Description
Many biblical scholars dismiss the Christmas story of the “wise men from the East” as mere legend. Matthew’s gospel offers few details, but early Christians filled out the story, giving us the three kings guided by a magical star who join the shepherds in every Christmas creche. For many scholars, then, there is no reason to take the gospel story seriously. But are they right? Are the wise men no more than a poetic fancy? In an astonishing feat of detective work, Dwight Longenecker makes a powerful case that the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem really happened. Piecing together the evidence from biblical studies, history, archeology, and astronomy, he goes further, uncovering where they came from, why they came, and what might have happened to them after eluding the murderous King Herod. Soft cover, 304 pages, $20. #1032
