OU Professor Says Ancient Text Reveals Startling Information About Magi, Star of Bethlehem

News Oklahoma ^ | 12/25/10 | Carla Hinton

[marshmallow]

University of Oklahoma professor and Harvard grad Brent Landau's new book “Revelation of the Magi: The Lost Tale of the Wise Men's Journey to Bethlehem” reveals startling details about the Magi and star of Bethlehem.

NORMAN — Many Christians can recite the basics of the Christmas story, complete with the account of the three wise men from the East following a bright star to Bethlehem.

It's essentially saying that the people who recognized the significance of Jesus were not just Jews but people from a totally different culture and a totally different religious system. One of the points I made in the book is that Christ tells the Magi that even as excited as they are that their prophecy has been fulfilled, that this is actually one of a number of occurrences in which Christ has appeared to people in the world. So, this text seems to be claiming that Christ has actually been the foundation of a number of humanity's religious revelations.”

As the story goes, the men known as the Magi find the infant Jesus in a lowly manger. They fall down and worship Him, presenting the babe with frankincense, gold and myrrh.

Brent Landau, of Norman, grew up entranced by the familiar story and the lore surrounding the star of Bethlehem.

So, he was delighted when he got the chance to translate an ancient text that reveals many details surrounding the star and the trio that offered those first gifts to the newborn Messiah.

Landau, a University of Oklahoma religious studies professor and ancient biblical languages expert, shares his findings in his new book, “Revelation of the Magi: The Lost Tale of the Wise Men's Journey to Bethlehem” (HarperOne, $22.99). The Episcopalian said the book had its beginnings in his Harvard University dissertation and then evolved into much.....

[marshmallow]

Landau said the eighth-century manuscript had been in the Vatican Library for many years, but no one had translated it into English. Syriac is a literary language based on an eastern Aramaic dialect. He said the earliest version of the text probably was written in the second or third century.

[saltshaker]

Nothing in Scripture makes reference to THREE wise men.

[Timmy]

Er, no. The Magi did not find the baby in the manger. That was the shepherds in the field. The Magi came later, though we don't know how much later.

[Othniel]

In Matthew it says a house, so it could've been a year or two.

[Netizen]

He said the author of the text is unknown, but it is written in first-person plural from the perspective of the Magi themselves. Landau said scholars don’t have a lot to go on in terms of who wrote it, but there is no chance that it could have been written by the Magi because it references later biblical texts.

[Jagdgewehr]

Because this event coincides with the slaughter of the innocents by king Herod, the best guess was two years or a bit less.

[Ripliancum]

I saw this earlier. Pretty interesting find written on ancient leather, like the dead sea scrolls.

3 additional things that are of interest to me, off the top of my head, without having read the book.

1. Apparently, the number of wise men were twelve, as opposed to the traditional three, which is just based on the number of gifts.

2. The magi were part of the religious sect tracing themselves back to Seth, the third son of Adam, and they practiced sacred rites and looked for the promised star and sign.

3. The magi stated they had seen the Christ, and was told by Him “This is one of many occasions on which I have appeared to the peoples of the world...”

[Netizen]

For starters, Landau said the text describes more wise men than three. An army of men is more like it, he said.

The Syriac text describes the Magi using a biblical word used to describe a small army. And he said the text gives the names of 12, not just three, specific wise men.

Landau said the text also says the Magi came from a place where there was a great wall and that produced silk. He said these hints indicate the wise men were more likely from China — and from not Persia (modern-day Iran) as many early Christians believed. He said many early Christians believed the wise men were Zoroastrian priests.

[truthbetold11]

the bible say the magi was present. not 3!!!!! also eve ate fruit not a apple. the proaganda world twists thge scriptures to fit their own needs

[Timmy]

Interesting article, but, of course, there were countless fraudulant writings about Jesus and his ministry that popped up in the second and third centuries. Most likely it's all based on fakery.

[Netizen]

“It’s essentially saying that the people who recognized the significance of Jesus were not just Jews but people from a totally different culture and a totally different religious system,” Landau said. “One of the points I made in the book is that Christ tells the Magi that even as excited as they are that their prophecy has been fulfilled, that this is actually one of a number of occurrences in which Christ has appeared to people in the world. So, this text seems to be claiming that Christ has actually been the foundation of a number of humanity’s religious revelations.

[Ripliancum]

As one who believes that Christ did indeed manifest Himself to mankind from the beginning, in certain circumstances, this is not hard for me to believe at all.

I would like to read Landau’s book.

[cajuncow]

Just put in request for copy at library.

[Netizen]

If I recall correctly, new agers refer to that as the Christ consciousness??

[TEXOKIE]

bttt

[pnh102]

Nothing in Scripture makes reference to THREE wise men.

Thank you.

[Ripliancum]

I don't know about new agers, but the old agers certainly had experiences face to face with the Lord.

Lord appeared unto Abram, Gen. 12:7 (Gen. 17:1; Gen. 18:1;).
I have seen God face to face, Gen. 32:30
they saw the God of Israel, Ex. 24:10
Lord spake unto Moses face to face, Ex. 33:11
similitude of the Lord shall he behold, Num. 12:8
Lord … hath shewed us his glory, Deut. 5:24
Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, Deut. 34:10
I saw also the Lord … high and lifted up, Isa. 6:1
upon the … throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man, Ezek. 1:26
I saw the Lord standing upon the altar, Amos 9:1
Esaias, when he saw his glory, John 12:41

And this is just the record of the Jews. I believe that God loves all his children. If he has the sons of Seth following his will, and chose to given them knowledge, who am I to argue?

I'm not saying it's true, I'm saying I don't have a problem with it if it is. I think I will get the book.

[DWar]

Religion is the weapon used most by megalomaniacs of all ages to manipulate and control, Christianity included. Millions of writings originating in the imaginations of these tyrants and their acolytes have been created and many still exist. Because something is old doesn't make it accurate, or inspired.

Given the limited nature of written words in ancient times, an idea written down had much more power with the masses. The value of this work may only be as a vehicle that documents the historic use of ancient mass manipulation techniques. Statistically speaking the odds of that are strong and a healthy skepticism relative to anything else apropos.

[The Comedian]

Chinese Magi ping.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[Netizen]

Its been a while but doesn’t the Christ consciousness equal gnosis? It doesn’t believe so much in the person of Jesus as the ‘essence’?