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The magi were priests of the Zoroastrian religion. Perhaps Matthew wanted to show that even the priests of this great religion wanted to worship Jesus. Later, the Zoroastrian connection became less important and many translations now call them "wise men". Other modern interpretations are that they were kings. John Shelby Spong (A Bishop Rethinks the Birth of Jesus) says that among people he knows in New Testament circles, the universal assumption is that the magi were not actual people.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoStrictly speaking, the Magi were a Median tribe that provided priests for the the other west Iranian tribes, including the Parsis (Persians). The west Iranians brought a primitive version of the proto-Indo-Iranian religion from their earlier homeland on the Russian steppes. At this stage, the Magi were priests of the old religion.
Zoroastrianism, derived from the same proto-Indo-Iranian religion, came later into the eastern regions and eventually spread into western Iran. The Magi continued as priests for Zoroastrianism.
Matthew was portraying the priests of this great religion as regarding the birth of a Jewish Messiah as a momentous event. By having them wish to worship him, Matthew was probably demonstrating that Jesus had dominion over even the Zoroastrians.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThe magi were actually members of an Iranian tribe that provided the hereditary priests of the Zoroastrian religion of the Persians. They were often though of as 'wise men' because of their learning and knowledge of Astrology and medicine.
When the author of Matthew's Gospel wrote of the magi who came with gifts for Jesus, he intended to refer to the Zoroastrian priests, to show that even the priests of this great religion would want to worship Jesus. Matthew was clearly writing Christian midrash, and when the Zoroastrian connection became less important, they became referred to simply as 'wise men'. This is the translation we see in most modern English Bibles. They are sometimes even referred to as kings, although this is a description that magi would never have accepted.
The magi are now referred to as wise men or kings.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoThe wise men who brought gifts to Jesus shortly after he was born.
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What did O Henry use in The Gift of the Magi to create a kind of symbolic or allegorical meaning beyond the literal meaning of the text?
dramaticas an additional meaning beyond the literal meaning of the story
What nicknames does Magi Avila go by?
Magi Avila goes by Magi.
What are the 3 wise men also known as?
Their names were Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar - known collectively as The Magi.(Magi is the plural of Magus -meaning 'wise man' from which we get the word 'magician'.)
When was allusion used in the story The Gift of the Magi?
"Allusion" is used in "The Gift of the Magi" when the story references the biblical Magi who brought gifts to Jesus on Epiphany, connecting their selfless act of giving to the sacrifices made by Jim and Della for each other. This allusion adds a deeper layer of meaning to the couple's actions in the story.
What do the Magi's do?
Magi's have a wand that can do almost anything. They go on quest that help the island. Anyone can be a Magi, even you.
When is magi magi magician girl coming out?
Problem?
Who is the antagonist of the the gift of the magi?
There is no antagonist in "The Gift of the Magi."
What is the feast celebrating the Magi?
Epiphany is the feast of the Magi.
Who were the magi from the east?
The Magi were priests from Persia.
Where do you get the seal of magi in castaway 2?
The seal of magi in Castaway 2 can be found above the Pixie boss. Once you find the seal of the magi you will then get the staff of the magi as well.
In The Gift of the Magi Jim and Della are allegorical figures because?
In "The Gift of the Magi," Jim and Della are considered allegorical figures because they symbolize selflessness and sacrifice, mirroring the biblical story of the Magi who gave gifts to baby Jesus. Their actions emphasize the themes of love, generosity, and the true meaning of gift-giving.
When was The Journey of the Magi created?
The Journey of the Magi was created in 1930.
