tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post4666687039521757754..comments2023-10-07T04:07:56.527-04:00Comments on The End Time: Examining Christmas Traditions #2: Wise Men at the manger?Elizabeth Pratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-28290688752797706242016-12-18T16:58:04.566-05:002016-12-18T16:58:04.566-05:00In the citation in Matthew 2:9 about the child, th...In the citation in Matthew 2:9 about the child, the Greek word is transliterted paidon. Thayer's Lexicon says of the word: "παιδίον, παιδίου, τό (diminutive of παῖς) (from Herodotus down), the Sept. for טַף, נַעַר, בֵּן, etc.; a young child, a little boy, a little girl; plural τά παιδία, infants; children; little ones. In singular: universally, of an infant just born, John 16:21; of a (male) child recently born, . . ."<br /><br /><br />It is not possible from the use of the word Paidon in that context to say what age Jesus was. Notice the "universally of an infant just born." And, notice, "a young child." So we still can't pin it down. <br /><br />I think there is something telling though in the behavior of Herod and his court when the wise men, whom I believe were Magi. At the time the wise men arrived, Herod called his theological advisers together to inquire repeatedly (imperfect tense verb) where the Christ child would be born. The advisers said Bethlehem. Bethlehem is only about five miles south of Jerusalem. It is difficult for me to believe that, because Herod was such a paranoid personality, and in that paranoia he had a spy network, that he wouldn't have known exactly where the child was at that moment. Milton Jones note the grammar demonstrates and event told as if had already occurred. <br /><br />Because of his paranoia, I believe, Herod would have known if Jesus had been born even a couple or three or four days before. The gossip from Bethlehem would have come to the palace. I believe that it possible that the wise men arrived on the very night that the Lord was born. bloggerjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13280219040560653721noreply@blogger.com