers were the ones who studied the stars for portents.

What if they weren't necessarily 'studying' the stars, but saw the star, or were inspired to see the star from another source? Does it say that they studied the stars in the Bible?