Q. How many wise men visited the baby Jesus?
A. The Bible doesn’t mention a number, but don’t we know them by their names Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar?
Okay, so this is a bit of a trick question. Only two of the four Gospels give us details of Jesus’ birth – what are called the Infancy Narratives of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The opening chapters of these two Gospels tell us who was there, what was said, and some of the other particulars of Jesus’ birth. Matthew is the only Gospel to mention the wise men, whom some translations also call Magi or kings.
Matthew does not say how many visitors from the East there were. He just says they visited the baby Jesus and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. People assume that there were three wise men because there were three gifts. But really, Matthew could have been talking about two, or seven, or any number of men. The names traditionally given the Magi in the Western tradition – Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar – have been found in documents dating back to the 8th century. They represent varied nations, reminding all that the birth of Christ was for all people.
Great questions like this force us to read the Scriptures with a little bit more critical eye. The opening chapters of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke are great sources for prayer and meditation during this Advent/Christmas season. Thanks for the question. Have a truly blessed Christmas.
This question was answered by a priest of the Diocese of Lincoln. Write to Ask the Register using our online form, or write to 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Suite 10, Lincoln NE 68506-6100. All questions are subject to editing. Editors decide which questions to publish. Personal questions cannot be answered. People with such questions are urged to take them to their nearest Catholic priest.
