How Many Wise Men Came To See Jesus?

How many wise men visited Jesus?

1. Is it true that only three wise men or Magi traveled to Jerusalem to worship Jesus?
2. In response to your question, there are numerous notions associated with the birth of Jesus, such as the concept that there were only three wise men, that are simply untrue and do not appear in the Bible.
3. Several aspects of Christ’s birth are entangled in history, mythology, and societal expectations.

This is the case with the widely held belief that only three wise men or Magi (important people from Parthia) paid a visit to Jesus on his birthday.Countless Christmas-related books, paintings, Sunday school lessons, posters, church bulletins, displays in stores, television programs, decorations, and other items depict three (usually oddly dressed) wise men, each bearing a gift, in front of a manger where baby Jesus is sleeping, among other things.Despite the fact that they are frequently well-intentioned, such portrayals simply serve to increase the uncertainty and misunderstandings surrounding our Savior.

Because the Bible is silent on the number of Magi who brought presents, many theologians and church members have believed that there is a one-to-one relationship between the amount of gifts and the number of individuals who brought them.This is nothing more than a wild guess at the moment.Three ″wise men″ came to worship the Lord, according to popular belief, is a typical example of a conjecture or theory (such as the notion of evolution) being made to appear as reality via repeated exposure to the evidence.

Adoration of the Three Wise Men (wise men) Fra Angelico was a painter who lived in the 15th century.It’s important to remember that Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, was actually born in Bethlehem thousands of years ago.This section of the story does not follow any custom or tradition.From Matthew’s narrative, we may infer that a large number of wise persons came to worship the Lord.After the birth of Jesus, Matthew is the only Gospel writer who recounts their going a long distance to visit him shortly after his birth.

According to Matthew, following Jesus’ birth, the Magi pay a visit to Herod the Great in order to find out exactly where Jesus is.Herod, on the other hand, has no idea where he is or how he got there in the first place.After leaving Jerusalem without receiving a response, the wise men come upon a star that directs them to the location they need to go.They discovered the small boy with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshipped Him; then they opened their treasuries and brought their gifts to Him, which were gold, frankincense, and myrrh.(Note that Jesus was NOT visited in a barn or manger!) (Matthew 2:11).An article on who visited Jesus published by the Catholic Encyclopedia in 1913 confesses the fact that Matthew (and the rest of the New Testament) completely overlooks the number of high-ranking men, all of whom were wise, who traveled more than 1,000 miles to worship the one and only true King of all Kings.

According to this source, not only is there no specific tradition surrounding this subject, but there is also no such thing as a tradition in general ″Some (Catholic church) Fathers talk of three Magi, according to their beliefs.They are almost certainly impacted by the quantity of presents received.Tradition has it that the number twelve is lucky in the Orient.″ According to Stephen M.Collins’ book ″Lost Ten Tribes of Israel…Found!″ the significance of the journey undertaken to worship the King of Kings would have made it likely that several, if not a delegation of twelve or more ‘wise men,’ would have made the trip to Judea to worship the King of Kings (page 381).

Meet the 3 Wise Men Who Visited Jesus

1. The Three Kings, often known as the Magi, are only referenced once in the Gospel of Matthew, in verses 2-12.
2. Because so little information is provided in the Bible about these men, we have to rely on oral tradition and speculation to form our understanding of them.
3. The Bible does not specify how many wise men came to visit, but it is usually accepted that there were three since they brought three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh, all of which were given to the infant Jesus.

The Three Kings

• The Magi were both real and symbolic at the same time. As actual beings, the three kings validated old prophesies about Jesus being the Messiah, and as symbols, they demonstrated that he had come to redeem all people, wealthy and poor, educated and uneducated, from all parts of the world, including their own. These affluent travelers were on the other extreme of the social and economic spectrum from the shepherds who had seen Jesus shortly after his birth
• many persons in the Bible are not identified by their first names. Ultimately, they all point to Jesus Christ, who is the physical incarnation of God’s love for humanity. The Bible is a book about Jesus, and the title ″Wise Men″ conveys a message to the reader. Wise individuals see their need for a Savior and actively strive to discover him in their lives. Some people, such as Herod the Great, are foolish enough to reject Jesus and even seek to destroy him.

1. Even while Jesus Christ was still a child, the three Kings recognized him as the Messiah, and they traveled thousands of miles to worship him.
2. The only thing Matthew tells about these people is that they arrived from ″the east.″ Scholars have theorized that they may have originated in Persia, Arabia, or perhaps India, although there is no evidence to support this.
3. They steadfastly pursued a star that eventually led them to Jesus.

It’s possible that they encountered Jesus while he was already in a house and was a kid rather than a baby, meaning that they had come a year or more after his birth.

Three Gifts From Three Kings

1. Symbolizing Christ’s identity and purpose, the gifts of the Three Kings are made of gold for a king, incense for God, and myrrh, which was used to anoint the dead.
2. However, the Gospel of John records that Nicodemus brought 75 pounds of aloe and myrrh to anoint Jesus’ corpse after the crucifixion, which is ironic given the circumstances.
3. God showed his appreciation for the wise men by sending them a dream instructing them to take a different path home and not to report back to King Herod.

Some Bible historians believe that Joseph and Mary sold the wise men’s presents in order to pay for their journey to Egypt in order to avoid Herod’s wrath.

Strengths

The Three Kings were considered to be among the most intelligent individuals of their day. When they learned that the Messiah was about to be born, they arranged an expedition to track him down. They followed a star that led them to Bethlehem. Despite the fact that they were in a distant place with a different culture and religion, they embraced Jesus as their Savior.

Life Lessons

1. When we search for God with true resolve, we shall eventually come across him.
2. He is not concealing himself from us, but rather desires to establish a personal connection with everyone of us.
3. These wise men treated Jesus with the reverence and adoration that only God deserves, kneeling before him and offering him gifts.

Not only is Jesus the Son of the Living God, as many people now claim, but he is also a brilliant teacher and a wonderful person to be admired.Following their encounter with Jesus, the Three Kings did not return the way they had come.When we come to know Jesus Christ, we are irrevocably transformed and are unable to return to our previous lives in the same way.

Names of the Three Kings

1. Matthew does not reveal anything about the ancestry of these visitors.
2. Gaspar, or Casper, Melchior, and Balthasar are some of the names that have been given to them by legend over the centuries.
3. The name Balthasar has a Persian ring to it.

When Daniel prophesied about the Messiah or ″Anointed One,″ it is likely that these men were familiar with Daniel’s prophesy concerning the Messiah or ″Anointed One.″ Daniel 9:24-27 (New International Version).The name ″Magi″ refers to a religious caste in Persian culture, but at the time of the writing of this Gospel, the term was used more broadly to apply to astrologers, seers, and fortunetellers.They are not referred to as kings in Matthew; that title was added afterwards, in stories.

Nonbiblical sources began referring to them as kings about 200 AD, probably in response to a promise in Psalm 72:11, which states, ″May all kings knee down to him, and all nations serve him.″ (NIV) Because they were following a star, it is possible that they were royal astronomers and advisors to kings.

Key Verses

Matthew 2:1-2 (KJV) Following Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, Judea, during the reign of King Herod, Magi from the East traveled to Jerusalem and inquired, ″Who is this child?″ ″Where has the one who was born king of the Jews vanished to? We came to him because we spotted his star in the east and wanted to adore him.″ (NIV)

The Bible’s answer

• Although popular Christmas custom refers to three wise men or three kings as visiting Jesus after his birth, the Bible does not use such names to describe the travelers who came to see him after his birth. Jesus Christ (Matthew 2:1) Instead, the Greek term ma’goi was used by the Gospel writer Matthew to describe the people who came to see Jesus. Experts in astrology and other occult disciplines are most usually referred to by the term. * They are referred to as ″astrologers″ or ″magi″ in some Bible translations. * Approximately how many ″wise men″ were in attendance? Were the ″wise men″ kings?
• What were the ″wise men’s″ names?
• When did the ″wise men″ come to see Jesus?
• Did God command the ″wise men″ to follow the ″star″ of Bethlehem?

 How many “wise men” were there?

The Bible does not specify how many there are, and traditions differ on the subject. As stated in the Encyclopedia Britannica, ″Eastern tradition assigns the number of Magi to 12, whereas Western tradition assigns the number to three, most likely in accordance with the three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11) that were brought to the newborn.″

 Were the “wise men” kings?

Despite the fact that the visitors are frequently depicted as kings in Christmas tradition, the Bible never refers to them as such. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the appellation was added decades later as part of the traditions that ″embellished the tale,″ as the Encyclopedia Britannica explains.

 What were the names of the “wise men”?

The identities of the astrologers are not revealed in the Bible. As stated by the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ″attempts to name them (for example, Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar) are based on tales.

 When did the “wise men” visit Jesus?

1. It’s possible that the astrologers paid a visit to Jesus a few months after his birth.
2. This is demonstrated by the fact that King Herod, who desired to have Jesus slain, ordered the death of boys who were two years old or younger.
3. Based on the information he had gotten from the astrologers, he determined that age range.

—Matthew 2:16 (New International Version).The astrologers did not pay a visit to Jesus on the night of his birth, according to tradition.″When they entered the home, they saw the little infant with Mary his mother,″ according to the Bible.

(See Matthew 2:11 for more information.) That the family had moved into a house at that point and that Jesus was no longer an infant in a manger is shown by this fact.—Matthew 2:16.

 Did God have the “wise men” follow the “star” of Bethlehem?

• Some people believe that God sent the so-called star of Bethlehem to direct the astrologers to the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Consider the reasons why this isn’t possible. The astrologers were directed first to Jerusalem by what looked to be a star. As recorded in the Bible, ″Astrologers from the East came to Jerusalem, asking: ‘Where has been the one born king of the Jews?’″ Because we spotted his star while traveling through the East, and we have come to pay our respects to him.″ The following passages are from Matthew 2:1–2. It was King Herod, not the ″star,″ who was the first to guide astrologers to the location of Bethlehem. When Herod learned of a rival ″king of the Jews,″ he went on a search for the location where the prophesied Christ would be born. (Matthew 2:3-6
• Luke 2:35-39) When he learned that the child would be born in Bethlehem, he sent the astrologers to travel to the city and search for the kid before reporting back to him. It was only after that that the astrologers traveled to Bethlehem. Following the king’s instructions, they proceeded on their route, and look! The star they had seen while they were in the East had moved ahead of them until it came to a complete halt above where the tiny kid was. It was the apparition of the ″star″ in Matthew 2:9 that set in motion a chain of circumstances that jeopardized Jesus’ life and culminated in the death of two innocent children. After leaving Bethlehem, God issued a warning to the astrologers, advising them not to return to Herod. The Bible says in Matthew 2:12 that

1. What was Herod’s response?
2. Seeing that he had been outfoxed by the astrologers, Herod became furious and sent out an army to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and all of its surrounding districts, starting at the age of two and continuing until they were killed according to the time that he had carefully calculated from the astrologers, according to the Bible.
3. (Matthew 2:16; Mark 2:16) Job 34:10 says that God would not have permitted such a wicked act to take place.

How many wise men came to see Jesus?

1. Q.
2. How many wise men came in search of Jesus, and how many were there?
3. We don’t know how many there were because the Bible doesn’t say.

In his account, Matthew simply states that ″wise men from the east came to Jerusalem″ and inquired as to where the newborn king was located.In the following chapters, he simply refers to them as ″the wise men″ or refers to them as ″they″ and ″them.″ Due to the fact that the Bible describes them as bringing three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh, it has traditionally been assumed that there were three wise men.It’s possible that there were three of them, and that each of them brought one of these gifts on their own accord.

However, it is possible that there were more than three of them, and that each of them brought one or more of the items on the list.The names Caspar, Balthasar, and Melchior, which have been attributed to the ″three wise men,″ are a later addition to the legend.As previously stated, the Bible does not tell us how many there were, nor does it give us any information about their identities.

The Rev.Dr.Christopher R.Smith is an ordained minister, author, and biblical scholar who lives in the United States.For the past twenty-five years, he has been involved in parish and student ministry.

He worked as a consulting editor for the International Bible Society (now Biblica) on The Books of the Bible, an edition of the New International Version (NIV) that presents the biblical books according to their natural literary outlines, rather than chapters and verses, as opposed to the traditional chapter and verse format.His Understanding the Books of the Bible study guide series is based on this structure, as is his Understanding the Books of the Bible blog.He also worked as a consultant for Tyndale House on the Immerse Bible, a version of the New Living Translation (NLT) that presents the Scriptures in their natural literary forms, without the use of chapters and verses or section titles, as well as other projects.Harvard University awarded him a Bachelor of Arts in English and American Literature and Language in addition to a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Gordon-Conwell.He received his Ph.D.in the History of Christian Life and Thought, with a minor concentration in Biblical Studies, from Boston College, which is affiliated with Andover Newton Theological School.

View all of Christopher R Smith’s blog entries.

How many wise men came after Jesus was born?

1. It is generally known that the book of Matthew 2 depicts a group of magi (also known as ″wise men″) who came to adore Jesus after His birth.
2. Following Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem in Judea during the reign of Herod the Great, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?
3. For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’ (Matthew 2:1-2; Luke 2:1-2).

Despite the fact that it is a popular tradition to depict exactly three magi, the Bible does not specify how many magi arrived.It is true that the concept of three magi is quite ancient and appears in a number of different streams of Christian tradition (with a broad range of different names given to the three), but it dates back only to the very early days of the church and has no clear scriptural backing.The most plausible reason for the story of three magi is since the Bible depicts the magi as bringing three unique gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh, all of which were presented to the infant Jesus.

It is possible that three men, each carrying one of the gifts, were involved, though the Bible does not explicitly state that this was the case.Then, when they entered the home, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they dropped to their knees and worshipped Him.Then they presented Him with presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, which they had opened from their riches.

And, after receiving a warning from God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi took a different route back to their own country″ (Matthew 2:11-13).There’s nothing in this that suggests three different men with three different presents.It just makes a passing reference to the three priceless things that the wise men brought.It does appear likely, however, that the party of magi would have been a relatively small group of individuals.In the account of Matthew 2:13-15, it does not appear that their valuable gifts were so numerous and cumbersome that they prevented Mary and Joseph from fleeing abruptly to Egypt.

Neither do they appear to have been of such great value that they propelled Jesus’ family to wealth and prosperity.Their brief journey to Egypt was probably not going to be enough to cover their expenses anyway.Additionally, the magi were able to slip away and travel back to their home unnoticed (Matthew 2:12), which appears unlikely given their large number.If we take into consideration that the magi would probably definitely have gone with accompanying servants, three magi would really constitute an appropriate size group and would suit the tale rather well.Nonetheless, if we are being really honest, the assumption that there were exactly three magi is nothing more than a folklore legend, and there is no way to tell for certain how many magi there were.

The fourth wiseman

1. The fact that we’ve ″ambled″ through Christmas and are now into the chilly month of January is understandable.
2. Gone are the blinking lights, the good will toward all, and the promise of world peace for all.
3. To be replaced by frigid temperatures, ice roads, and long nights of darkness instead!

Wow!We need require something to look forward to that will perhaps raise our spirits!Fortunately, we have a plenty of stories to offer, and I have one in particular that will fit in perfectly with our upcoming Epiphany Season.

The character fits very well with the ″Wise Man″ theme.In a way, it serves as a wonderful reminder that caring and giving are not just a once-a-year ritual.So come along with me as we go along a road that was paved long ago.

There is an old tradition about a 4th Wiseman named Artaban, who is said to have existed.He, like the other Magi, sees signs in the sky announcing that a King has been born among the Jews, and he goes to tell the people.As a result, he travels to visit the newborn monarch, bringing with him three precious gems to present to the kid as gifts: a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl of high value.However, he takes a pit stop along the road to assist a dying man, which causes him to be late in meeting with the caravan of the other three wise men.Given that he was late for the caravan and that he will be unable to cross the desert on horseback, he is forced to sell one of his treasures in order to purchase the camels and supplies he will need for the journey.

He then begins his journey, but he arrives in Bethlehem too late to meet the kid, whose parents have fled to Egypt, since they have not yet returned.When he saves the life of a youngster, he must give up another of his valuables in the process.He then goes to Egypt and many other nations, looking for Jesus for many years and committing acts of kindness along the way.He eventually finds Jesus and returns to Jerusalem.Artaban is still a traveler and a seeker of light, despite the passage of 33 years.As it happens, Joseph arrives in Jerusalem precisely in time to see Jesus’ crucifixion.

He uses his final treasure, a pearl, to save a young woman from being sold into slavery, which is his last act of kindness.He is subsequently struck in the head by a falling roof tile and is on the verge of death, having failed in his mission to locate Jesus, but having done great good via charity actions in the process of doing so.After hearing the words ″Truly I say unto you, whatever you have done for the least of Mine, you have done for Me,″ he realizes that he has done something for God.A calm radiance of wonder and joy emanates from Artaban as he dies.His journey had come to an end.

1. His valuables were accepted, and the Other Wise Man had finally tracked down his elusive benefactor.
2. Perhaps the month of January is the best time to ponder the King whom we all seek.
3. And, while you contemplate, explore, and search, keep an eye out for individuals you may come across who could just be in need of a little aid or some good news in their lives at the time.
4. Now that is what distinguishes us from other ″Wise men and Wise women″ who serve a King who, in turn, serves us!
5. May you discover the King you seek, and may He bless you with a treasure of great value in the process!

Greetings on the New Year’s Eve and best wishes for joy, good will, and peace.Pocatello’s Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd is led by Reverend Bob Stone, who also serves as its pastor.

Biblical Magi

1. Lucas The Adoration of the Magi by Emil Vorsterman, after Sir Peter Paul Rubens, 1620, engraving on lay paper.
2. The Adoration of the Magi by Emil Vorsterman, after Sir Peter Paul Rubens, 1620, engraving on laid paper.
3. The National Gallery of Art is located in Washington, D.C.

Ailsa Mellon is a woman who lives in Ireland.Bruce Fund is a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to low-income individuals and families.The Magi, also known as wise men, are mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew (2:1–12) as having traveled from the East to Bethlehem in pursuit of a newborn king.

They discovered Mary and the newborn Jesus in the place and presented him with presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.The Magi, who were gentiles who recognized Christ’s divinity, say that they played a crucial part in the Epiphany, the manifestation of God to the world, and that they deserve to be remembered as such.However, because Matthew’s brief description of the episode provides so few details about them, biblical scholars have had to make educated guesses about their number, appearance, and origins.

During the Middle Periods, the vast majority of people thought that three Magi came to see the Christ child and that they were monarchs who represented the three ages of mankind.Written speculation first claimed that the kings were Persian, in accord with Matthew’s narrative of the Magi’s trip from the East to Bethlehem.Later observers speculated that they represented the three known continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa, which they claimed to have depicted.Gaspar (or Caspar), Melchior, and Balthasar were among the many names that were offered for the Magi, and they were finally chosen as the most appropriate.However, the names, like the countries of origin, were never continuously allocated to a single ruler over a period of time.

The religious importance of the myth of the Magi, along with the imagined pomp of the kings’ exotic garb, lavish presents, and enormous retinues, guaranteed that they were prominently depicted in art throughout Europe.Although the coming of the Magi to honor the infant Christ was the most popular scene from the Gospel of Matthew, artists sometimes mixed the event with the account of Jesus’ birth in the Gospel of Luke, which does not feature the Magi but does have the attractive detail of a manger.The National Gallery of Art has a number of representations of the Adoration of the Magi on display.

Who were the three kings in the Christmas story?

• Culture
• People in the Bible

1. The wise men from the East, while only making a brief appearance in the narrative of Jesus’ birth, had a lasting effect on the Christian imagination.
2. As part of our coverage of the history of the Bible and the hunt for sacred books, National Geographic investigates important biblical personalities in our ongoing series People in the Bible.
3. Many Christmas songs make mention of the three kings, who go to Bethlehem in the company of a star to pay their respects to the newborn Jesus.

In the Bible, they are not referred to as kings, nor is their number given; rather, they are referred to as ″wise men from the East.″ The art of magic was performed by knowledgeable astrologers in several courts in the east, including ancient Babylon and Persia.These astrologers were typically appointed as priestly counsellors at these courts.As a result of this interpretation, the three magi have come to be known as kings.

A bright star guided the magi from the east until it came to rest ″over the place where the child was,″ at which point they entered the house and ″began to see the child with his mother,″ according to the Book of Matthew (Matthew 1:24).The magi bowed down to the baby Jesus and ″presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh,″ according to the Bible.A possible allusion is made by their gifts to Isaiah’s vision of nations paying tribute to Jerusalem, which states: ″A multitude of camels shall cover you.″ It is they who will bring gold and frankincense, and they will sing the praises of the Lord″ (Matthew 2:11, Isaiah 60:6).

(Read on to find out the difference between Arabian Camels and Bactrian Camels.) King Herod had heard tales about the birth of a new ″king,″ and he was enraged enough to go in search of the child.It is recorded in the Book of Matthew that on their way to Bethlehem, the magi stopped at King Herod’s palace, where he requested that they inform him as to where the newborn babe was, so that ″I may also go and pay him homage.″ However, the magi were cautioned not to return to Herod in a dream, and as a result, they ″went for their own country via another path″ and were never seen or heard from again″ (Matthew 2:12).

Building a backstory

1. Later versions of the narrative named the magi by their given names as well as their respective countries of origin: Melchior was from Persia, Gaspar (also known as ″Caspar″ or ″Jaspar″) was from India, and Balthazar was originally from Arabia.
2. Their gifts also had unique symbolic significance: gold reflected Jesus’ title as ″King of the Jews,″ frankincense represented the infant’s divinity and identification as the Son of God, and myrrh alluded to the infant’s death.
3. In this article, you will learn what archaeology has to say about the historical Jesus.

Popular portrayals of Christmas tend to shorten the nativity story, making it look as though the three kings arrive in Bethlehem on Christmas, although traditional celebrations place their arrival in Bethlehem 12 days after the holiday season begins.As the formal celebration of the advent of the Magi (also known as Three Kings Day), Epiphany (also known as Three Kings Day) is one of Christianity’s earliest festivals and is celebrated on January 6th.Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 by Roman Catholics, while it is celebrated on January 19 by Orthodox Christian sects.

The Christmas Story – The Shepherds and Angels

What was it about the Shepherds that made them the first individuals to learn of Jesus’ birth? And what a fantastic method in which they learned about it!

The Story in the Bible

Shepherds were also present in the same country, camped out in the field and keeping watch over their flocks during the night.In the midst of it all, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and they were terrified as the glory of the Lord shone around them.″Do not be afraid, for see, I bring you good news of great joy that will be shared by all the people,″ the angel assured them.For there has been born to you today in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord, who has come to save you from your sins.A baby wrapped in cloth strips and lying in a feeding trough will serve as a signal for you to proceed.″ At that moment, a multitude of angels appeared with him, hailing God and exclaiming, ″Glory be to the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward all peoples.″ ″Let us travel to Bethlehem right away and see what has occurred,″ the shepherds agreed as the angels flew away from them into the sky.″Let us go to Bethlehem right away and see what has happened,″ the shepherds agreed.

1. They arrived in a hurried manner and saw Mary and Joseph, as well as the infant, who was resting in the feeding trough.
2. When they saw it, they immediately shared the saying that had been shared with them about this child.
3. All who heard it were taken aback by the things that the shepherds had said to them in their language.
4. Mary, on the other hand, saved all of these sayings and pondered them in her heart.
5. The shepherds returned, worshiping and thanking God for everything they had heard and seen, exactly as they had been advised to do by their guides.
6. Luke 2:8-20 (KJV)

The History behind the Shepherds and Angels in the Christmas Story

In those days, many people believed that sheep farmers were typically regarded as having little or no worth by their fellow human beings.The ‘fat tailed’ (also known as wide tailed) sheep that the shepherds would have been rearing were the sort that would have been raised.They frequently had lambs in the fall and winter, rather than the spring, which is the time of year when most sheep in western nations give birth.The shepherds were calmly going about their job when an angel appeared in front of them and told them to be still.It’s hardly surprising that they were scared!When the angel spoke to them, he informed them about Jesus and his miraculous birth, and he explained how they could recognize him in such a populous town as theirs.

1. There are striking similarities between the words spoken by the armies of angels and those chanted during a sacrificial rite in the temple when there were three blasts of the temple trumpets.
2. Considering that this was just the second occasion in the whole Bible when a group of angels appeared rather than a single angel appeared to mankind, it was clear that they had a very important message to deliver to them.
3. However, the Bible states that there are millions of angels, so it would have been an incredible experience to have been surrounded by that many of them.
4. More information about angels may be found at the sibling site of this one, whychristmas?com, whyangels?com.
5. Jesus may have been born a few miles outside of Bethlehem, according to one hypothesis, and he may have done so in the presence of shepherds.
6. Just a few miles outside of Bethlehem, there existed a particular watchtower known as the Migdal Eder, which literally translated means ‘The Tower of the Flock.’ Sheep born in the area are believed to have been used as sacrifice animals at the Jewish Temple in nearby Jerusalem.

As a result, they were seen as exceptional, and shepherds in general were regarded as superior than ordinary shepherds.Many people believe the lambs at Migdal Eder were given a health check by being placed in a manger (or in a rock pit to keep them from running away), and they were even dressed up in swaddling clothes to demonstrate that they were special!More information about this theory can be found on the pathos blog.One old Bible prophecy also stated that the Jewish messiah will come to the ‘tower of the sheep,’ which is located in Jerusalem (Micah 4:8).Despite the fact that I am not convinced that Jesus was actually ″born″ at ‘Migdal Eder,’ the fact that those shepherds were the first to be informed of Jesus’ birth makes a great deal of sense.As a result of their encounter with the newborn, the Bible states that ″they spread the news about what had been told them about this child, and everyone who heard it was surprised at what the shepherds reported to them.″ If they had been shepherds from Migdal Eder, they could have told the people they encountered on the way back to the hills, their friends and relatives in Bethlehem and Jerusalem, the’middle class’ people to whom they sold sheep, and the people and priests at the Jewish Temple when they brought their best sheep and lambs to be sold there for sacrifices, that they were from the region.

If you had told the shepherds and the people they informed that this highly exceptional baby had been born in a ‘regular’ house (or in the Migdal Eder), rather than in an expensive house or a royal palace, they would have thought you were crazy!

THE LEGEND OF THE THREE KINGS

″This is an opera for children,″ composer Gian Carlo Menotti has said of his opera ″Amahl and the Night Visitors,″ in part because it attempts to recreate his own childhood memories of the character.We didn’t have a Santa Clause while I was growing up in Italy.I’m guessing that Santa Claus was far too busy with American children to be able to deal with Italian children on the same day as them.The Three Kings, on the other hand, brought us our gifts instead.″ Christmas in Cadegliano, a small town near Lake Lugano where Menotti grew up, was a festive occasion for gathering the extended family together and feasting on turkey and panettone, the traditional Italian holiday cake, among other things.The children did not receive their gifts until the following day, on January 6, which was the Feast of the Three Kings.This was the day that the Three Kings were said to have arrived in Bethlehem after traveling thousands of miles following a dazzling star across a vast expanse of territory.

1. We, the three kings of the Orient, are traveling far and wide, bearing presents as we pass through fields and fountains, moors and mountains, and following yonder star.
2. – In the traditional carol, ″We Three Kings of Orient Are,″ the three kings are identified as follows: The gospels of Matthew and Luke, the two apostles who wrote about the birth of Christ, have been twisted into a single Christmas tale, which has become popular custom.
3. Only Matthew, on the other hand, made any mention of the special guests.
4. They are referred to as ″wise men from the east″ in the King James Version of the Bible.
5. When they arrive in Jerusalem, they inquire as to ″where is he who has been born King of the Jews?
6. for we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him.″ In fact, Matthew referred to them as Magi, which were members of a priestly class – scholarly men, advisors to kings, diviners, and astrologers – among the ancient Medes and Persians who served as diviners and astrologers.

The prophesy of the coming Messiah had been heard by these specific Magi, who were most likely descended from Jewish ancestors.The star, in their opinion, was the sign they had been looking for.They followed it first to Jerusalem, where they were brought before the cunning King Herod to tell what they had learned, and then to Bethlehem, where they discovered the baby Jesus was born.The star was hovering over the house of Mary and Joseph, as well as over the infant Jesus at that time.After the Magi ″dropped down,″ according to Matthew’s account, ″and they worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasuries, they offered presents unto him; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh,″ respectively.This moment of adoration, nicknamed ″The Adoration of the Magi,″ would go on to become a favorite topic for painters, with Botticelli, da Vinci, and Rubens among those who represented the image of dignified visitors in their finery kneeling down before the infant of lowly beginnings as a favored subject.

They is no indication in Matthew as to how many Magi there were; for generations, people have numbered them anywhere from three to twelve in number.In the 6th century, the number was established at three – probably because of the three presents they delivered – and they were dubbed ″kings″ to distinguish them from other rulers.Their names were provided to them in an Armenian book, and they were Gaspar (or Caspar), Balthasar, and Melchior.Throughout history, the characters of the Three Kings have been expanded with embellishments.

Gaspar, king of Tarsus, the kingdom of merchants, was a young man of twenty years old when he arrived with myrrh in a gold-mounted horn.Balthasar, king of Ethiopia or Saba, the kingdom of spices, was 40 years old when he arrived with a censer full of frankincense.His traditional appearance is that of a black man.Melchior, the king of Arabia, was 60 years old when he arrived with a gold box in the shape of a shrine.As a result, they represented the centuries of mankind as well as the known regions of the ancient globe, despite being from three separate countries and belonging to various generations.The presents were extremely valuable and unusual goods during the time period.

Frankincense was an aromatic resin derived from Arabic and East African trees that was used to make incense in ancient times.Another resin, myrrh, was discovered in Arabia and brought to Europe.Aromatics and embalming fluids were employed to preserve the bodies of the dead, with myrrh being utilized in the anointing of kings.Early Christians interpreted these gifts in a variety of ways, each with its own meaning.″They present myrrh to him who is to die, gold to him whose dominion will not end, incense to the God of the Jews who has now shown himself to the Gentiles,″ wrote St.Irenaeus in the second century.

According to another view, the gifts represented representations of what Jesus was to become – gold represented a king, frankincense symbolized a high priest, and myrrh represented a renowned physician – respectively.The star of wonder, the star of night, the star of royal beauty, shining brightly westward and still continuing, guide us to thy complete light; we beseech thee.And what happened to the star that the Magi followed?In 1604 the astronomer Johannes Kepler hypothesized that the ″Star of Bethlehem″ was a supernova, which is defined as a star that explodes in the sky with great force.However, there is no record of such a dazzling phenomenon, which would have lasted for several weeks, in any of the historical records.

Was it a comet, or something else?The appearance of Halley’s comet in 12-11 B.C.was noted by the Chinese, who had been keeping track of comet appearances for a long time.On the other hand, comets were often seen to herald doom, and the year 12 BCE is too early, given that 6 BCE is now considered to be the year of Jesus’ birth, according to modern scholarship.It might have been caused by a triple conjunction of the planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars, which happened between 7 and 6 B.C.That However, there is no conclusive evidence to support this interpretation, as there is no indication that the ancients would have considered such an extremely unusual phenomena a ″star.″ There is yet another hypothesis, but no definitive answer.

It is sufficient to say that the ancients frequently believed that the births of important men were accompanied by extraordinary heavenly activity, which is still true today.In addition, it is paradoxical that while the Magi’s discovery of the Christ child was a major confirmation of Jesus’ divine character, it was also they who warned King Herod of his impending arrival, so arousing Herod’s envy and leading to his death.Due to a dream that the Magi experienced after they paid their visit to the Christ child, they decided to take an alternate route home instead of passing through Jerusalem, saving them the trouble of going through Jerusalem.Unfortunately, according to Matthew, Herod was so desperate to destroy the prophesy of a new ″King of the Jews″ – after all, he was meant to be the King of the Jews – that he ordered the massacre of all male children under the age of two in Bethlehem and on all of its surrounding shores.Following their return to their homeland, the Three Kings are said to have given away all of their worldly belongings to the needy and then went about preaching Christianity in simple clothing.When St.

Thomas the apostle came across them in India 40 years later, he baptized them in the name of Jesus Christ.And it is said that they were martyred in that country for their religious beliefs.In one of those weird tales of relic robbery that were so common in early Christianity, the relics of the Three Kings journeyed farther than the Magi did when they were still alive, according to tradition.After their deaths, Empress Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, had their corpses brought to the Basilica of St.Sophia in Constantinople, which was built three hundred years after their deaths.In the course of the First Crusade, their corpses were transported to the Cathedral of Milan.

1. The relics of the Three Kings were finally presented to Raynaldus, Archbishop of Cologne, Germany, after Emperor Barbarossa conquered Milan in 1164 and presented them to him.
2. They were eventually interred in Cologne Cathedral, where they still rest today, ensconced in a reliquary that has been exquisitely adorned.
3. For years it was claimed that rings inscribed with the names of the Three Kings prevented cramping, and anything that touched their skulls would become charms against accidents.
4. As a result, they were recognized as patron saints of travelers.
5. The Three Kings were first encountered by the young Gian Carlo Menotti as creche figures during the Christmas season.
6. Every year, he and his family would put together an elaborate Nativity scene, populating it with figures that stood eight inches tall and were hand-painted.

1. ″We all had a special king,″ Menotti recalls fondly in a recent interview.
2. ″We all had a special king.″ ″Melchior was my given name.
3. It was my imagination that he had a big white beard and was kind and good – and I was a really good youngster!
4. ″ Because he felt he was slightly insane – and deaf, because he never brought all of the things that my little brother had requested″ ″Gaspar was chosen by my little brother because he thought he was slightly insane and deaf.″ Menotti based Gaspar’s appearance in ″Amahl and the Night Visitors″ on his brother’s image of him, transforming him into an eccentric and hard-of-hearing character.
5. Before the Feast of the Three Kings, the Menotti children would offer their parents a list of things they wished the Three Kings would bring them for the holiday.
6. On the eve of Epiphany, they prepared hay and water for the kings’ camels and then retired to their beds early.

Menotti recalls attempting to stay up late in order to catch a sight of the kings and queens.When I went to bed, I had the distinct impression that they were approaching.Walking in the snow, the tinkling of their bells – I always pictured bells hanging from their clothing – it was all so magical.″I had a very exotic imagination!″ he exclaims with a grin.

The little children would congregate in the hall joyfully in the morning after bathing and dressing and eating espresso’ latte and leftover panettone for breakfast, as they had done for years.The gifts from ″Jesus Bambino″ – the Infant Jesus – that had been brought by the Three Kings from afar would be distributed by their mother at this location.It wasn’t until many years later, in 1951, that the Three Kings came to the rescue of the adult Menotti.He had been commissioned by NBC to create a television opera for Christmas, but he had been frustrated by a lack of creative ideas.Menotti came across the painting ″The Adoration of the Magi″ by Hieronymus Bosch while on a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art a month before his deadline.

″As I was staring at it,″ he has said, ″the strange song of the Three Kings could be heard again, this time coming from the far blue hills.″ I suddenly knew that they had returned to me and that they had given me a present.″ Amahl’s gift served as inspiration for the television special ″Amahl and the Night Visitors,″ which was developed in a spurt of creative energy over a few weeks just in time for a Christmas Eve broadcast to youngsters and their parents all throughout the country.

Bethlehem

It is located in the Judaean Hills, 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of Jerusalem, and is known in Arabic as Bayt Lam (″House of Meat″ and in Hebrew as Bet Lem (″House of Bread″).According to the Gospels (Matthew 2 and Luke 2), Bethlehem was the location of Jesus Christ’s nativity.Evangelical theology has associated this with the assumption that his birth at Bethlehem Ephrathah fulfills an Old Testament prophesy about Israel’s future king coming from Bethlehem Ephrathah (Micah 5:2).Despite the fact that some modern New Testament scholars believe portions of the Gospel stories to be later accretions and that Jesus was born in Nazareth, his boyhood home, traditional Christian doctrine has designated Bethlehem as Jesus’ birthplace for almost two millennia.In the Bible, the city is referred to as Bethlehem Ephrathah, Bethlehem-Judah, and other variations.It is possible that it is referenced in the Amarna Letters (diplomatic letters from the 14th century bce that were discovered in Tell el-Amarna, Egypt), however the exact wording is unclear.

1. The Biblical town of Bethlehem is initially referenced in connection with Rachel, who died on the roadside not far from the city (Genesis 35:19).
2. In the Book of Ruth, it is set mostly in the land of Moab, which is also the assumed birthplace and undoubtedly the residence of Ruth’s descendant King David, who was anointed king of Israel by the prophet Samuel while living in Moab (I Samuel 16).
3. David’s grandson and the first king of Judah following the separation of the realm between Israel and Judah fortified the town during his reign as king (II Chronicles 11).
4. The town was repopulated with the Jewish return to Palestine following the Babylonian Exile (516 bce and subsequent years); subsequently, a Roman garrison stationed there during the Second Jewish Revolt led by Bar Kokhba was established (135 ce).
5. St.
6. Justin Martyr, a 2nd-century Christian apologist, identified the location of Jesus’ birth as a manger in ″a cave close to the village.″ The cave, which is now located beneath the nave of the Church of the Nativity in the heart of the town, has been continuously venerated by Christians since that time.

St.Helena (c.248–c.328), mother of the first Christian Roman emperor (Constantine I), had a church erected over the cave; it was later destroyed, but it was rebuilt in essentially the same shape as it is now by Emperor Justinian (reigned 527–565) in the form that it is today.As a result, the Church of the Nativity is one of the earliest Christian churches still in existence.Disputes over the jurisdiction of various faiths over the sacred site have erupted frequently, often as a result of external pressures; for instance, in 1847, the theft of a silver star marking the exact traditional locus of the Nativity was cited as one of the factors contributing to the international crisis over holy sites that ultimately resulted in the Crimean War (1854–56).

Later, the church was divided between the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Armenian Orthodox religions, with the latter being the majority.The town has been a monastic center for centuries; St.Jerome founded a monastery there and, with the assistance of Palestinian rabbis, translated the Old Testament into Latin from its original Hebrew language in the early fifth century (5th century ce).The Vulgate, which includes the Old Testament, which he had translated from the Greek before traveling to Palestine, is the official Latin translation of the Bible used by the Roman Catholic Church.

After the first of the Arab-Israeli wars (1948–49), Bethlehem was included in the territory annexed by Jordan in 1950 and placed in the al-Quds (Jerusalem) mufaah (mufahah, or religious district).In modern times, Bethlehem was administered as part of the British mandate of Palestine (1920–48; see Palestine: The British mandate) (governorate).Following Israel’s victory in the 1967 Six-Day War, it became a part of the Israeli-occupied region of the West Bank.As part of its preparations for a two-state solution, Israel handed over sovereignty of Bethlehem to the newly constituted Palestinian Authority in 1995.Jerusalem is only a short distance away, and Bethlehem is a bustling agricultural market and commercial center.While the town has long been a popular pilgrimage and tourist destination, the continuous conflict has had a significant impact on tourism and pilgrimage in the decades after the Six-Day War and the subsequent decades.

There have been a number of efforts launched in the early twenty-first century to support local economic growth through the resurgence of pilgrimage travel from Western countries.The carving of olive wood and the production of holy objects, mostly of mother-of-pearl, are also historic industries in the region.The town is part of a conurbation that includes the neighboring towns of Bayt Jl and Bayt Sr to the northwest and southeast, respectively.Bethlehem and its suburbs are home to a large number of churches, convents, schools, and hospitals that are supported by Christian denominations from all over the world.A significant part of the town’s population is religiously affiliated.University of Bethlehem (founded in 1973) provides teaching in both Arabic and English languages.

The population of Bethlehem in 2017 was 28,248; the population of the Bethlehem, Bayt Jal, and Bayt Sr conurbation was 54,728.Those in charge of editing the Encyclopaedia Britannica Adam Zeidan was responsible for the most recent revisions and updates to this article.

Saint Joseph

Saint Joseph was the earthly father of Jesus Christ and the spouse of the Virgin Mary, according to the gospels of Matthew and Luke, who first mentioned him in the book of Matthew.

Who Was Saint Joseph?

Saint Joseph is a biblical person who is revered as the bodily father of Jesus Christ in various Christian denominations.He is venerated as a saint in many Christian denominations.It is in the gospels of Matthew and Luke that Joseph first appears in the Bible; in Matthew, Joseph’s ancestry can be traced all the way back to King David.According to the Bible, Joseph was born around 100 B.C.E.and later married the Virgin Mary, who was to become the mother of Jesus.He died in Israel about the year 1 A.D.

Fact and Fiction

Almost everything we know about Saint Joseph, Mary’s husband and the foster father of Jesus, comes from the Bible, and the few times he is mentioned, it isn’t particularly impressive.The 13 New Testament books authored by Paul (the epistles) contain no mention of him at all, and the Gospel of Mark, the earliest of the four Gospels, makes no mention of him at all.Joseph’s genealogy is traced back to King David in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, with one of them (Matthew) tracing Joseph’s pedigree all the way back to King David.Additionally, some apocryphal writings — such as the second-century Protevangelium of James and the fourth-century History of Joseph the Carpenter — muddy the historical waters even further by portraying Joseph as a widower with children when he met Mary, and by claiming that he lived to the ripe old age of 111 years.But these assertions are false, and the church does not recognize them as such.

Marriage to Mary

As soon as Joseph discovered that Mary was already pregnant, he chose to divorce her privately, knowing that if he did so openly, she would be stoned to death (Matt.1:19).Because he was ″a kind man and hesitant to put her to disgrace,″ he did not want to ″bring her to shame.″ An angel, on the other hand, appeared to Joseph and informed him that the child Mary was carrying was the son of God and had been conceived by the Holy Spirit, and as a result, Joseph decided to keep Mary as his wife.Joseph was visited by an angel again after Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, this time to warn him and Mary of the impending bloodshed brought on by King Herod of Judaea against the infant.Once again the angel arrived, telling Joseph that Herod had died and commanding him to return to the Holy Land.Joseph again fled to Egypt with Mary and Jesus.

1. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus relocated to Nazareth, in Galilee, in order to avoid Bethlehem and probable acts by Herod’s successor, Herod Antipas.
2. Because Joseph is described as a ″tekton,″ which historically meant ″carpenter,″ it is likely that he taught Jesus his trade when he was in Nazareth, according to the Gospels.
3. The Bible does not mention Joseph’s name again beyond this point, despite the fact that his parents are named twice in the tale of Jesus in the temple: ″both his parents.″

Death and Sainthood

Joseph’s death is not known, however it is likely that he died before Jesus’ career began, and it is inferred that he died before Jesus was crucified (John 19:26-27).Joseph was already the patron saint of Mexico, Canada, and Belgium when Pope Pius IX named him the patron saint of the worldwide church in 1870.Pope Pius XII declared May 1 as ″Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker″ in 1955, in response to the Communists’ May Day celebrations in the United States.

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How Early Church Leaders Downplayed Mary Magdalene’s Influence by Calling Her a Whore

She was Mary of Magdala, one of Jesus of Nazareth’s early disciples, and she was one of the most famous women in the world.It is said that she journeyed with him, witnessed his Crucifixion, and was one of those who were informed of his Resurrection, all according to the Scriptures.Everybody, from early church leaders and scholars to novelists and filmmakers, has contributed to the revision and expansion of the story of Mary Magdalene throughout history.On the one hand, they downplayed her significance by stating she was a prostitute, a wrecked woman who repented and was rescued by Christ’s teachings.On the other hand, they emphasized her value by claiming she was a prostitute, a ruined woman who repented and was saved by Christ’s teachings.Mary Magdalene, on the other hand, is depicted in some early Christian texts as more than just a mere follower; she is also depicted as Jesus’ trusted companion—which some have interpreted to mean his wife.

1. Which begs the question: is there any truth to either of these tales?
2. What exactly do we know about Mary Magdalene, the woman who is considered to be the most mysterious woman in the Bible?
3. WATCH: Jesus: A Biography on the HISTORY Vault

What the Bible Says About Mary Magdalene

However, only the Gospel of Luke discussed Mary Magdalene’s role in Jesus’ life and ministry, listing her among ″some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities″ (Luke 8:1–3).All four canonical gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) noted Mary Magdalene’s presence at Jesus’ Crucifixion, but only the Gospel of Luke discussed her role in his life and ministry.According to Luke, after Jesus cast out seven demons from her, Mary joined a group of women who traveled with him and his twelve disciples/apostles, ″proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.″ They were ″proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.″ However, although Magdalene is not a surname, it is associated with the city of Magdala, which is located in Galilee, in the northernmost region of ancient Palestine, and from which Mary hailed (now northern Israel).In the words of Robert Cargill, an associate professor of classical and religious studies at the University of Iowa who is also the editor of the Biblical Archaeology Review, ″Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus’ early supporters.″ ″She was mentioned in the Gospels, which indicates that she was significant.There were hundreds, if not thousands, of followers of Jesus, but we don’t know the names of the majority of them, according to what we know.As a result, the fact that she has been identified is significant.″ Mary Magdalene had an important role in the tale of the Resurrection, which took place after Jesus’ crucifixion, which she observed from the foot of the cross with many other women, and after all of Jesus’ male disciples had fled from the scene.

1. In accordance with the gospels, Mary went to Jesus’ tomb on Easter Sunday, either alone herself (according to the Gospel of John) or in company with several women, and discovered that the tomb was vacant.
2. The ladies are the ones who go to the disciples and inform them what has happened, as Cargill points out.
3. That’s significant because they were the ones who discovered that he had risen from the dead.
4. According to the Gospel of John, Jesus personally appears to Mary Magdalene after his Resurrection and instructs her to inform his disciples of his appearance (John 20:1-13).
5. READ MORE: What Did Jesus Look Like When He Was Alive?

Mary Magdalene as sinner

Because of Mary Magdalene’s obvious significance in the Bible—or perhaps because of it—some early Western church leaders attempted to minimize her influence by portraying her as a sinner, specifically as a prostitute, according to the Bible.In Cargill’s words, ″There are many academics who think that because Jesus empowered women to such a great extent early in his career, it made some of the males who would govern the early church uncomfortable later on.″ In response to this, there were two different reactions.She was to be turned into a prostitute, for example.″ Early church leaders conflated Mary with other women mentioned in the Bible in order to portray her as the original repentant whore.These women included an unnamed woman, identified in the Gospel of Luke as a sinner, who bathes Jesus’ feet with her tears, dries them, and applies ointment to them (Luke 7:37-38), as well as another Mary, Mary of Bethany, who also appears in Luke.Pope Gregory the Great clarified this confusion in a sermon in 591 A.D., saying, ″We think that the Mary, whom Luke names the wicked woman and whom John calls Mary, is the Mary from whom seven demons were evicted according to Mark.″ ‘By becoming a prostitute, she has diminished in importance.’ It has a negative impact on her in some manner.Look at what she did for a job, and you can see why she couldn’t have been a leader,″ Cargill adds.

1. ″Of course, the second option was to advance Mary to the next level.
2. Some believe she was actually Jesus’ wife or friend, rather than his mother.
3. ″She had a particular place in the world.″ READ MORE: The Bible Claims That Jesus Was a Real Person.
4. Is there any other evidence?

Mary Magdalene as Jesus’s wife

While some early Christians sought to downplay Mary’s influence, others sought to emphasize it as a source of inspiration.Several centuries after Jesus’ death, the Gospel of Mary, a text dating from the second century A.D.that was discovered in Egypt in 1896, ranked Mary Magdalene higher in knowledge and influence than Jesus’ male disciples.She was also prominently featured in the so-called Gnostic Gospels, a collection of texts believed to have been written by early Christians as far back as the second century A.D.but which were not discovered until 1945, near the Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi, and which were written in Greek.According to one of these manuscripts, referred to Mary Magdalene as Jesus’ friend and said that Jesus loved her more than the other disciples.

1. This document is known as the Gospel of Philip.
2. Possibly the most contentious statement in the scripture was that Jesus used to kiss Mary ″frequently on her.″ Damage to the writing rendered the final word illegible, while some scholars have substituted the word ″mouth″ for the unreadable term.
3. In the years after its publication, Dan Brown’s enormously popular mystery The Da Vinci Code has been consumed by tens of millions of readers worldwide.
4. The premise of the novel revolves around the long-held belief that Jesus and Mary Magdalene had c