JOSEPH W. TKACH
PASTOR GENERAL

January 1988

Dear Friend:

Thank you for your recent question concerning the Magi mentioned in Matthew 2.

Many people believe that the Magi were astrologers. However, God condemns astrology (Deut. 4:15, 19; 17:2-5; Isa. 47:13-14). Also, there is no reason to believe that pagan astrologers would want to give honor to the Son of a God they did not worship. Obviously, then, the Magi were not astrologers. But who were they?

The Bible talks of two kinds of magi or magians. Of all the ancient records of magi, the earliest is found in Jeremiah 39:3, 13. The King James Bible has "Rabmag"; the word is left untranslated because the translators did not understand its meaning. "Rabmag" has been correctly deciphered as "chief magi." These were pagan physicians, priests, and learned men in the company of the Babylonians. The best authorities -- ancient and modern -- all tell us that "magi" comes from "mag" or "mog," meaning "priest" or "great one," from the old Persian language of Pahlavi. From these magi descend a long line of evil and perverted priests and sorcerers -- from Haman the Agagite (book of Esther) to Barjesus or Elymas the sorcerer (magian) of Acts 13.

The other kind of magi are mentioned in Daniel 2:48. Here we read: "Then the king made Daniel A GREAT MAN, and gave him many gifts, and made him ruler of the whole province of Babylon, and CHIEF of the governors OVER ALL THE WISE MEN [magi] of Babylon." One of God's most righteous men was made leader of the Babylonian magi! Since Daniel remained in this position for a long time, this Bible example proves there was at least one righteous magus -- Daniel.

Now who were the Magi of Matthew 2? And where did they come from? The Old Testament has two expressions for the East. Anything on the east side or eastern is termed "what is before" (meaning the near east). Anything FAR to the east, or distant as the rising sun, is termed "rising of the sun" (meaning distant east). So Matthew also uses two Greek expressions for areas east of Palestine. First, Matthew says the Magi are from "the east" (or "eastern parts" -- Greek "ton anatolon"), or the distant East. Second, the Magi saw the star in "the east" (Greek "te anatole") -- west of the Magi, but east from Palestine's viewpoint, in the "Near East." (See Upham's "Star of the Wise Men.")

One great empire east of the Euphrates -- biblically "the distant east" -- conquered the lands east of the Euphrates area, had Babylon as its capital, and included the areas of Persia, Bactria, etc. It was the Parthian Empire. It ruled the whole area, and was the empire of the East -- the land of the Magi!

The Parthians rose to power around 250 B.C. in and around the southern shores of the Caspian Sea. That was the very land into which the house of Israel -- not Judah -- was exiled. The exiles in this land were members of the ten tribes of Israel. The Parthian Empire included exiles from the lost ten tribes of Israel -- many of whom remained in the land of their captivity until about A.D. 226. Certain of the ancient magi could claim Abraham as their father (see McClintock and Strong's "Cyclopedia," article "Magi").

Thus, historical and biblical evidence reveals that the Magi of Matthew 2 were not astrologers whose observations of heavenly bodies led them to the Christ Child. Instead, they were representatives of the tribes of Israel in exile who were led to their King by an angel! In the Bible, stars sometimes symbolize angels; see Job 38:7 and Revelation 1:20 for examples.

Whenever we can assist you further with your study of the Bible, we hope you will let us know. It is our pleasure to serve you.

PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT