What does the Bible say about Star of Bethlehem?
What Was the Star of Bethlehem? The Gospel of Matthew states that the star informed the magi of the birth of the King of the Jews and actually led them to Bethlehem once they had arrived in Jerusalem. The star of Bethlehem has been the subject of scholarly discussion ever since the first centuries after Jesus' birth.
Is the Bethlehem Star still visible?
What has become known as the “Christmas Star” or “Star of Bethlehem” – actually an especially bright planetary conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn – will be visible in the night sky on Dec. 21, according to NASA scientists. How often is the star of Bethlehem visible? The phenomenon can be seen one hour after sunset. The astronomer Patrick Hartigan says that the event will be repeated until March 15, 2080 and then it will not happen again until after 2,400, so it would be worth ...
What was the Christmas Star of Bethlehem from the Bible?
- a conjunction of planets (two planets coming close together in the sky)
- a conjunction of a planet with a bright star
- an “occultation” in which the Moon passes in front of a planet
- a comet
- a supernova
When did the Star first appear to the Magi?
The star first appears to the Magi. Day 8: Christ is circumcised in a private home into which Mary and Joseph had been received. Day 13: The Magi arrive in Bethlehem and adore Christ in the house where the Holy Family temporarily resides. Day 40: The Presentation in the Temple. Then the Holy Family goes to Nazareth.
What year did the Star of Bethlehem appear?
But neither of these latter two conjunctions match the description in the New Testament as closely as the conjunction that occurred on April 17, 6 B.C.
When was the last time the Star of Bethlehem was seen?
1226It's estimated that the last time humans witnessed this impressive sight was around the year 1226, according to Michael Shanahan, the director of the Liberty Science Center Planetarium in New Jersey.
How often do we see the Star of Bethlehem?
Roughly every 800 yearsHow often does the Star of Bethlehem appear? Roughly every 800 years. According to several astronomers, this type of planetary alignment will not be seen again until the year 2080 and then again in 2400.
Is the star of Bethlehem mentioned in the Old Testament?
The Star of Bethlehem, or Christmas Star, appears in the nativity story of the Gospel of Matthew chapter 2 where "wise men from the East" (Magi) are inspired by the star to travel to Jerusalem.
Where is the Star of Bethlehem 2021?
1:124:05How to see the star of Bethlehem - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd just to the right of it you'll see a slightly dimmer object and that will be saturn. Now if youMoreAnd just to the right of it you'll see a slightly dimmer object and that will be saturn. Now if you have a pair of binoculars. Or even better a small telescope. You can take a look at these objects.
Where will the star of Bethlehem be in the sky?
The star will be visible in the southwest portion of the sky about 45 minutes after sunset in the northern hemisphere on Dec. 21. However, sightings of the star may be visible throughout the week.
Did the star appear before Jesus was born?
The advisers of Herod told them where: in Bethlehem, according to the prophet Micah. Again, they did not need guidance from the star, but were `overjoyed' when, on this last lap of their journey, the star `went before them' in the morning sky and when it `stood over' Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.
What constellation did Mathews see Jupiter in?
Perhaps the most promising, and the one favored by Mathews, is an alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, the moon and the sun in the constellation of Aries on April 17, 6 B.C. This conjunction fits with the story for a few reasons. First, this conjunction happened in the early morning hours, which aligns with the Gospel's description of the Star ...
When did Jupiter and Venus meet?
One is the meeting of Jupiter, Venus and the star Regulus in the constellation of Leo on June 17, 2 B.C. Without the aid of a telescope, the two planets would appear as a single "star," brighter than Venus and Jupiter individually. Another conjunction occurred in 6 B.C., between Jupiter, Saturn and Mars in the constellation of Pisces.
Why did the Magi lose sight of the star?
This could have been the result of the retrograde motion of Jupiter, which means that it appears to change direction in the night sky as Earth's orbit overtakes it.
Is the Star of Bethlehem real?
Although scientists have ruled out several possibilities, we may never know for sure what the Star of Bethlehem was or if it even really happened, barring some remarkable archaeological finding. But it's a question that comes up year after year, and it will continue to pique the interest of scientists and historians alike for many years to come.
Is a comet a bad omen?
What's more, in the ancient world, comets were often regarded as bad omens. "For Christmas cards, it makes a nice picture having a comet and a tail but in those days comets up in the sky were usually a harbinger of impending disaster," Grant Mathews, a professor of theoretical astrophysics and cosmology at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, ...
Is there a mystery about the Star of Bethlehem?
The mystery persists. Although scientists have ruled out several possibilities, we may never know for sure what the Star of Bethlehem was or if it even really happened, barring some remarkable archaeological finding.
Did the Magi follow a star from Baghdad to Jerusalem?
Either event would have resulted in a detectable remnant, but astronomers have not found anything that might date back to this time. Furthermore, had the Magi followed one, they probably would have walked in a circle. "You can't follow a star from Baghdad to Jerusalem to Bethlehem," Weintraub said. "Stars don't do that.
Where is the story of the Star of Bethlehem?
The story of the Star of Bethlehem appears only in the Book of Matthew. The gospel tells us that a bright star appeared in the eastern sky when Jesus was born, famously seen by a group of wise men. These biblical "Magi," sometimes called kings, now adorn nativity scenes around the world.
Who painted the star of Bethlehem?
Italian painter Giotto di Bondone witnessed Halley's Comet when it appeared in 1301 A.D. Then, he painted the Star of Bethlehem as a comet burning bright above Jesus in the manger.
Why did Herod send the three wise men to Bethlehem?
And thanks to Micah's prophesy that the messiah would be born in Bethlehem, Herod sends the trio to Bethlehem to search for Jesus. (Supposedly, Herod also ultimately kills the infants of Bethlehem in an attempt to snuff out Jesus.)
When did Jupiter pass Saturn?
On May 29, Jupiter passed Saturn (both moving right to left) for the first time. Jupiter passed Saturn again September 30 with both moving to the right (west). Finally, the planets resumed eastward motion, and Jupiter passed Saturn for the third time December 5. Astronomy /Roen Kelly.
What did the Magi bring to the Star of Bethlehem?
But, of course, not everyone agrees with the idea. The three wise men, or Magi, arrived after Jesus' birth carrying gold, frankincense and myrrh, as captured in this Byzantine mosaic created in 565 A.D. Wikimedia Commons.
What did the three wise men see in the new star?
The Bible describes how these three wise men saw the new star as a sign of the birth of the King of the Jews, so they set out for Jerusalem to worship him. Once they arrive, they inquire about baby Jesus with Herod, the region’s ruler appointed by Rome.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy?
According to Matthew, “When 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. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”
What does the star of Bethlehem represent?
Many Christians see The Star of Bethlehem as a miraculous symbol of the birth of Jesus, however, there are many who see it as an astronomical event, such as, a pulsar, nova, comet or a conjunction that occurred at the same time as the birth.
What is the best time to see the Star of Bethlehem?
The best time to view is just after dark, looking just above the horizon to the North/North-West.
When did Venus and Jupiter come together?
Sky & Telescope suggest that a similar rare conjunction of Venus and Jupiter may have been what was known as the “Star of Bethlehem” in 3-2 BC and since then there h as not been a brighter, closer planetary conjunction. That means that this is the first opportunity of seeing it so clear for 2,000 years!
What is the name of the planet that merged with Jupiter on June 30th?
On June 30th, Jupiter and Venus merged into what is known as a super-star. The conjunction of these two planets has been building throughout the month of June and the result will be a dazzling bright spectacular on June 30th. Sky & Telescope suggest that a similar rare conjunction of Venus and Jupiter may have been what was known as the “Star ...
What planet was in the well of Bethlehem?
I would speculate that the Magi, upon arriving at Bethlehem, stopped at the gate to have a drink of water from the well located “near the gate of Bethlehem,” and upon looking down at the still water in the well, saw the reflection of Jupiter, the “King planet”, which they had been following in the night sky during their short journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. Seeing the reflection of Jupiter in the well, they would have perceived that the planet was directly over Bethlehem that night, as stated in Matthew 2:9-10. This was surely confirmation to the Magi that they were in the place where Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, had been born.
When did the Magi arrive in Bethlehem?
Was December 25, 2 BC the date that the Magi arrived in Bethlehem to greet and worship the Savior and present their gifts? Certainly, the unusual astronomical sign of Jupiter appearing stationary directly over Bethlehem while in the constellation of Virgo would support this date for the Magi’s visit. This date is also consistent with the argued birth date of Jesus being September 11, 3 BC and with the time required for the Magi to travel from Persia to Bethlehem. This would place the visit of the Magi exactly 15 months after the birth of Jesus, consistent with the sign of His birth in Revelation 12:1–6.
How old was Jesus when he was circumcised?
After the birth of Jesus on September 11, 3 BC, Luke’s account states that the baby Jesus was circumcised in accordance with Jewish religious law (at 8-days old) and then presented in the Temple (following the additional days allotted for the purification of “them,” including Mary – an additional 33-day period for the birth of a male, per Leviticus 12:1–8). Still no Magi. Then Luke states that the family returned to Nazareth (Luke 2:39). This is often overlooked! A short time later, when Jesus was a year old or so, the family moved back to Bethlehem. Matthew 2 picks up the story in Bethlehem with the visit of the Magi at this time (Matthew 2:9–12). Subsequently, in response to a warning from an angel in a dream, the family escapes to Egypt (Matthew 2:13–15). Herod then kills all of the children in Bethlehem, “two years old and under” (Matthew 2:16–18). Herod picked this age range to be assured of killing Jesus. Later, while In Egypt, Joseph was informed by an angel that Herod was dead; and the family moved back to Israel and re-settled in Nazareth (Matthew 2:19–23), where the young Jesus grew up.
Where did the Magi see the star?
From these verses we see that the star was defined by the Magi as “his star” and that it was seen when it rose while they were in Persia. Later, the star seemingly moved in the sky, heading in a southerly direction as the Magi traveled from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. The “star” then stopped any movement and was directly overhead when the Magi arrived at the place where Jesus was located in Bethlehem. These are all wonderful clues to help identify the “star.”
Why did the Jews not see the signs of the zodiac?
Perhaps they did not see the signs because they were not trained in the movements of the heavenly bodies. More likely, they were unconcerned because they were not even looking for the Messiah who had been foretold in Daniel’s prophecy (Daniel 9:26).
Where was the star when the Magi arrived?
The “star” then stopped any movement and was directly overhead when the Magi arrived at the place where Jesus was located in Bethlehem. These are all wonderful clues to help identify the “star.”.
Where did the family of Jesus go when he was a year old?
A short time later, when Jesus was a year old or so, the family moved back to Bethlehem. Matthew 2 picks up the story in Bethlehem with the visit of the Magi at this time (Matthew 2:9–12). Subsequently, in response to a warning from an angel in a dream, the family escapes to Egypt (Matthew 2:13–15).
Overview
Religious interpretations
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Star of Bethlehem is interpreted as a miraculous event of symbolic and pedagogical significance, regardless of whether it coincides with a natural phenomenon; a sign sent by God to lead the Magi to the Christ Child. This is illustrated in the Troparion of the Nativity:
Your birth, O Christ our God, dawned the light of knowledge upon the earth. Fo…
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Star of Bethlehem is interpreted as a miraculous event of symbolic and pedagogical significance, regardless of whether it coincides with a natural phenomenon; a sign sent by God to lead the Magi to the Christ Child. This is illustrated in the Troparion of the Nativity:
Your birth, O Christ our God, dawned the light of knowledge upon the earth. Fo…
Matthew's narrative
The Gospel of Matthew tells how the Magi (often translated as "wise men", but more accurately astrologers) arrive at the court of Herod in Jerusalem and tell the king of a star which signifies the birth of the King of the Jews:
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is he wh…
Explanations
Many scholars who see the gospel nativity stories as later apologetic accounts created to establish the messianic status of Jesus regard the Star of Bethlehem as a pious fiction. Aspects of Matthew's account which have raised questions of the historical event include: Matthew is the only one of the four gospels which mentions either the Star of Bethlehem or the Magi. Some scholars suggest tha…
Relating the star historically to Jesus' birth
If the story of the Star of Bethlehem described an actual event, it might identify the year Jesus was born. The Gospel of Matthew describes the birth of Jesus as taking place when Herod was king. According to Josephus, Herod died after a lunar eclipse and before a Passover Feast. Some scholars suggested dates in 5 BC, because it allows seven months for the events Josephus documented between the lunar eclipse and the Passover rather than the 29 days allowed by lun…
Depiction in art
Paintings and other pictures of the Adoration of the Magi may include a depiction of the star in some form. In the fresco by Giotto di Bondone, it is depicted as a comet. In the tapestry of the subject designed by Edward Burne-Jones (and in the related watercolour), the star is held by an angel.
The colourful star lantern known as a paról is a cherished and ubiquitous symb…
See also
• Caesar's Comet
• Star of David – The Jewish symbol of King David, which the Star of Bethlehem is often associated with having been a miraculous appearance of.
Bibliography
• Brown, Raymond E. (1973). The Virginal Conception and Bodily Resurrection of Jesus. Paulist Press. ISBN 978-0809117680.
• Brown, Raymond E. (1999). The Birth of the Messiah: A Commentary on the Infancy Narratives in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300140088.