24
Dec
2009
The Magi: Pagan Magicians Converted to Christ
The Magi, though often only thought of as models of religious fidelity and uprightness, were most certainly pagan magicians saved by the sovereign grace of God. Martin Downes notes:
The OT has consistently portrayed the magicians and wise men of the nations as the bad guys who always come second when they clash with God’s people. Witness the power encounter between the magicians of Pharaoh’s court and Moses and Aaron (Ex. 8:7,18). Fast forward to the time of Daniel and we see the same outcome (Dan. 2:1-16,25-28). Yet here in Matthew 2 the Magi have greater insight than the Jews. They are coming to worship the Christ.
About Post Author
Could they have been Babylonian Jews?
Perhaps Bob, but seems like being magicians would go against the list of pious Jewish job descriptions. I do believe the theory that Jonathan Edwards defended, that suggested that they read prophecies of Christ that were delivered by Daniel and his cohorts during the Babylonian Captivity. This is, however, speculation. The fact that they were magicians is not! What do you think?
Nick, the only problem I have with identifying them as “magicians” is that the term probably connotes substantially wrong ideas to modern English readers. I have the same problem with “wizards,” or “wise men.” I’m more comfortable with just transliterating as “mages.”