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The Magi: Who They Were, How They’ve Been Remembered, and Why They Still Fascinate
George Tyrrell insisted that the quest for the historical Jesus was no more than scholars staring into a well to see their own reflections staring back. Jesus is the mirror image of those who study him. A similar phenomenon accompanies the quest for the historical Magi, those mysterious travelers who came from theEast, following a star to Bethlehem. In this work, ancient historian and scholar Eric Vanden Eykel helps readers better understand both the Magi and the ancient and modern interpreters who have tried to study them. He shows how, from a mere twelve verses in the Gospel of Matthew, a varied and vast literary and artistic tradition was born. The Magi examines the birth of the Magi story;its enrichments, embellishments, and expansions in apocryphal writing and early Christian preaching;its artistic expressions in catacombs, icons, and paintings and its modern legacy in novels, poetry, and music. Throughout, the book explores the fascination the Magi story elicits in both ancient and modern readers and what the legacy of the Magi story tells us about its storytellers--and ourselves.
218 pages, Hardcover
Published October 25, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 24, 2024
A delightful read for the Christmas season! The Magi are such enigmatic characters in Matthew’s Gospel, and I appreciated that this author does not try to answer all the questions raised by the story about the Magi. Rather, he notes their ambiguity and mystery, and reflects on how they’ve impacted us and why that matters.
I especially loved the closing chapter, in which the author examines some more recent adaptations of and reflections on the Magi story.
I especially loved the closing chapter, in which the author examines some more recent adaptations of and reflections on the Magi story.
November 30, 2022
I'm not really religious these days but I grew up going to catholic school so I was already quite familiar with the story of the Magi following the star to Bethlehem to visit the baby Jesus. But still this turned out to be a surprising and really fascinating book to read. I hope to read more books by professor Eric Vanden Eykel soon!
As the author explains in this book of his early on, this isn't a nonfiction about if the Magi may have been real people but more of an exploration about how in only twelve verses in the Gospel of Matthew the Magi became such a big part in the story of the birth of Jesus and how ancient as well as modern scholars have studied them.
I loved reading about the history of early Christianity and about the icons, paintings and other pieces of art that the Magi have appeared it. The author also went into different topics regarding the Magi. One example of that is the star they followed and what it could've really been. A regular star? A comet? A supernova? This particular chapter was really fascinating to me!
Overall, The Magi: Who They Were, How They've Been Remembered, and Why They Still Fascinate was a joy to read, especially with Christmas coming up soon. As associate professor of religious studies, Eric Vanden Eykel really knows his stuff and it was also really well-written I must add. I highly enjoyed it and highly recommend it!
As the author explains in this book of his early on, this isn't a nonfiction about if the Magi may have been real people but more of an exploration about how in only twelve verses in the Gospel of Matthew the Magi became such a big part in the story of the birth of Jesus and how ancient as well as modern scholars have studied them.
I loved reading about the history of early Christianity and about the icons, paintings and other pieces of art that the Magi have appeared it. The author also went into different topics regarding the Magi. One example of that is the star they followed and what it could've really been. A regular star? A comet? A supernova? This particular chapter was really fascinating to me!
Overall, The Magi: Who They Were, How They've Been Remembered, and Why They Still Fascinate was a joy to read, especially with Christmas coming up soon. As associate professor of religious studies, Eric Vanden Eykel really knows his stuff and it was also really well-written I must add. I highly enjoyed it and highly recommend it!
November 26, 2022
Written by a scholar, this book is very easy for anyone to read. The book explores different texts where the magi are featured over history. I had no idea the magi, who only appear in Matthew, were written about in so many other places in history. Fascinating read.
December 18, 2023
Heavy scholarship, but worth the read. I have always been interested in this subject.
January 8, 2026
Eric Vanden Eykel is a biblical scholar whose work often focuses on how Scripture has been interpreted, expanded, and sometimes reshaped through history, literature, and cultural tradition. Rather than offering devotional retellings, Vanden Eykel approaches biblical texts with a critical eye, asking how later readers, translators, and communities have filled in gaps left by the biblical authors. His goal is not to diminish the biblical narrative, but to help readers distinguish between what Scripture actually says and what centuries of interpretation, tradition, and imagination have added to it.
In Magi, Vanden Eykel examines the brief appearance of the magi in Matthew’s Gospel and traces how that small amount of biblical information has grown into an expansive and often speculative tradition. He explores how ancient literature, translation choices, church history, and cultural storytelling shaped our modern understanding of the magi—transforming them into kings, assigning them names, numbers, and motives, and embedding them deeply into Christmas tradition. The book walks through both ancient and modern interpretations, highlighting how the story evolved into celebrations like Three Kings Day and how certain readings have even contributed to harmful portrayals of Jewish people in relation to the Christmas narrative.
The story of the magi has intrigued me since I was in fourth grade, when I played one of them in a Christmas pageant and sang “We Three Kings.” Over the years, I’ve preached multiple sermons on the magi and their role in the Christmas story, so when I saw this book, it immediately caught my attention. Each December, I make it a goal to read either an Advent devotional or a book centered on the nativity, and this was the year I finally tackled Magi. One of the author’s stated goals is to show how the limited information Matthew provides has led to a kind of speculative theology, where popular belief and tradition often outweigh Scripture itself. I agree that much of our understanding of the magi has been shaped more by theological folklore than by the biblical text. While I’m cautious about interpreting Scripture primarily through ancient or modern literature—since Scripture is divinely inspired and not merely a human cultural artifact—I appreciated how the book exposed how much has been added to the gospel narrative over time. One particularly helpful insight was the discussion of how translations like the KJV render magi as “wise men,” whereas Vanden Eykel argues for retaining magi as a transliteration rather than an interpretation. The book also thoughtfully addresses how interpretations of the magi story have sometimes fueled negative portrayals of Jewish people, which was an important and sobering section. Overall, while I don’t agree with every interpretive approach, this book does an excellent job of helping readers separate Scripture from tradition. If you’ve ever been curious about the magi or want to think more critically about how the Christmas story has been shaped over time, this is a worthwhile and thought-provoking read.
In Magi, Vanden Eykel examines the brief appearance of the magi in Matthew’s Gospel and traces how that small amount of biblical information has grown into an expansive and often speculative tradition. He explores how ancient literature, translation choices, church history, and cultural storytelling shaped our modern understanding of the magi—transforming them into kings, assigning them names, numbers, and motives, and embedding them deeply into Christmas tradition. The book walks through both ancient and modern interpretations, highlighting how the story evolved into celebrations like Three Kings Day and how certain readings have even contributed to harmful portrayals of Jewish people in relation to the Christmas narrative.
The story of the magi has intrigued me since I was in fourth grade, when I played one of them in a Christmas pageant and sang “We Three Kings.” Over the years, I’ve preached multiple sermons on the magi and their role in the Christmas story, so when I saw this book, it immediately caught my attention. Each December, I make it a goal to read either an Advent devotional or a book centered on the nativity, and this was the year I finally tackled Magi. One of the author’s stated goals is to show how the limited information Matthew provides has led to a kind of speculative theology, where popular belief and tradition often outweigh Scripture itself. I agree that much of our understanding of the magi has been shaped more by theological folklore than by the biblical text. While I’m cautious about interpreting Scripture primarily through ancient or modern literature—since Scripture is divinely inspired and not merely a human cultural artifact—I appreciated how the book exposed how much has been added to the gospel narrative over time. One particularly helpful insight was the discussion of how translations like the KJV render magi as “wise men,” whereas Vanden Eykel argues for retaining magi as a transliteration rather than an interpretation. The book also thoughtfully addresses how interpretations of the magi story have sometimes fueled negative portrayals of Jewish people, which was an important and sobering section. Overall, while I don’t agree with every interpretive approach, this book does an excellent job of helping readers separate Scripture from tradition. If you’ve ever been curious about the magi or want to think more critically about how the Christmas story has been shaped over time, this is a worthwhile and thought-provoking read.
December 28, 2022
Very thought provoking and fair minded!! I enjoyed this and all the different perspectives a lot!!
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January 29, 2025Definitely some interesting material, although I think I wanted a bit more substantive analysis from the author.
February 19, 2025
I have done a fair amount of amateur sleuthing regarding the biblical account of the visitation of the magi to the Nativity. Matthew’s brief and cryptic account has spawned many attempts to embellish and explain, including my own. While researching, I was frustrated by those authors claiming to have “solved” not only the emergence of the unusual star but the biographies of the very men who entered the humble home in Bethlehem. Through the years, we have elevated the magi to kings, enumerated their number, named them, and buried them (several times). Those who make such claims are free to do so, but to call these speculations as conclusive is wrong and irresponsible.
Dr. Vanden Eykel does not make such claims. He delves deeply into the story as it was written and illuminates the motivations of the many alterations and additions over time. Rather than assert where the visitors may have come from, he examines the text for what it is. He scrutinizes the meanings behind the words as they were originally written and, equally important, how the intended audience interpreted those words. This captivating story wasn’t written with the 21st-century reader in mind.
Vanden Eykel notes, “a reader’s perceived familiarity with a story can sometimes get in the way of understanding.” A superficial regard for three exotic foreign kings visiting the Nativity, worshiping the child, and leaving gifts might miss the story’s deeper meaning. Vanden Eykel allows a more thorough, thoughtful examination of Matthew’s motivation and message.
It should be noted that Matthew, like Luke, was not present at the Nativity. Any insight either may offer is not based upon witnessing the event. The information they transmit is already subject to interpretation. Can Matthew and Luke can’t be completely certain of the veracity of their accounts? Who told them of the magi, or the shepherds, Bethlehem, or angels in the night sky? Through the ages, we have trusted these second-hand summations.
But what are we claiming to know? Vanden Eykel helps us to explore that question.
Vanden Eykel offers a sound basis on which to understand this mysterious story. I highly recommend reading this book.
Dr. Vanden Eykel does not make such claims. He delves deeply into the story as it was written and illuminates the motivations of the many alterations and additions over time. Rather than assert where the visitors may have come from, he examines the text for what it is. He scrutinizes the meanings behind the words as they were originally written and, equally important, how the intended audience interpreted those words. This captivating story wasn’t written with the 21st-century reader in mind.
Vanden Eykel notes, “a reader’s perceived familiarity with a story can sometimes get in the way of understanding.” A superficial regard for three exotic foreign kings visiting the Nativity, worshiping the child, and leaving gifts might miss the story’s deeper meaning. Vanden Eykel allows a more thorough, thoughtful examination of Matthew’s motivation and message.
It should be noted that Matthew, like Luke, was not present at the Nativity. Any insight either may offer is not based upon witnessing the event. The information they transmit is already subject to interpretation. Can Matthew and Luke can’t be completely certain of the veracity of their accounts? Who told them of the magi, or the shepherds, Bethlehem, or angels in the night sky? Through the ages, we have trusted these second-hand summations.
But what are we claiming to know? Vanden Eykel helps us to explore that question.
Vanden Eykel offers a sound basis on which to understand this mysterious story. I highly recommend reading this book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews