"We may never know if the Star of Bethlehem was a conjunction, astrological event or a fable to advance Christianity. and to know You, Orient from on High. Later a massing of Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn occurred again in Pisces in 6 B.C. There seems to be an awful lot coming together here. In this discussion, I have considered a nova, a comet, and a triple conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn as the Star of Bethlehem between 7 and 4 B.C., and none have seemed to be satisfactory. It was also recorded in Korea: "In the fifty-fourth year of Hyokkose Wang, in the spring, second month, day chi-yu, a po-hsing appeared at Hoku" (Samguk Sagi, The Historical Record of the Three Kingdoms). Larson, Frederick. The Magi also lost sight of the star, before seeing it come to rest in the place where baby Jesus lay in the stable. One of the major problems has been that in order . November 26, 2009. Astronomer Sherm Kanagy and theologian Ken Boa advance this thesis in their as yet unpublished manuscript, Star of the Magi. In the third month, day chi-yu, there was a rising po at Hoku" (Han Shu, The History of the Former Han Dynasty). [8] However, most ancient sources and Church tradition generally indicate that the wise men visited Bethlehem sometime after Jesus' birth. Bible Hub. "Stars don't do that. Read more Bethlehem Grand Chapter OES, P.H.A. Order of the Star of Bethlehem "Permanently established" in America in 1869, where it was introduced into New York and Pennsylvania, according to its official legend, by Albert Gross of Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. The other, more astronomical explanation is that there was indeed a bright object in the sky a conjunction between planets and stars. "[19] This was a reference to the departure of the Hebrews from Egypt under Moses, so the quote suggests that Matthew saw the life of Jesus as recapitulating the story of the Jewish people, with Judea representing Egypt and Herod standing in for pharaoh. Christian Headlines. I think the prevalence of the star stems from its mysteriousness. [85] The view was rejected by the philologist Franz Boll (18671924). A major objection is that the Chinese make no mention of the "new star" moving. Order of the Star of Bethlehem "Permanently established" in America in 1869, where it was introduced into New York and Pennsylvania, according to its official legend, by Albert Gross of Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. The, "The Star of Bethlehem and the Comet of AD 66", "What Kind of Astronomical Marvel was the Star of Christianity Today", "The Great Christ Comet: Revealing the True Star of Bethlehem", "The Star of Bethlehem: A Type Ia/Ic Supernova in the Andromeda Galaxy? The text gives no real hints. Larson, Frederick. [39] In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament probably used by Matthew, these gifts are given as gold and frankincense,[40] similar to Matthew's "gold, frankincense, and myrrh. First, although there was a "new star" recorded by the Chinese in the constellation Capricorn in March-April of 5 B.C. Whether the scene depicts the nativity, a backyard nature scene, a Christmas tree, or just Santa making deliveries, if the nighttime sky is included, somewhere in the picture, eliciting warm and happy emotions, is a star. Edersheim, Alfred. The latter would coincide with the date in the Chinese records although professor Ho suggests the date was "probably February 23, 4 BC. A flower most conspicuous during the holidays, the Star of Bethlehem, also known as Ornithogalum umbellatum, has already been a staple in many Christmas floral arrangements before it made its appearance in weddings. A planetary conjunction is what happens when two planets come in close proximity to one another. The Star of Bethlehem is a comprehensive investigation of the story found in the Biblical Gospel of Matthew about the star that guided the Magi to the Christ child, combining the words of Roman and Jewish historians, the visions of ancient prophets, and a modern study of celestial objects. Live Science - What was the Star of Bethlehem? Therefore, Jesus had to have been born in the few years prior to 4 B.C. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Star of Bethlehem is interpreted as a miraculous event of symbolic and pedagogical significance, regardless of whether it coincides with a natural phenomenon; a sign sent by God to lead the Magi to the Christ Child. In the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, a silver star with 14 undulating rays marks the location traditionally claimed to be that of Jesus' birth. A conjunction occurs when two or more celestial bodies appear to meet in the night sky from our location on Earth. Baptist Press. Astrology was widely used at the time, and with the Magi coming from Babylon, it's plausible that they were astrologers. Perseverance rover spots holey Red Planet rock (photo), UAE astronaut spies Mecca from space station during Hajj (photo), ULA Delta IV Heavy rocket puts on a show on its next-to-last launch (photos), Virgin Galactic's 1st commercial spaceflight launches on June 29. "Normally, planets move eastward if you're following them in the sky," Mathews said. This translation was proposed by Edersheim[84] and Heinrich Voigt, among others. In the ancient world, all heavenly bodies were considered "stars". "So it wasn't that there was suddenly a brilliant new star sitting there that anybody could have seen [but] something more subtle. A conjunction occurs when two or more celestial bodies appear to meet in the night sky from our location on Earth. Ireland, Michael. Perhaps the most promising, and the one favored by Mathews, is an alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, the moon and the sun in the constellation of Aries on April 17, 6 B.C. Matthew chapter 2 verse 7. The date is equivalent to April 24, 4 BC. Herod calls together his scribes and priests who, quoting a verse from the Book of Micah, interpret it as a prophecy that the Jewish Messiah would be born in Bethlehem to the south of Jerusalem. could have heralded the birth of Christ. "But when they go through retrograde motion, they turn around and go in the direction that the stars rise and set at night [westward].". The Star rose in the east, as other stars . To the Magi the Star signified birth (verse 2). "Normally, planets move eastward if you're following them in the sky," Mathews said. Just in case you are ready to proclaim the mystery of the Star of Bethlehem solved, remember that this whole scenario rests on Herod dying in 1 B.C. 10 Christmas space facts that you probably didn't know, Ancient astronomy: Babylonians used surprising math leap to track Jupiter, The Star of Bethlehem: The Legacy of the Magi, The Star of Bethlehem and the Magi: interdisciplinary perspectives from experts on the ancient Near East, the Greco-Roman world, and modern astronomy, Exploring ancient skies: A survey of ancient and cultural astronomy. So just what is a triple conjunction, and why would it be significant to the birth of a King in Israel? Two modern translators of ancient astrological texts insist that the text does not use the technical terms for either a heliacal or an acronycal rising of a star. So, what was this Star that, according to Matthew, "Went before them, and stood above where the Christ child lay." Many religious scholars believe the bright star never really existed as a physical object. But neither of these latter two conjunctions match the description in the New Testament as closely as the conjunction that occurred on April 17, 6 B.C. [104][105][106] The narrative implies that Jesus was born sometime between the first appearance of the star and the appearance of the Magi at Herod's court. There are numerous problems with this view. This 187-page (hardback) book is well documented with 16 informative pages of endnotes, a helpful 11-page glossary, and a 5-page chronology. Bible Hub with commentaries. The Star of Bethlehem could have been the result of a conjunction whereby two or more celestial bodies appear to meet in the sky. Filmer, "The Chronology of the Reign of Herod the Great". since He started his three-year public ministry around the age of 30 (Luke 3:23) and His death is usually fixed between 27-30 A.D. Telegraph. For instance, Halley's comet appears every 76 years. The fact that they needed to ask Herod for directions when they arrived suggests they were not being led to their final destination by a single bright object. The explanation I have found that makes the most sense is that it was astrological.". October 18, 2007. Planets will actually appear to do just that as they reach the opposite point in the sky from the sun as they travel east across the sky. [37], The Magi are sometimes called "kings" because of the belief that they fulfill prophecies in Isaiah and Psalms concerning a journey to Jerusalem by gentile kings. This is a question scholars have long pondered, not just from a religious or historical perspective, but from a scientific one, too. Some have suggested that none of these astronomical events can adequately account for all that Matthew tells us within the context of his worldview. Bethlehem lies 10 kilometres south of the city of Jerusalem, in the fertile limestone hill country of the Holy Land. This leads us to one of two possibilities. "As an astronomer, you want an astronomical explanation.". Ancient Origins - Can Astronomy Explain the Biblical Star of Bethlehem? [104][105], The Gospel of Luke says the census from Caesar Augustus took place when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Whether such an event really happened in history is difficult to prove, but if it did, what was the Star of Bethlehem? The Korean is particularly corrupt because Ho (1962) points out that "the chi-yu day did not fall in the second month that year but on the first month" (February 23) and on the third month (April 24). [2] Herod calls together his scribes and priests who, quoting a verse from the Book of Micah, interpret it as a prophecy that the Jewish Messiah would be born in Bethlehem to the south of Jerusalem. Although possibly intended to refer to a time that was long past, since the kingdom of Moab had long ceased to exist by the time the Gospels were being written, this passage had become widely seen as a reference to the coming of a Messiah. are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; A nova, however, does not last very long. There is no biblical record of anyone else observing the star of Bethlehem. To the Magi the Star signified kingship (verse 2). He sifts through an astonishing variety of ideas, evidence, and information including Babylonian sky charts, medieval paintings, data from space probes, and even calculations . Astrology was a big deal back then. Well, in 3 B.C., Jupiter came into conjunction with Regulus, the star of kingship, the brightest star in the constellation of Leo, the first of several such conjunctions over the next year. But what about the star appearing to stop over Bethlehem? Visit Probe's website. At first, this may seem quite unusual for something which doesn't even get mentioned in Luke 2, the more familiar account of our Lord's birth. However, Martin has located a total lunar eclipse on January 10, 1 B.C., twelve and a half weeks prior to Passover. Contributions. Another problem is that comets are cyclical with a predictable periodicity. "Christmas star debate gets its due on Epiphany". Sinai to receive the Law. Whether such an event really happened in history is difficult to prove, but if it did, what was the Star of Bethlehem? Here, the moon is joined by Venus (center of the image) and Jupiter (to the right of Venus). Kanagy and Boa reveal that Kepler concluded that the star was not some astronomical event and was a light that appeared in the lower atmosphere and therefore was not visible to everyone. The Chinese would not have distinguished a comet from a nova since all they recorded was something new in the sky that was temporary. 66-68). Plenty of theories have been proposed, from an astronomical event to an astrological horoscope, but thanks to modern astronomy, scientists are getting closer to an answer. But Probe's Dr. Ray Bohlin suggests it might have been the Shekinah Glory, a physical manifestation of God's presence on earth. The wise men are then given a divine warning not to return to Herod, so they return home by a different route. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The story of the Star of Bethlehem appears only in the Book of Matthew. While Kepler did not believe this to be the actual Star of Bethlehem, it may have alerted the magi to the coming star. In Orthodox Christian iconography, the Star of Bethlehem is often depicted not as golden, but as a dark aureola, a semicircle at the top of the icon, indicating the Uncreated Light of Divine grace, with a ray pointing to "the place where the young child lay" (Matthew 2:9). MP3: MP3 (chapters 2 and 3) MP3 Chapter 3 - Was the Star a Real Star? Furthermore, had the Magi followed one, they probably would have walked in a circle. The triple conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 7 B.C. For example, what kind of star convinces a group of Gentile wise men to search for the new King of the Jews and actually leads them to Him? They were Gentiles whose presence in the context of Matthew's Messianic gospel hints at the eventual spread of the gospel beyond the Jews. One could always claim that the comet was one with a very long periodicity or one that has since disappeared from our solar system. [1] There is no difference. Learn Religions - What Was the Christmas Star of Bethlehem? Related: As heavenly bodies converge, many ask: Is the Star of Bethlehem making a comeback? rather than in 4 B.C. A couple of things to note: first, these events take place after Jesus' birth; second, this was in the days of Herod the king; third, the magi arrived from an area east of Jerusalem (probably in the vicinity of Babylon or Persia); fourth, they already knew they were looking for the newborn King of the Jews, but the exact location eluded them; and fifth, it was viewing His star from their home in the east that led them on this journey. Either event would have resulted in a detectable remnant, but astronomers have not found anything that might date back to this time. [2] The purpose of these knights was to defend the island of Lemnos which Cardinal Louis, Patriarch of Aquileia, had recaptured from Mohammed II. Lawton, Kim. [44] Ancient writers described comets as "hanging over" specific cities, just as the Star of Bethlehem was said to have "stood over" the "place" where Jesus was (the town of Bethlehem). But how did the magi interpret the star? NY 10036. Luke 2:2 in Holman Christian Standard Bible (HSCB) on BibleGateway. Click on a Chapter Title to view the text of the chapter of interest. [55][58] He argues that Aries rather than Pisces was the zodiac symbol for Judea, a fact that would affect previous interpretations of astrological material. [31], The ancients believed that astronomical phenomena were connected to terrestrial events. Blooms April-June. The Star of Bethlehem is traditionally linked to the Star Prophecy in the Book of Numbers: I see him, but not now; Explore whether astronomy can explain the biblical Star of Bethlehem with this article from The Conversation. [72], Jupiter next continued to move and then stopped in its apparent retrograde motion on December 25 of 2 BC over the town of Bethlehem. A linguist's angle on the Star of Bethlehem. Now I would say, that with respect to comets there is no prophecy in circulation to the effect that such and such a comet was to arise in connection with a particular kingdom or a particular time; but with respect to the appearance of a star at the birth of Jesus there is a prophecy of Balaam recorded by Moses to this effect: There shall arise a star out of Jacob, and a man shall rise up out of Israel. Jupiter performed a retrograde loop in 2 B.C. December 21, 2007. After consulting with King Herod and finding out from chief priests and teachers that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, the magi set out for the 5 mile trip south to Bethlehem. For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him" (Matt. This is beginning to look interesting. "As an astronomer, you want an astronomical explanation.". Astronomer Michael Molnar suggested that a conjunction theory might be correct in his book "The Star of Bethlehem" (Rutgers University Press, 1999). "[48], In 32 BC, there was a series of seven conjunctions, including three between Jupiter and Regulus and a strikingly close conjunction between Jupiter and Venus near Regulus on June 17, 2 BC. [34][35] Origen, one of the most influential early Christian theologians, connected this prophecy with the Star of Bethlehem: If, then, at the commencement of new dynasties, or on the occasion of other important events, there arises a comet so called, or any similar celestial body, why should it be matter of wonder that at the birth of Him who was to introduce a new doctrine to the human race, and to make known His teaching not only to Jews, but also to Greeks, and to many of the barbarous nations besides, a star should have arisen? [76][77] Larson believes that may be the time of Jesus' conception. 7Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; 8and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." The Lord often announces His presence by a very physical manifestation of bright light. The Star appears before the death of Herod (verse 1). Astrology was widely used at the time, and with the Magi coming from Babylon, it's plausible that they were astrologers.
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