“We Three Kings of Orient Are…”: Who Were the Magi

“We Three Kings of Orient Are…”: Who Were the Magi

 
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” - Matthew 2:1-2 (NABRE)

Introduction

To appreciate the meaning and purpose of the Magi, is to see them in the light of of the Epiphany or Theophany.  Epiphany finds its roots as a term in Koine Greek, the “Common Greek” of the Hellenistic world created by the conquests of Alexander the Great, and further spread by the Greco-Roman culture of Imperial Rome.  With influence from Hebrew and Syriac thought and language patterns, Koine Greek became the language of the New Testament.  Epiphany from “epiphaneia” means “to appear,” also “manifestation,” or “appearance”; the Ancient Greek term Theophany (theophaneia) is used to express the same concept, the manifestation of God.  In the Syriac Churches the term Denho or Denha, refers to “the Light”, Jesus Christ the Light who reveals the Triune God.  This term in Greek, “photo”, also came to be used in the Byzantine Churches along with the previously mentioned “epiphaneia”, and “theophaneia”.

The origin of the Feast of the Epiphany seems to have begun to take shape in the fourth century, or possibly even earlier in the Syriac and Alexandrian Churches.  Its  theme being the Nativity of the Lord, as in the case of the Magi, but also the Baptism of the Lord; as Saint Ephrem proclaimed; “O Great One who became a babe, by your birth again you begot me; O Pure One who was baptized, let your washing wash us of impurity.” 

Lastly, by way of introduction it should be said that: 

The substance of the celebration of Epiphany varied in different traditions. There were two major trends: Eastern and Western. The birth of Christ, the story of the Magi, Christ’s baptism, His divine manifestation, miracle at Cana, and the feeding of the crowds formed the festival of Epiphany on January 6 as indicated in earlier Alexandrian and Syrian traditions. (Nicholas Pokhilko, History of Epiphany, https://sites.google.com/site/historyofepiphany/)

 
The Names of the Magi

Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.  He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.”  After their audience with the king they set out. - Matthew 2:7-9 (NABRE)

How many Magi were there? What were their names? The various traditions of the early Church leave us with different enumerations and different sets of names; remembering that the Sacred Scriptures do not mention their names at all.                   In the Western tradition of the early Church we find; Casper (sometimes called Gaspar, Jaspar, Jaspas, Gathaspa), Melchior (also called Melichior), and Balthazar (also known as Bathasar, Balthassar, Bithisaria).  Also, there developed in some areas of the Western tradition of Christianity, the notion that Casper was the King of India, Melchior was King of Persia, and Balthazar was King of Arabia.  

The Western tradition of their names seems to have derived from a Greek manuscript most likely composed about the year 500 in Alexandria, Egypt, and translated into Latin. A second Greek document, from the eighth century, continues that tradition and adds other details. It is presumed to be of Irish origin and was also translated into Latin. (Where Do We Get the Names of the Magi? stcatherinercc.org)  

           The Eastern Christian traditions of the early Church offer another set of names for the Magi.  In the Syriac tradition there emerges the names Larvandad, Gushnasaph, and Hormisdas.  The Ethiopians used the names, Hor, Karsudan, and Basanater.  For the Armenians there developed the names, Kagpha, Badadakharida, and Badalilma.

Matthew tells us nothing about the Magi after he reports that they returned to their own country (Matthew 2:12). But two independent traditions teach that their encounter with the Baby in Bethlehem led them eventually to become His followers, either on their own or in response to the later preaching of an apostle. These same traditions insist that the Magi were ultimately martyred for the Faith. (Where Do We Get the Names of the Magi? stcatherinercc.org)

What was a Magi?

And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.  They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. - Matthew 2:9-11 (NABRE)

Many of us grew up with the Christmas carol, “We Three Kings of Orient Are”, written in 1857 by the Rector (Pastor) of Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.  The belief that the Magi were kings, comes from the influence of Psalm 72:10 (“May the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute, the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts”) and Isaiah 60:6 (“Caravans of camels shall cover you, dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; All from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and heralding the praises of the Lord).”  But were the Magi actually kings? Does the title Magi even mean king. The answer is no, Magi does not mean king, rather it is closer to our understanding of priest, or even astrologer in some instances.

In the strict sense of the term, Magi refers to the priests of the Zoroastrian religion.  Today, a small monotheistic religion found mostly in India, often called the Parsee religion, meaning the Persian religion, recalling where it was born and still exists in small numbers in modern Iran (Persia).  

At the time of the birth and life of Jesus, Zoroastrianism was still the official belief of the Persian Kingdom.  Having developed from a polytheistic tradition, the adherents of the religion believe the prophet Zoroaster had revealed to the Persians that there was only one divinity, Ahura Mazda, meaning Wise Lord and that the other so-called divinities were only angels of various ranks, some good and some bad.  The Magi were therefore, the priests of the Persian “fire temples”, whose main function was to keep the pure fire in the temples burning and to perform the rituals of Zoroastrianism in the presence of the pure fire.

In the wider sense of the term, Magi also came to refer to astrologers, or diviners; those who could predict the will of the divine by reading the stars of the sky.  So the expansion of the Persian term “Magi”, became applied to professional “Wise Men”.  

The Significance of the Magi

Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. - Matthew 2:11-12

What is the scriptural, theological, and spiritual significance of the Magi?  Why have they been so important in our understanding of the Epiphany of Christ to the world? 

The importance of the Magi is related first to the gifts that they bring the Christ-Child.  The bringing of gifts to a king or to a deity was common in the ancient world:

These valuable items were standard gifts to honor a king or deity in the ancient world: gold as a precious metal, frankincense as perfume or incense, and myrrh as anointing oil. In fact, these same three items were apparently among the gifts, recorded in ancient inscriptions, that King Seleucus II Callinicus offered to the god Apollo at the temple in Miletus in 243 B.C.E. (“Why Did the Magi Bring Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh?”, Bible History Daily, Biblical Archeology Society Staff, June 20, 2023)

The Book of Isaiah 60:6 also describes the future restoration of Jerusalem in similar terms, that nations and kings will “bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord” (Isaiah 60:6).  In particular when seen as gifts offered to the Christ-Child, these gifts take on even great meaning.  Gold signifies that Jesus is King, Frankincense that he is the true High Priest, and Myrrh that by his death and burial he offers salvation to all; those in Sheol, and those who will live and die after his glorious resurrection.                                                                                                                          

The Magi also represent that the Light of Christ is given not only to the Jewish people but now also to the Gentiles, represented by these wise, priestly men from the distant lands, who recognize the King of Kings has come into the world. 

Rev. David A. Fisher,