In just twelve short verses the gospel of Matthew records the visit of mysterious magi to pay homage to the child Jesus. The allure of mystical wizards from exotic lands captured the imagination of early Christians. Matthew’s short narrative was expanded and elaborated to the Christmas tale we hear today.
But did any such wise men exist, and if so who were they and where did they come from? The predominant opinion among New Testament scholars is that the whole story is a fabrication — a fantastic myth devised to make the birth of Jesus extra special, but are they correct?
The Making of the Myth
The magi story began to be elaborated along with the growth of Gnosticism and early Christianity. Extra Biblical writings about the mysterious magi proliferated. The earliest apocryphal version of Jesus’ birth is a document called The Gospel of James or The Protoevangelium of James. The Protoevangelium tells the story of Mary’s birth and childhood, her betrothal to Joseph and the birth of Jesus. The account of Jesus’ birth follows Matthew and Luke’s account, but there are some extra details: Mary rides a donkey to Bethlehem, there is no mention of an inn as such, and the stable where Jesus is born is in a cave.
There is a midwife named Salome present, and as Jesus is born, a wonderful, mysterious light appears. In…