How did the "wise men" become known as 3 kings?
Upvote:-1
It's catholic tradition but there is no scriptural evidence that there were three or that they were kings. This assumption is based entirely on the fact that scripture says were three gifts and gold, frankincense and myrrh were very expensive.
The number three has been connected with the trinity in all branches of Christianity for centuries.
However, when we look at history, culture, the geography, climate, and other scripture it's clear they were not kings and likely there were more than three.
- Kings would not be making a risky, dangerous journey through the dessert on camels.
- Kings would not have the astronomical knowledge to chart planetary conjunctions and navigate though the harsh dessert.
- The text said they went to King Herod. If they were kings- the text would have certainly given their names also. Due to the hot climate, robbers, the long journey, extreme temperature changes and need for extra water, people in the time of Christ usually traveled in caravans, so it would be much more likely that it was 5-10.
In addition to the church tradition, this notion became established in the minds of millions with the carols like "We Three Kings of Orient Are".
Upvote:1
1) They brought three gifts (or three kinds of gifts). This is why they were considered to be three people.
2) Judging from the gifts they brought, they were rich people. Nobody could afford gold, incense and myrrh if they were not of considerable wealth. This is how they were associated to kings.
Upvote:3
It is mentioned from The Catholic Encyclopedia website:
In reference to there being three kings:
No Father of the Church holds the Magi to have been kings. Tertullian ("Adv. Marcion.", III, xiii) says that they were wellnigh kings (fere reges), and so agrees with what we have concluded from non-Biblical evidence. The [Catholic] Church, indeed, in her liturgy, applies to the Magi the words: "The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents; the kings of the Arabians and of Saba shall bring him gifts: and all the kings of the earth shall adore him" (Psalm 71:10). But this use of the text in reference to them no more proves that they were kings than it traces their journey from Tharsis, Arabia, and Saba.
... [About there being three]
Among the Latins, from the seventh century, we find slight variants of the names, Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar; the Martyrology mentions St. Gaspar, on the first, St. Melchior, on the sixth, and St. Balthasar, on the eleventh of January.
Another reason that there are traditionally Three wise men / Magi is because there were three gifts brought (Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh).
It should also be considered, the significance of the number three in scripture:
In some cases the number three may signify completeness or finality. Thus Pope observes that the number three “naturally suggests the idea of completeness—beginning, middle, end.”34 Beyond this natural expectation, however, is the realization that “the figure three is an evocative image, filled with connotations” so that “three consecutive occurrences of an event serves as a rhetorical signal indicating special significance.
More post
- 📝 Why does the NIV have 16 verses missing from the Bible?
- 📝 I've heard it said that Pope St. John Paul II wrote in front of the blessed sacrament. Is this true?
- 📝 Was Pilate mandated to withhold the body of Jesus after the Crucifixion?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians interpret Isaiah 9:6?
- 📝 How do Christians who subscribe to the "religion vs. relationship" dichotomy make sure that their own relationship with God is genuine?
- 📝 How can you serve God when you can't see him?
- 📝 Why is the Trinity a Trinity?
- 📝 What are some situations documented outside of the Bible in which God intervened in human affairs?
- 📝 In Reformed theology or Reformed churches what does the confirmation "ceremony" do?
- 📝 What was at issue in the Clark-Van Til controversy?
- 📝 Who was the first major Christian figure to popularize a figurative interpretation of Genesis?
- 📝 Mass readings about husbandly conduct
- 📝 How was sin not counted before the law?
- 📝 How do creationists explain the genetic diversity of animals after Noah's Ark?
- 📝 What are vows? Are they relevant even today?
- 📝 According to Catholic doctrine, do we retain our gender in Heaven?
- 📝 Should the Catholic rosary be recited in Latin or the vernacular language?
- 📝 If God is all-knowing, and is all powerful, what are some theories as to why He didn't send Jesus on Day One?
- 📝 Why do LDS cross their arms during prayer?
- 📝 Can a priest validly celebrate a mass without anybody else present?
- 📝 Is there any reference to Abraham building a house of worship? Where is Bakkah?
- 📝 What is the Biblical definition of what makes one a Christian?
- 📝 What are the key differences between the Western and Eastern Christianity?
- 📝 Can Saints in Heaven Refuse to Pray for us?
- 📝 Besides Satan, was Jesus alone in the desert?
- 📝 Is there a Biblical precedent for the Petrine privilege?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for "spiritual drunkenness"?
- 📝 Common arguments in support of the partaking of the divine nature being possible only through Eucharist
- 📝 Seraphs in the Bible?
- 📝 How many people did Moses bring out of Egypt? How large was the area of the Promised Land?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 How did the "wise men" become known as 3 kings?
- 📝 How did Isidore of Seville become the patron saint of the Internet and computer programmers?
- 📝 How did Brigham Young become the most well-known Mormon leader (after Joseph Smith left the scene)?
- 📝 How did the four living creatures become associated with the Gospel writers?
- 📝 From where did the Pearl of Great Price come and how did it become recognized as Scripture in the LDS church?
- 📝 According to the Catholic Church, how did Paul become a saint?
- 📝 From where did the Book of Abraham come and how did it become part of LDS Scripture?
- 📝 How did Psalm 124 become associated with the Holy Innocents?
- 📝 How did all the animals fit into Noah's ark?
- 📝 Why did Jesus not want to be known as the Messiah?
- 📝 How did the livestock of the Egyptians die twice?
- 📝 How did the cross come to be a symbol for Christianity?
- 📝 In Theistic Evolution, when did the alleged evolutionary animal/ape/man become accountable for his sins?
- 📝 Did the early Church Fathers have a complete agreement on how to interpret 1 Peter 3:18-20?
- 📝 When did the one-way monologue sermon first become a normal feature of church assemblies?
- 📝 How did the Crusades affect the Pope's power and authority?
- 📝 For how long did the early Christians share all their possessions?
- 📝 How long did it take to form the Biblical canon?
- 📝 When and how did the names Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John get attached to the gospels?
- 📝 How did Cain and Abel know to offer sacrifices before the Law of Moses?
- 📝 How did the practice of soliciting the prayers of dead saints originate?
- 📝 How did John the Baptist have the "spirit and power of Elijah"?
- 📝 How did the author of Jonah know about this conversation?
- 📝 How did Christians cultivate their knowledge of the Bible before mass-printing of the Bible?
- 📝 A problem with Purgatory: How could Jesus say what he did to the repentant criminal on a cross next to him if Purgatory existed?
- 📝 How did the Seven Deadly Sins originate and how is it used?
- 📝 How did the disciples of John the Baptist pray?
- 📝 When did Peter become the first Pope, according to Roman Catholic tradition?
- 📝 When did "he descended into hell" become part of the Apostles' Creed?
- 📝 How do Christians respond to the criticism that Jesus of Nazareth did not bring world peace?