THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM
Science, History, and Meaning
Michael Allan Pettem
Lexham Press
Bellingham, WA
2018
The Star of Bethlehem: Science, History, and Meaning
Copyright 2018 Michael Allan Pettem, Lexham Press
Lexham Press, 1313 Commercial St., Bellingham, WA 98225
All rights reserved. You may use brief quotations from this resource in presentations, articles, and books. For all other uses, please write Lexham Press for permission. Email us at permissions@lexhampress.com.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are the author’s own translation or are from the Lexham English Bible (leb), copyright 2013 by Lexham Press. Lexham is a registered trademark of Faithlife Corporation.
Digital ISBN 9781683592846
Lexham Editorial Team: Danielle Thevenaz
Cover Design: Micah Ellis
Contents
1. Was the Star of Bethlehem a Supernova?
3. Was the Star of Bethlehem a Comet?
5. Candidate for the Star: Nova or Variable Star
6. Astrology in Ancient Babylonia
7. Astrology Comes to the Greek World
8. The Path of the Planets, the Music of the Spheres
9. Candidate for the Star: Jupiter Occulted by the Moon
10. Babylonian Astrology and Parthian Magi
11. Candidate for the Star: Jupiter Takes the Hand of Saturn
12. Three Points of Agreement in the First Century
14. The Gospel of Matthew Prepared for Its First Audience
15. The Gospel of Matthew and the Star’s Knowledge
16. The Star, Luke, and Ignatius
18. An Imagined Story of the Star of Bethlehem
Introduction
Come on a voyage of discovery. Bring your imagination and your curiosity. Gaze at a Star. Meet dignitaries from the east seeking a special child, and a cruel old monarch bent on killing him.
For the eastern dignitaries, the celestial sign meant the child was king of the Jews. The old ruler feared the Star showed a rival for his throne. The evangelist Matthew believed the Star showed the child would bring the present world order to an end, and usher in the Kingdom of God. Listen as Matthew recounts the story:
Jesus was born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of Herod. After his birth astrologers from the east arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We observed the rising of his star, and we have come to pay him homage.” King Herod was greatly perturbed when he heard this, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. He called together the chief priests and scribes of the Jews, and asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “At Bethlehem in Judaea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a ruler to be the shepherd of my people Israel.’ ”
Then Herod summoned the astrologers to meet him secretly, and ascertained from them the exact time when the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and make a careful search ...
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About The Star of Bethlehem: Science, History, and MeaningDiscover the ancient meaning of the star of wonder. The Star of Bethlehem is one of the most recognizable elements of the Christmas story and yet its true nature and meaning are shrouded in mystery. This celestial sign captured the attention of the Magi and frightened a king and yet it’s ancient significance is often lost on modern readers. Furthermore, the astronomical identity of the Star of Bethlehem has captivated and confounded for millennia. In Star of Bethlehem, Michael Pettem combines a modern scientific understanding of stellar phenomena with a fascinating account of ancient astronomy and history to illuminate this key biblical event. He identifies what the Star of Bethlehem may have been and how various ancient cultures would have interpreted its appearance. Then, drawing on the Gospel of Matthew as his guide, he explores the Star’s theological significance, helping us understand how early Christians would have understood this important symbol. |
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