Freethought & Rationalism Archive

ScotsLoon · 12-29-2006, 02:08 AM

Can anyone tell me if it is known how the three wise men in the bible found the specific barn/shed that jesus lay after his birth?

Thank you.

David B · 12-29-2006, 02:18 AM

Since, as far as I'm aware, it is not known that the magi actually existed at all, it might be better to establish their existence first.

The whole of the story of the birth of Jesus seems to be have been made up, presumably with the view of persuading people that he fulfilled various prophesies - perhaps made up by people who had managed to persuade themselves that it must be so.

Nonetheless - if the date of the birth of Jesus is right, Herod wasn't in power, there was no census of the sort claimed in the biblical account, and no extrabiblical evidence for the massacre of the innocents (which one would expect, wouldn't one?)

There are people on the forums much better educated than me about the history of biblical times, but I don't think any of them would take me apart on what I say above.

David B

Condraz23 · 12-29-2006, 02:36 AM

Apparantly, some form of light in the sky "guided" the men until it hovered directly above the barn where Jesus was born.

It was probably some sort of comet or meteor rather than an actual star.

ScotsLoon · 12-29-2006, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Condraz23

Apparantly, some form of light in the sky "guided" the men until it hovered directly above the barn where Jesus was born.

It was probably some sort of comet or meteor rather than an actual star.

Thanks for that, I'm aware of this part of the story but I can't see how they could have picked out the exact barn. The comet or meteor or star would have been "directly" above thousands of buildings (I'm assuming it didn't hover a few feet above the barn, if it did then it seems unlikely it was a star

)

The Evil One · 12-29-2006, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScotsLoon

Can anyone tell me if it is known how the three wise men in the bible found the specific barn/shed that jesus lay after his birth?

Thank you.

(1) There weren't three of them.
(2) Matthew made the story up.
(3) The barn/shed is in Luke, not Matthew.

ScotsLoon · 12-29-2006, 03:55 AM

David B & The Evil One,

Thanks for the info, do either of you know the answer to my question?

The Evil One · 12-29-2006, 04:03 AM

The answer to your question is that the question itself doesn't make sense. Since, in Matthew's story, the Magi never went to a barn, asking how they found the barn is nonsensical.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew 2

9When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him

Malachi151 · 12-29-2006, 04:15 AM

Here is a pretty good discussion of the issues from a Catholic website:

http://catholic-resources.org/Bible/Jesus-Birth.htm

Steven Carr · 12-29-2006, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Condraz23

Apparantly, some form of light in the sky "guided" the men until it hovered directly above the barn where Jesus was born.

It was probably some sort of comet or meteor rather than an actual star.

Why were they guided to go to Jerusalem first?

ScotsLoon · 12-29-2006, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Evil One

The answer to your question is that the question itself doesn't make sense. Since, in Matthew's story, the Magi never went to a barn, asking how they found the barn is nonsensical.

If I ask again but this time replace "barn/shed" with "house" would the question make sense?

12-29-2006, 02:08 AM	#1
ScotsLoon Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 67	Three Wise Men Can anyone tell me if it is known how the three wise men in the bible found the specific barn/shed that jesus lay after his birth? Thank you.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

12-29-2006, 02:18 AM	#2
David B Contributor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wales Posts: 11,620	Since, as far as I'm aware, it is not known that the magi actually existed at all, it might be better to establish their existence first. The whole of the story of the birth of Jesus seems to be have been made up, presumably with the view of persuading people that he fulfilled various prophesies - perhaps made up by people who had managed to persuade themselves that it must be so. Nonetheless - if the date of the birth of Jesus is right, Herod wasn't in power, there was no census of the sort claimed in the biblical account, and no extrabiblical evidence for the massacre of the innocents (which one would expect, wouldn't one?) There are people on the forums much better educated than me about the history of biblical times, but I don't think any of them would take me apart on what I say above. David B

12-29-2006, 02:36 AM	#3
Condraz23 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Zealand Posts: 2,256	Apparantly, some form of light in the sky "guided" the men until it hovered directly above the barn where Jesus was born. It was probably some sort of comet or meteor rather than an actual star.

12-29-2006, 03:55 AM	#6
ScotsLoon Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 67	David B & The Evil One, Thanks for the info, do either of you know the answer to my question?

12-29-2006, 04:15 AM	#8
Malachi151 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 8,674	Here is a pretty good discussion of the issues from a Catholic website: http://catholic-resources.org/Bible/Jesus-Birth.htm

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.