H
havemercy
Guest
In my mind, they seem to fit the role of the three archangels who visited Abraham and Sarah.
Is there any thought like this in Church history?
Is there any thought like this in Church history?
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T
thistle
Guest
The Bible makes no mention of three wise men. It only talks about wise men (magi).There has been an assumption there were three because of the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrhh but such gifts could have been brought by any number.In my mind, they seem to fit the role of the three archangels who visited Abraham and Sarah.
Is there any thought like this in Church history?
V
Verbum
Guest
Hi Havemercy,
The three angels who visited Abraham are most often interpreted as representing the Blessed Trinity. It is common in the Eastern churches to represent the Trinity using this scene.
http://www.goholyspirit.org/images/hosp3.jpg
The three angels who visited Abraham are most often interpreted as representing the Blessed Trinity. It is common in the Eastern churches to represent the Trinity using this scene.
http://www.goholyspirit.org/images/hosp3.jpg
F
Fidelis
Guest
First I’ve heard.In my mind, they seem to fit the role of the three archangels who visited Abraham and Sarah.
Is there any thought like this in Church history?
T
TOME
Guest
havemercy,
From what I have read, it seems that the role of the magi or wisemen was to serve as a synmbol of the gentile acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah or developed even further the “Christ”.
Matthew’s gospel in a way bookends this understanding. In the beggining of his gospel the gentile acceptance of Jesus as the Christ is found in the persons of the magi and at the end of his gospel he completes this with the centuruion’s proclamation, “Truly, this was the Son of God”. Thus from the start of his gospel and at its finish we find that Christ Jesus is the Messiah of all ‘nations’ and not just the Jews and would be accepted by all.
I think this understanding is also reflected in the liturgical life of the Church through the celebration of the feast of the Epiphany especially in the readings from Isaiah - Chapter 60, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians - Chapter 3 and the Gospel reading from Matthew Chapter - 2 (I did not include the verses for these readings because I think for personal meditation reading the who chapter might be more beneficial).
I hope I added something worthwhile to this thread.
From what I have read, it seems that the role of the magi or wisemen was to serve as a synmbol of the gentile acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah or developed even further the “Christ”.
Matthew’s gospel in a way bookends this understanding. In the beggining of his gospel the gentile acceptance of Jesus as the Christ is found in the persons of the magi and at the end of his gospel he completes this with the centuruion’s proclamation, “Truly, this was the Son of God”. Thus from the start of his gospel and at its finish we find that Christ Jesus is the Messiah of all ‘nations’ and not just the Jews and would be accepted by all.
I think this understanding is also reflected in the liturgical life of the Church through the celebration of the feast of the Epiphany especially in the readings from Isaiah - Chapter 60, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians - Chapter 3 and the Gospel reading from Matthew Chapter - 2 (I did not include the verses for these readings because I think for personal meditation reading the who chapter might be more beneficial).
I hope I added something worthwhile to this thread.
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