THE RUMOUR OF THE THREE WISE MEN

 

The Magi

     The three wise men are regular figures in traditional accounts of the nativity celebrations of Christmas and are an important part of Christian tradition and I believe many of us still believe that they were three wise men that visited the Messiah,Jesus Christ in the stable or rather in the house where he was laid.
    For centuries this rumour has spread widely and we pass it from generation to generation. You still might believe me after reading this article,no problems it is normal.
   But for you to free yourself from certain confusion and to understand the words of God better, I will like you to free your mind from , for some minutes, every spiritual thinking, doctrines and teachings you must have had. After all, not everything are meant to be dealt with spiritually, like taking drugs even if you have slightly headache. Lol, mind me not.
    Most western Christian denominations have traditionally assumed them to have been three in number, based on the statement that they brought three gifts. In Eastern Christianity, especially the Syriac churches, the Magi often number twelve. Their identification as kings in later Christian writings is probably linked to Psalms 72:11, "May all kings fall down before him".
     According to research,
   Now let's examine what the scripture actually said, I will quote, from the kjv version, Mathew chapter 2 verse 1,
 Mathew 2:1
    NOW WHEN JESUS WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM OF JUDAEA IN THE DAYS OF HEROD THE KING, BEHOLD, THERE CAME WISE MEN FROM THE EAST TO JERUSALEM.
    I guessed you never saw that coming, Mathew was not precise about the number of the wise men that visited Jesus when he was born.
 
The question now is but three gift were given to Jesus Christaccording to Mathew chapter 2 verse 11.
2:11 AND WHEN THEY WERE COME INTO THE HOUSE, THEY SAW THE YOUNG CHILD WITH MARY HIS MOTHER, AND FELL DOWN, AND WORSHIPPED HIM: AND WHEN THEY HAD OPENED THEIR TREASURES, THEY PRESENTED UNTO HIM GIFTS; GOLD, AND FRANKINCENSE AND MYRRH.

The gifts

These numbers of gifts doesn't equate the numbers of wise men that visited Jesus Christ Mathematically,Spiritually and even Physically (don't mind me again here, lol). But seriously, it doesn't tally or explains the numbers of the wise men.

The New Revised Standard Versionof Matthew 2:1–12 describes the visit of the Magi in this manner:

In the time of King Herodotus after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to King Herod, they left for their own country by another path.

    Another question is, then what are they or why these gifts were three a and why did the bible not recorded more than three of the gifts if they were really not three wise men?
They symbolically represented something special. Myrrh being commonly used as an anointing oil, frankincense as a perfume, and gold as a valuable. The three gifts had a spiritual meaning: gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense (an incense) as a symbol of deity, and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of death.

 
Do you still believe the wise men were three in numbers?