The visit of the Magi/Proof text 2 Flashcards
Who are the Magi known as in christmas carols and traditional?
‘The three wise men’ or ‘the three kings’
What were the names of the three wise men according to tradition?
Caspar, Balthasar and Melchoir`
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Why is it a common misconception that three wise men attended Jesus’ birth?
Because the Bible doesn’t name them, doesn’t number them to be three and doesn’t say they are kings
What is a magi?
A priest of the persian religion specialising in astronomy and dream interpretation
What reputation did the Magi have in the Roman Empire?
Weird and exotic beliefs, occult powers and ancient wisdom
Why do people assume their were three Magi?
Because three gifts were given out
Why is it significant that the Magi were Gentiles?
Because the first people to recognise the messiah were not Jews at all
How does the visit of the gentile magi indicate that God’s promise to Abraham is being fulfilled?
Because Abraham’s descendant Jesus will be ‘a blessing to all nations’ rather than just the Jews
How does Matthew use the visit of the Gentile Magi to criticise the Jews?
They have OT scirpture yet still fail to understand what the prophets have said to them and worship the messiah; it is the Gentiles who understand the truth even though they do not have the prophecies. This justifies Matthew’s claim that Christians, including Gentile Christians - are the true followers of the messiah
How does Matthew use the visit of the Gentile Magi to criticise the Jews?
They have OT scirpture yet still fail to understand what the prophets have said to them and worship the messiah; it is the Gentiles who understand the truth even though they do not have the prophecies. This justifies Matthew’s claim that Christians, including Gentile Christians - are the true followers of the messiah
How was gold a symbolic gift?
It was the gift for a king, representing Jesus as the Kingly Messiah
How was frankincense a symbolic gift?
Was burnt in the temple during worship for its sweet smell; representing Jesus as the priestly messiah
How was Myrrh a symbolic gift?
A medicinal ointment with a bitter flavour; representing Jesus’ suffering and death as a suffering messiah or the suffering servant
Why does Brown think it odd that the Magi would need to ask where Jesus was to be born?
Because in John 7:42 everyone seems to know about the prophecy that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem
How does the inaction of Herod make the story flawed in the eyes of Raymond Brown?
Because Herod didn’t follow the Magi to Bethlehem in order to find Jesus
Why does Raymond Brown think it odd that there are no records of the star the Magi followed?
Because the Romans, Greeks and Persians were keen recorders of astronomical events
What does the second proof text do?
Links Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem to the Prophet Micah’s prediction that the Messiah would come from King David’s home town of Bethlehem
What OT passage does Matthew’s second proof text refer to?
Micah 5: 2-4
State Micah 5 :2-4
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come the one who will be the ruler over Israel, whose originals are old, of ancient times
Describe Bethlehem in the 1st century
A small village 5 miles south of Jerusalem
How does the way Matthew describes Mary and Joseph’s living arrangements differ from Luke?
Describe Joseph and Mary as living there in a house. There’s no mention of a stable or manger and no suggestion that Mary and Joseph are just visiting Bethlehem temporarily
Why was Jesus’ nazarene background a problem for many 1st century Christians?
It was a backward area composes of farmlands and fishing villages where the locals had a strong accent: they were regarded as yokels by the sophisticated people of Jerusalem. There are also no prophecies about the Messiah coming from Galilee
What is Matthew’s solution to Jesus’ Nazarene origins?
Proposes his family was really from Bethlehem all along, but moved to nazareth later
What is Luke’s solution to Jesus’ Nazarene origins?
The family was from Nazareth but happened to be visiting Nazareth at the time of Jesus’ birth
What did scholars come to call Jesus’ Galilean background?
The critereon of embarrassment
What is the critereon of embarrassment?
The idea that Jesus being from Galilee was embarrassing for early Christians because it counted against their belief that Jesus was the Messiah
What does the critereon of embarrassment suggest about Matthew’s birth narrative?
That he may have made it up
