{"product_id":"mystery-of-the-magi-the-quest-to-identify-the-three-wise-men-9781684512577","title":"Mystery of the Magi: The Quest to Identify the Three Wise Men","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"The perfect Christmas gift for anyone interested in the historical background behind the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.\" \u003cb\u003e-- \u003c\/b\u003eRobert J. Hutchinson, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Politically Incorrect Guide to the Bible, The Dawn of Christianity, \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Searching for Jesus.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Utterly refreshing and encouraging.\" -- Eric Metaxas, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eBonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy \u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eMartin Luther\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"The best book I know about the Magi.\" -- Sir Colin John Humphreys, Ph.D., author of \u003ci\u003eThe Mystery of the Last Supper\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Modern biblical scholars tend to dismiss the Christmas story of the \"wise men from the East\" as pious legend. Matthew's gospel offers few details, but imaginative Christians filled out the story early on, giving us the three kings guided by a magical star who join the adoring shepherds in every Christmas cr?che. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e For many scholars, then, there is no reason to take the gospel story seriously. But are they right? \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eAre the wise men no more than a poetic fancy?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In an astonishing feat of detective work, Dwight Longenecker makes a powerful case that the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem really happened. Piecing together the evidence from biblical studies, history, archeology, and astronomy, he goes further, uncovering where they came from, why they came, and what might have happened to them after eluding the murderous King Herod. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In the process, he provides a new and fascinating view of the time and place in which Jesus Christ chose to enter the world. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e The evidence is clear and compelling. The mysterious Magi from the East were in all likelihood astrologers and counselors from the court of the Nabatean king at Petra, where the Hebrew messianic prophecies were well known. The \"star\" that inspired their journey was a particular planetary alignment--confirmed by computer models--that in the astrological lore of the time portended the birth of a Jewish king. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e The visitors whose arrival troubled Herod \"and all Jerusalem with him\" may not have been the turbaned oriental kings of the Christmas carol, but they were real, and by demonstrating that the wise men were no fairy tale, \u003ci\u003eMystery of the Magi\u003c\/i\u003e demands a new level of respect for the historical claims of the gospel.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDwight Longenecker \u003c\/b\u003eis a Catholic priest, award winning blogger, and freelance writer. A graduate of Oxford and Bob Jones University, he has written sixteen books on different aspects of religion. Longenecker is a highly sought-after speaker for scholarly and Men's Conference events, and often leads parish missions, retreats, and diocesan events. He and his wife, Allison, have four children. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Longenecker serves as pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Greenville, South Carolina.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Regnery History","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50631780368658,"sku":"9781684512577","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_0e4d2498-4c62-47fb-89bd-0d4aac34acf5.jpg?v=1732783125","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/mystery-of-the-magi-the-quest-to-identify-the-three-wise-men-9781684512577","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}