According to Catholic scholars, was the Star visible over Bethlehem on the day of Nativity?
Upvote:1
I'm not sure what you mean by the day of Nativity? It was there when the Magi arrived at the residence.
In Matthew 2 the Magi followed the star they had seen in the east as it went ahead of them until it stopped over the exact place where the child was. So, this is not some star way up in the night sky; it must have been low to the ground at the time it hovers over the exact residence where the child lay. Moreover, the passage seems to imply the star was moving ahead of them as they followed it.
The most likely answer as to what this star is, is found by looking at other examples. When Paul encountered Jesus on the Damascus Highway at the time of his conversion (Acts 9) he and those with him saw a bright light, and heard a voice, but saw no man. This is after Jesus' ascension and he was no longer in earthly flesh. God is Spirit (John 4:24).
The bright light Paul saw is the same as what Moses saw in the burning bush that was not consumed; it wasn't consumed because it was not on fire; Moses was seeing the glory of the Lord. Indeed, Ezekiel 28:1 describes the glory of the Lord as "brightness shinning round about." In regards to the second coming of Christ Paul writing to the Thessalonians spoke of the "brightness of his coming," and Jesus in Matthew said as lighting flashes from east to west, so shall the coming of the Son of man be.
So, I believe the star of Bethlehem is either the glory of the Lord or an angel of light. Since it hovered over the exact residence of where the child laid in the manger it was not a literal distant star up high in the sky. So, the nature of the star of Bethlehem best fits these other descriptions.
More post
- 📝 Do any non-Swedenborgian Christian denominations have a smaller biblical canon than Protestantism?
- 📝 Why is Rome referred to as Babylon in Rev 17 and 18?
- 📝 Should we allow doctors or God to heal us?
- 📝 Difference between Eutychianism and Monophysitism
- 📝 Does Eph 3v10 hint at Gods supernatural purpose for creation, humanity and our history?
- 📝 How did Jesus manage to remain sinless?
- 📝 Did Jesus really go to "hell"?
- 📝 Is there any Biblical answers to what condition our bodies will be in after the resurrection?
- 📝 How do practicing Catholics keep track of all the sins they commit before going to Confession?
- 📝 Were the debates between Gnostics and orthodox Christians recorded and preserved?
- 📝 Is it possible to be Christian but not interpret the religion as fact?
- 📝 Received the truth in the love of it
- 📝 In Mark 10:17-31, what did the rich man lack?
- 📝 Has the Catholic Church ever canonized a trans-gender person with the full knowledge of his/her true gender identity?
- 📝 Can God make things disappear?
- 📝 According to Trinitarians, can non-Trinitarians experience regeneration, sanctification and a Spirit-led life despite not believing in the Trinity?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, does intelligence or rationality belong to other animals by participation?
- 📝 Was there a period in the history when all who believed in Christ allowed infant baptism?
- 📝 How is Christian worship different than Christian religion?
- 📝 Under the laws of which regime was Jesus sentenced to death on the cross?
- 📝 What did God make the universe from?
- 📝 Should those who fall away and return to the church be baptized again? - Overview
- 📝 What is the source of this quote testifying Mary's assumption?
- 📝 Is there a scriptural example of a non-believer speaking on God's behalf?
- 📝 What was Jesus' soul?
- 📝 Who was the first Church Father to argue for executing heretics?
- 📝 What is the difference between Evangelical and Protestant?
- 📝 Origins of the historical shift towards Believers baptism in the Protestant movement?
- 📝 When Jesus was nailed to the cross, did the nails go through his hands or through his wrists?
- 📝 Where do Christians stand on the topic of consuming "unclean" animals?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 According to Catholic scholars, was the Star visible over Bethlehem on the day of Nativity?
- 📝 What denominations, besides JWs, hold that the Star of Bethlehem was sent by Satan?
- 📝 According to the Gospel of John, on which day of the week was Jesus crucified?
- 📝 According to the Catholic commentators, was Mary the original candidate for mother of God?
- 📝 According to Acts 20:7, which day was the first day of the week?
- 📝 Was the Roman Catholic Church responsible for the change of Sabbath to Sunday as day of rest?
- 📝 According to the Catholic Church, was Mary's Magnificat a spontaneous utterance?
- 📝 Was Jeanne d'Arc crazy: Did Catherine of Alexandria exist according to the Catholic church?
- 📝 According to the Catholic church, was there a New Testament writer who was not a bishop?
- 📝 According to the Catholic Church, what was the point of all the plagues?
- 📝 According to the Catholic Church, when Peter briefly walked on water, was it a miracle attributed to him?
- 📝 According to a Catholic interpretation of the Bible, was Jesus being glib in Matthew 6:34?
- 📝 Was St. Patrick a really Roman Catholic and did he keep the 7th day Sabbath?
- 📝 According to Catholic teachings, what was the First Temptation of Christ basically about?
- 📝 According to Roman Catholic doctrine, why does Mary refer to God as her Savior if she was born without sin?
- 📝 According to those holding that Lazarus was literally raised from the dead, why did Matthew, Mark, and Luke not mention it?
- 📝 According to the Catholic Church, are Jews saved without faith in Jesus?
- 📝 At what point is a new soul created according to the Catholic Church?
- 📝 Why, according to the Catholic Church, did the Reformation happen?
- 📝 According to LDS (Mormon) teaching, who was the first God who began the eternal progression?
- 📝 What are the consequences of suicide according to the Roman Catholic church?
- 📝 According to the Roman Catholic church, who can baptize a new believer?
- 📝 How has the position of the Catholic Church on drugs changed over time?
- 📝 According to the Catholic Church, why is God called “Father” (and not, say, “Mother”)?
- 📝 What happened to the wives of priests when celibacy was first instituted in the Catholic church?
- 📝 When did Peter become the first Pope, according to Roman Catholic tradition?
- 📝 When did the Orthodox and Catholic Churches distinguish the manner in which the Sign of the Cross was to be made?
- 📝 According to Catholic teaching, was Joseph and Mary's marriage a true marriage?
- 📝 According to the Catholic Church is it offensive to dress as a Catholic priest and perform “communion”?
- 📝 What was the Star of Bethlehem?