Newly Translated Ancient Document Says Dozens Came From the East to See Baby Jesus
by Teresa Neumann-Commentary : Dec 23, 2011 : Kerry McQueeney - The Daily Mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2076943/Happy-Christmas-Forget-3-Wise-Men-DOZENS-flocked-Jesus.html?printingPage=true
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2076943/Happy-Christmas-Forget-3-Wise-Men-DOZENS-flocked-Jesus.html?printingPage=true
"The story says that Seth passed down a prophecy that
at some point a star would appear that would signal the birth of God in
human form. The Magi waited thousands of years, passing down the
prophecy and then the star appeared where the Magi were… Later the
Apostle Thomas turns up and baptizes the Magi and tells them to go into
the world." -Brent Landau
(Norman, Oklahoma)—One can
never be too cautious when it comes to giving theological credence to
extra-Biblical accounts of the Gospel, even by purported Biblical
"experts." From a purely historical perspective, however, it's
fascinating to see how ancient non-Judaic documents treated the birth of
Christ.
A current example is that of an 8th century ancient manuscript held in the Vatican for 250 years and claimed to be written by the Magi in Syriac, an ancient Syrian dialect. It has just been translated into English for the first time.
This newly interpreted script, according to Brent Landau, a Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Oklahoma, indicates over a dozen "wisemen" came from as far away as China to see Jesus after His birth.
According to a report in The Daily Mail, the sect that authored the manuscript claimed to be descendants of Adam's third son, Seth, and called Shir, located in present-day China, their home.
Said Landau: "The story says that Seth passed down a prophecy that at some point a star would appear that would signal the birth of God in human form. The Magi waited thousands of years, passing down the prophecy and then the star appeared where the Magi were... Later the Apostle Thomas turns up and baptizes the Magi and tells them to go into the world."
No doubt, whoever these Magi were—like all non-Jews in the world at that time—they were walking in darkness, possibly steeped in the occult, and certainly ignorant of the full-extent of redemption. Which makes it all the more amazing that God would include them into the narrative of His Son's birth.
But then, God so loved the WORLD—not just Christians—that He gave His only begotten Son. Thank you, Jesus!
A current example is that of an 8th century ancient manuscript held in the Vatican for 250 years and claimed to be written by the Magi in Syriac, an ancient Syrian dialect. It has just been translated into English for the first time.
This newly interpreted script, according to Brent Landau, a Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Oklahoma, indicates over a dozen "wisemen" came from as far away as China to see Jesus after His birth.
According to a report in The Daily Mail, the sect that authored the manuscript claimed to be descendants of Adam's third son, Seth, and called Shir, located in present-day China, their home.
Said Landau: "The story says that Seth passed down a prophecy that at some point a star would appear that would signal the birth of God in human form. The Magi waited thousands of years, passing down the prophecy and then the star appeared where the Magi were... Later the Apostle Thomas turns up and baptizes the Magi and tells them to go into the world."
No doubt, whoever these Magi were—like all non-Jews in the world at that time—they were walking in darkness, possibly steeped in the occult, and certainly ignorant of the full-extent of redemption. Which makes it all the more amazing that God would include them into the narrative of His Son's birth.
But then, God so loved the WORLD—not just Christians—that He gave His only begotten Son. Thank you, Jesus!
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