Who Were The Wise Men?

In the Gospels, we see people known as "wise men". The Greek word here is "μάγος" or "magos". The term has a large variety of meanings: "a magus, sage of the magician religion, magician, astrologer, wise man, ... sorcerer," (Mounce). Magis were well known in this period to practice astrology, divination, (Keener 49), magic, and dream interpretation (Crossway 1822).

We only hear about them in Matthew where they came to Jesus from the East as to worship him (Matthew 2:1-2). The word for "East" or "ἀνατολή" may not mean East. According to some scholars, this may just mean Anatolia, i.e. Turkey (Carson, Falk).

The men desired to find the king of the Jews after they saw a star (Matthew 2:2). The magis presented three items: gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11).

Some scholars believe the Magis were Zoroastrians (Cambridge; Keener 49-50) while others believe they may have been Hittites from Anatolia (Falk) or even Chaldean or Arabian astronomers (Barnes; Gill). Tertullian even believed that they were kings: "So let us retain those Wise Men from the East The kings of the Arabs and of Saba shall offer him gifts. For the Orient for the most part held the Magi for kings," (Adversus Macrionem, Book 3).

References:

Barnes' Notes on the New Testament. United Kingdom, Kregel Publications, 1962.

Carson, D. A., Matthew. United States, Zondervan Academic, 2017.

Drum, Walter. "Magi." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09527a.htm>.

Duchesne-Guillemin, Jacques. "Zoroastrianism". Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Jul. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Zoroastrianism. Accessed 31 July 2024.

ESV Study Bible. United States, Crossway, 2008.

Evans, Ernest. Tertullian Against Marcion Book 3. www.tertullian.org/articles/evans_marc/evans_marc_08book3_eng.htm. Accessed 1 Aug. 2024.

Falk, David "Live Stream #168: Funky, Groovy, Trendy Ramesses II." YouTube, streamed 20 July 2024, www.youtube.com/live/g9tKk48D9Rw?si=sJScy7jy8rgtlMHB. Accessed 1 Aug. 2024.

Keener, Craig S.. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 2nd Edition. United Kingdom, InterVarsity Press, 2014.

Mounce, William D.. Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar: Fourth Edition. United States, Zondervan Academic, 2019.

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The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. United Kingdom, The University Press, 1905.

Wolever, Terry. John Gill's Exposition of the Old and New Testaments: Some Background on the First Three Editions. United States, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2018.