The Three Kings, or Magi, are mentioned only in the Gospel of Matthew 2:1-12. 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. Three gifts (see gold, frankincense and myrrh) could have been presented by two, three or thirty wise men. 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. Over the centuries, legend has assigned them names: Gaspar, or Casper; Melchior, and Balthasar. Three Arabian princes followed a star to find baby … 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. The three wise men met first with King Herod, whom he learned of Jesus’ birth from, this initial meeting with the King is consistent with an official Imperial visit from China. Who Was the Ethiopian Eunuch in the Bible? 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? ", Learn Religions uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. 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… Gaspar represents the Frankincense brought to Jesus. 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. and wears a green cloak and a gold crown with green jewels on it. 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. Jesus is not just a great teacher or admirable person as many people say today, but the Son of the Living God. Scholars have speculated that they came from Persia, Arabia, or even India. The Three Wise Men all came from lands east of Jerusalem after seeing a special star in … Myrrh is either an embalming ointment or a symbol for mortality. 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. Despite their great fame, however, there is only one short passage in the New Testament that tells of the Magi, and this account is remarkably vague about these figures, in Matthew chapter 2, verses 1 through 12. 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 … Matthew says only that these visitors came from "the east." 2 Comments. Brian Hager. 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. Matthew does not call them kings; that title was used later, in legends. This is how they are often portrayed: Gaspar (or Caspar ), who wears a green cloak and a gold crown with green jewels on it. The Crossword Solver found 20 answers to the one of the three wise men crossword clue. They doggedly followed a star that led them to Jesus. When we seek God with sincere determination, we will find him. The Three Kings were among the wisest men of their time. What Were the Names of the Three Wise Men in the Bible. Discovering that the Messiah was to be born, they organized an expedition to find him, following a star that led them to Bethlehem. The three kings are also referred to as the wise men, magi, Persian priests, and astrologers. 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. Neither the names nor the number of these wise men are given in the Gospels. Three Wise Men are known to be the three men from the east who came to visit Lord Jesus in manger. Extra Biblical writings about the mysterious Magi proliferated. In Western tradition, for instance, the three Magi were Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar. 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 three Kings recognized Jesus Christ as the Messiah while he was still a child, and traveled thousands of miles to worship him. The core of the parable is the Magi’s journey: The Magi undertook a journey to encounter God. Since there were three gifts, it has been inferred that there were three … Frankincense is either plain perfume or a representation of deity. See also: our list of 'Christmas Card Sayings and Expressions'.. Posted by Friar William on December 03, 2001. The Three Wise Men, also known as the Three Kings or the Magi, were Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. When Bible characters get more face time in media than they do in the Bible, you’re sure to hear a few things about them that aren’t biblical. What Are the Steps of Presidential Impeachment? They all point to Jesus Christ, the manifestation of God's love for the human race. Balthazar, Gaspar, and Melchior. 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). 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. Foolish people, like Herod the Great, reject Jesus and even seek to destroy him. 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 … The Protoevangelium tells the story of Mary’s birth and childhood, her betrothal to Joseph and the birth of Jesus. Like the number of Magi, the names of these wise men are also unknown. As for the names of the visiting wise men, the Bible doesn't tell us, nor does it give their number. Fact Check: Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe? This video provides a brief introduction into the history of the three Wise Men, or Magi, which are a part of the traditional Christian story of Christmas. Matthew’s story provides, in my mind, an absolutely brilliant contrast to Jesus. Enter the answer length or the answer pattern to get better results. According to Isaiah the three wise men names are Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior. Why did Herod ask the wise men “what time the star had appeared”? In the Bible, they presented gifts to Jesus soon after his birth. By the time they met Jesus, he was in a house and was a child, not an infant, implying they arrived a year or more after his birth. Matthew reveals nothing of these visitors' ancestry. There is a message in the title "Wise Men." The best-informed children will tell you that the names of the three kings are Balthasar, Melchior, and Caspar. Directed by Antonio Navarro. Despite their culture and religion in a foreign land, they accepted Jesus as their Savior. Every Christmas the Nativity set is unpacked. Updated February 28, 2017 | Infoplease Staff. It was written that they were from the east and that they brought three gifts to Christ; gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Another unknown fact is the time of arrival of the Wise Men to Bethlehem. Names of the Three Kings Matthew reveals nothing of these visitors' ancestry. The History of the United States' Golden Presidential Dollars, How the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Changed Schools and Education in Lasting Ways. 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. What Does George Soros' Open Society Foundations Network Fund? What are the names of the three Wise Men ? (Daniel 9:24-27, NIV). Many characters in Scripture go unnamed. The Three Wise Men. When we get to know Jesus Christ, we are changed forever and cannot go back to our old life. The Three Wise Men, also known as the Three Kings or the Magi, were Caspar, Melchior 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. (NIV), Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. Some Bible scholars think Joseph and Mary sold the wise men's gifts to pay for their trip to Egypt to escape Herod’s persecution. 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. The Bible is a book about Jesus. Palestine, Judea, Rome, Arabia, Egypt etc… had well established trade with China. He is the King of Sheba. References. There is nothing in the Bible that limits the number of the wise men to three, nor anything that gives a clue to their names. What Were the Wise Men’s Names? Wise people acknowledge their need for a Savior and seek to find him. However, the Bible does not say there were only three wise men. In the Bible, they presented gifts to Jesus soon after his birth. The Question: What were the names of the Three Kings (or Three Wise Men), and the gifts that each brought to the baby Jesus? 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. April 9, 2013. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges. Everyone knows the legend of the three wise men's visit to Bethlehem as retold every Christmas. Balthasar has a Persian sound. There could have been many more. 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. These wealthy travelers were on the opposite end of the social and economic scale as the. In Reply to: Christmas words -- Three Wise Men posted by Q on December 03, 2001: : We were discussing this at work -- what were the names of the three wise men who came to see Baby Jesus. Melchior, who has long white hair and a white beard … Traditionally, Christmas cards and book illustrations show Jesus still lying in a manger when the Wise Men came to visit Him. They have become known most commonly as Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar (or Casper). Scholars believe that gold is either a simple valuable or a symbol of kingship. He is not hiding from us but wants to have an intimate relationship with each of us. After the Three Kings met Jesus, they did not go back the way they came. 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