The earliest apocryphal version of Jesus’ birth is a document called The Gospel of James or The Protoevangelium of James. Extra Biblical writings about the mysterious Magi proliferated. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues. For example, in the Prophet Isaiah, chapter 60, we read, “Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” Verse 6 says, “They shall bring gold and frankincense.” In Psalm 72, we find a prediction: “The kings of Tarshish and the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts.” But Matthew does not want these Magi to be kings… They doggedly followed a star that led them to Jesus. Christmas words -- Three Wise Men. Three Arabian princes followed a star to find baby … The single biblical account in Matthew simply presents an event at an unspecified point after Christ's birth in which an unnumbered party of unnamed … We love to sing carols about the three wise men, and place them in a manger scene, where they never seem to fit in—they and their jewel-bedecked camels and their opulent robes and gifts of gold seem an odd contrast to the “king” we know. After the Three Kings met Jesus, they did not go back the way they came. The shepherds find their place, and the three Wise Men and their camels join them. In the Bible, they presented gifts to Jesus soon after his birth. Gaspar represents the Frankincense brought to Jesus. With Jose Coronado, Juan Echanove, Imanol Arias, Javier Gurruchaga. What Were the Wise Men’s Names? Myrrh is either an embalming ointment or a symbol for mortality. In the Bible, they presented gifts to Jesus soon after his birth. In Western tradition, for instance, the three Magi were Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar. About 200 AD, nonbiblical sources started calling them kings, perhaps because of a prophecy in Psalm 72:11: “May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.” (NIV) Because they followed a star, they may have been royal astronomers, advisers to kings. The Three Wise Men all came from lands east of Jerusalem after seeing a special star in the sky that indicated the birth of a special king. Brian Hager. We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." ", Learn Religions uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. There is a message in the title "Wise Men." It was written that they were from the east and that they brought three gifts to Christ; gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Few details are given about these men in the Bible, and most of our ideas about them actually come from tradition or speculation. The Protoevangelium tells the story of Mary’s birth and childhood, her betrothal to Joseph and the birth of Jesus. Foolish people, like Herod the Great, reject Jesus and even seek to destroy him. Matthew says only that these visitors came from "the east." When we seek God with sincere determination, we will find him. Gaspar represents the Frankincense brought to Jesus. He and/or they associated the star of Bethlehem ’s appearing with the conception or the birth of the One “who has been born King of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2). None of these three wise men names carry any ascertainable meaning, but there are several legends and interpretations associated with the three wise men names. If indeed these men were scholars from Persia, they would have been familiar with Daniel's prophecy about the Messiah or "Anointed One." The best-informed children will tell you that the names of the three kings are Balthasar, Melchior, and Caspar. What Were the Names of the Three Wise Men in the Bible. The designation "Magi" refers to a Persian religious caste, but when this Gospel was written, the term was loosely used for astrologers, seers, and fortunetellers. Ironically, the Gospel of John states that Nicodemus brought a mixture of 75 pounds of aloe and myrrh to anoint Jesus’ body after the crucifixion. The core of the parable is the Magi’s journey: The Magi undertook a journey to encounter God. Many characters in Scripture go unnamed. They all point to Jesus Christ, the manifestation of God's love for the human race. The Three Wise Men, also known as the Three Kings or the Magi, were Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. 2 Comments. References. See also: our list of 'Christmas Card Sayings and Expressions'.. Posted by Friar William on December 03, 2001. You've heard their names: According to legend, they're the three Persian wise men, or kings, who traveled by camel … The Answer: According to Matthew 2:1-12, "wise men" came from the East to visit Jesus, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense (an aromatic gum resin used in incense and perfumes), and myrrh (another … The gifts of the Three Kings symbolize Christ's identity and mission: gold for a king, incense for God, and myrrh used to anoint the dead. (Daniel 9:24-27, NIV). According to the Gospel of Matthew (2:1-16), the wise men or Magi followed a star to the birth place of Christ. Neither the names nor the number of these wise men are given in the Gospels. Here are some things the Bible doesn’t say about the wise men. In Matthew 2:1, 7, and 16, the author uses the plural in Greek ( magoi , magous , magon respectively) and in 2:5, 7-13 the Greek indicates "they" and "them" which likewise reveal that there were more than one magi. Wise people acknowledge their need for a Savior and seek to find him. When we get to know Jesus Christ, we are changed forever and cannot go back to our old life. Matthew does not call them kings; that title was used later, in legends. He is the King of Sheba. Matthew reveals nothing of these visitors' ancestry. Three Wise Men are known to be the three men from the east who came to visit Lord Jesus in manger. The exact number of Wise Men is not known but since the Bible talks of three gifts that were presented, it is assumed there must have been three Wise Men, each bearing his own gift. When they found Jesus in Bethlehem, the three gifts that they offered were gold, frankincense and myrrh. According to legend in Western Christianity, there were three “wise men” who visited Jesus after His birth, bearing gifts.Their names were Melchior, Caspar, and Balthasar, and they were of various ethnic/racial origins. Tradition says that there were three and that their names were Gaspar/Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar/Balthazar, but since the Bible does not say, we have no … The journey of the Three Wise Men who followed a star to Bethlehem, a journey which the entire Church celebrates on the Solemnity of Epiphany as the culmination of the liturgical seasons of Advent and Christmas, is like a living parable. However, because there were three gifts, tradition asserts that there were three wise men (although early traditions included as little as two, three, four, eight, or as many as a dozen kings). Traditional nativity scenes depict three "Wise Men" visiting the infant Jesus on the night of his birth, in a manger accompanied by the shepherds and angels, but this should be understood as an artistic convention allowing the two separate scenes of the Adoration of the Shepherds on the birth night and the later Adoration of the Magito be combined for convenience. The Bible is a book about Jesus. The magi were given other names, as well, including Apellus, Amerus, and Damasius, which were used in Peter Comestor's medieval Historia Scholastica . Once again, it is due to tradition that we have their names. The Magi -- usually known as the "Three Wise Men" or "Three Kings" -- are easily the most famous of the visitors who appear at Jesus's birth in the Gospel accounts of the Christmas story. M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University, The Magi were both real and symbolic. As for the names of the visiting wise men, the Bible doesn't tell us, nor does it give their number. These wealthy travelers were on the opposite end of the social and economic scale as the. The Three Wise Men, also known as the Three Kings or the Magi, were Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. Over the centuries, legend has assigned them names: Gaspar, or Casper; Melchior, and Balthasar. By using Learn Religions, you accept our, Enjoy the Complete Christmas Story of the Birth of Jesus, Epiphany and the Three Magi - Medieval Christmas History, Meet Herod the Great: Ruthless Ruler of the Jews, Chronology of the Birth and Life of Jesus Christ, 7 Religious Christmas Quotes to Inspire You, The Ultimate List of Christmas Bible Verses to Celebrate Jesus' Birth. and wears a green cloak and a gold crown with green jewels on it. Matthew 2:1-2After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? In many Spanish towns that custom continues, while others now ask a prominent resident of African descent to take on this role in the cavalcades. This is how they are often portrayed: Gaspar (or Caspar ), who wears a green cloak and a gold crown with green jewels on it. April 9, 2013. Answer: We assume that there were three wise men because of the three gifts that were given: gold, incense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11). The Three Kings were among the wisest men of their time. Since there were three gifts, it has been inferred that there were three … Gaspar (or Caspar), who has brown hair and a brown beard (or no beard!) Names of the Three Kings Matthew reveals nothing of these visitors' ancestry. The three kings are also referred to as the wise men, magi, Persian priests, and astrologers. The Crossword Solver found 20 answers to the one of the three wise men crossword clue. The Three Wise Men. Traditionally, Christmas cards and book illustrations show Jesus still lying in a manger when the Wise Men came to visit Him. In about the 8th century the names of three Magi—Bithisarea, Melichior, and Gathaspa—appear in a chronicle known as the Excerpta latina barbari. The names of the wise men, Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, do not come from the Bible and did not appear in Christian literature until over five hundred years after the birth of Jesus. (NIV), Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. However, Matthew’s account of the magi’s visit in the Gospel (which is the only reference in the Bible to these famed visitors) tells us none of these characteristics. Scripture does not say how many wise men there were, but it is generally assumed there were three since they brought three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. There could have been many more. Fact Check: Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe? Directed by Antonio Navarro. What Are the Steps of Presidential Impeachment? The account of Jesus’ birth fol… The names of the wise men, Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, do not come from the Bible and did not appear in Christian literature until over five hundred years after the birth of Jesus. 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