The Star of Bethlehem, also called the Christmas Star, revealed the birth of Jesus to the Biblical Magi, and later led them to Bethlehem, according to Christian tradition. The star appears only in the nativity story of the Gospel of Matthew, where astrologers from the east are inspired by the star to travel to Jerusalem.There they meet King Herod of Judea, and ask where the king of the Jews had been born. Herod, following a verse from the Book of Micah interpreted as a prophecy, directs them to Bethlehem,
to the south of Jerusalem. The star leads them to Jesus' home in the
town, where they worship him and give him gifts. The wise men are then
given a divine warning not to return to Herod so they return home by a
different route.
Many Christians see the star as a miraculous sign to mark the birth of the Christ (or Messiah). Some theologians claimed that the star fulfilled a prophecy, known as the Star Prophecy.Astronomers have made several attempts to link the star to unusual
astronomical events, such as a conjunction of Jupiter and Venus,a comet or a supernova.
Many modern scholars do not consider the story to be describing a historical event but a pious fiction created by the author of the Gospel of Matthew.
The subject is a favorite at planetarium shows during the Christmas season, although the Biblical account describes Jesus with a broader Greek word, which can mean either "infant" or "child" (paidon), rather than the more specific word for infant (brephos), possibly implying that some time has passed since the birth. The visit is traditionally celebrated on Epiphany (January 6) in Western Christianity.
Contents
What was the Star of
Bethlehem?
See this page in: Dutch, German, Indonesian, Spanish
Three wisemen.Matthew 2:1-9: Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came
to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?
For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with
him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the
people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So
they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the
prophet: 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least
among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler who will
shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod, when he had secretly called the
wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent
them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young
Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may
come and worship Him also." When they heard the king, they departed; and
behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till
it came and stood over where the young Child was. (New King James
Version)
There have been many attempts to explain the Christmas Star
scientifically, and three ideas will be mentioned here.
Some scholars think this “star” was a comet, an object traditionally
connected with important events in history, such as the birth of kings.
However, records of comet sightings do not match up with the Lord's
birth. For example, Halley's Comet was present in 11 B.C., but the first
Christmas took place around 5 to 7 B.C.
Others believe that the Star of Bethlehem was a conjunction, or
gathering of planets in the night sky. Since planets orbit the sun at
different speeds and distances, they occasionally seem to approach each
other closely. Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) preferred this view. However,
multiple planets do not look like a single light source, as described
in Scripture. Also, planet alignments are rather frequent and therefore
not that unusual. There was a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 6
B.C., but an even closer gathering in 66 B.C., much too early!
Finally, an exploding star, or supernova, has been proposed to
explain the Christmas Star. Some stars are unstable and explode in this
way with a bright blaze. However, historical records do not indicate a
supernova at the time of the Lord's birth.
All three explanations for the Star of Bethlehem fall short of the
nativity story as predicted in Numbers 24:17 and recorded in Matthew
2:1-12.
Two details in Matthew are of special interest:
First, the text implies that only the Magi saw the star. However comets,
conjunctions, and exploding stars would be visible to everyone on
Earth.
Second, the star went before the Magi and led them directly from
Jerusalem to Bethlehem. This is a distance of about six miles, in a
direction from north to south. However, every natural object in the sky
moves from east to west due to the Earth's rotation. It also is
difficult to imagine how a natural light could lead the way to a
particular house.
The conclusion is that the Star of Bethlehem cannot be naturally
explained by science! It was a temporary and supernatural light. After
all, the first Christmas was a time of miracles.
God has often used special, heavenly lights to guide his people, such as
the glory that filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38) and the temple
(1 Kings 8:10) and that shone upon the apostle Paul (Acts 9:3). Such
visible signs of God's presence are known as the Shekinah Glory, or
dwelling place of God. This special light is a visible manifestation of
divine majesty.
The great mystery of the first Christmas is not the origin of its
special star. It is the question of why the Magi were chosen to follow
the light to the Messiah and why we are given the same invitation today.
Read more at:
http://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-c018.html
What was the Star of
Bethlehem?
See this page in: Dutch, German, Indonesian, Spanish
Three wisemen.Matthew 2:1-9: Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came
to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?
For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with
him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the
people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So
they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the
prophet: 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least
among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler who will
shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod, when he had secretly called the
wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent
them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young
Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may
come and worship Him also." When they heard the king, they departed; and
behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till
it came and stood over where the young Child was. (New King James
Version)
There have been many attempts to explain the Christmas Star
scientifically, and three ideas will be mentioned here.
Some scholars think this “star” was a comet, an object traditionally
connected with important events in history, such as the birth of kings.
However, records of comet sightings do not match up with the Lord's
birth. For example, Halley's Comet was present in 11 B.C., but the first
Christmas took place around 5 to 7 B.C.
Others believe that the Star of Bethlehem was a conjunction, or
gathering of planets in the night sky. Since planets orbit the sun at
different speeds and distances, they occasionally seem to approach each
other closely. Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) preferred this view. However,
multiple planets do not look like a single light source, as described
in Scripture. Also, planet alignments are rather frequent and therefore
not that unusual. There was a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 6
B.C., but an even closer gathering in 66 B.C., much too early!
Finally, an exploding star, or supernova, has been proposed to
explain the Christmas Star. Some stars are unstable and explode in this
way with a bright blaze. However, historical records do not indicate a
supernova at the time of the Lord's birth.
All three explanations for the Star of Bethlehem fall short of the
nativity story as predicted in Numbers 24:17 and recorded in Matthew
2:1-12.
Two details in Matthew are of special interest:
First, the text implies that only the Magi saw the star. However comets,
conjunctions, and exploding stars would be visible to everyone on
Earth.
Second, the star went before the Magi and led them directly from
Jerusalem to Bethlehem. This is a distance of about six miles, in a
direction from north to south. However, every natural object in the sky
moves from east to west due to the Earth's rotation. It also is
difficult to imagine how a natural light could lead the way to a
particular house.
The conclusion is that the Star of Bethlehem cannot be naturally
explained by science! It was a temporary and supernatural light. After
all, the first Christmas was a time of miracles.
God has often used special, heavenly lights to guide his people, such as
the glory that filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38) and the temple
(1 Kings 8:10) and that shone upon the apostle Paul (Acts 9:3). Such
visible signs of God's presence are known as the Shekinah Glory, or
dwelling place of God. This special light is a visible manifestation of
divine majesty.
The great mystery of the first Christmas is not the origin of its
special star. It is the question of why the Magi were chosen to follow
the light to the Messiah and why we are given the same invitation today.
Read more at:
http://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-c018.html
What was the Star of
Bethlehem?
See this page in: Dutch, German, Indonesian, Spanish
Three wisemen.Matthew 2:1-9: Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came
to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?
For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with
him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the
people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So
they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the
prophet: 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least
among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler who will
shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod, when he had secretly called the
wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent
them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young
Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may
come and worship Him also." When they heard the king, they departed; and
behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till
it came and stood over where the young Child was. (New King James
Version)
There have been many attempts to explain the Christmas Star
scientifically, and three ideas will be mentioned here.
Some scholars think this “star” was a comet, an object traditionally
connected with important events in history, such as the birth of kings.
However, records of comet sightings do not match up with the Lord's
birth. For example, Halley's Comet was present in 11 B.C., but the first
Christmas took place around 5 to 7 B.C.
Others believe that the Star of Bethlehem was a conjunction, or
gathering of planets in the night sky. Since planets orbit the sun at
different speeds and distances, they occasionally seem to approach each
other closely. Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) preferred this view. However,
multiple planets do not look like a single light source, as described
in Scripture. Also, planet alignments are rather frequent and therefore
not that unusual. There was a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 6
B.C., but an even closer gathering in 66 B.C., much too early!
Finally, an exploding star, or supernova, has been proposed to
explain the Christmas Star. Some stars are unstable and explode in this
way with a bright blaze. However, historical records do not indicate a
supernova at the time of the Lord's birth.
All three explanations for the Star of Bethlehem fall short of the
nativity story as predicted in Numbers 24:17 and recorded in Matthew
2:1-12.
Two details in Matthew are of special interest:
First, the text implies that only the Magi saw the star. However comets,
conjunctions, and exploding stars would be visible to everyone on
Earth.
Second, the star went before the Magi and led them directly from
Jerusalem to Bethlehem. This is a distance of about six miles, in a
direction from north to south. However, every natural object in the sky
moves from east to west due to the Earth's rotation. It also is
difficult to imagine how a natural light could lead the way to a
particular house.
The conclusion is that the Star of Bethlehem cannot be naturally
explained by science! It was a temporary and supernatural light. After
all, the first Christmas was a time of miracles.
God has often used special, heavenly lights to guide his people, such as
the glory that filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38) and the temple
(1 Kings 8:10) and that shone upon the apostle Paul (Acts 9:3). Such
visible signs of God's presence are known as the Shekinah Glory, or
dwelling place of God. This special light is a visible manifestation of
divine majesty.
The great mystery of the first Christmas is not the origin of its
special star. It is the question of why the Magi were chosen to follow
the light to the Messiah and why we are given the same invitation today.
Read more at:
http://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-c018.html
