The Magi expecting Christ

[Stephen]

Greetings,
I have three very interesting questions that I am wondering about concerning the Magi. First some background.

We know that the Magi knew where to find the expected Christ by plotting the stars. On researching the Magi I found comments that these people were Persians. Following on I came across a post by an Harvard educated Orthodox convert who said that Zoroastrianism actually lead her to Christianity based on the Persian influence on both Jewish and Greek thought. Also early Christian writers like Irenaeus, Clement and Justin who she felt had displayed quite a bit of Persian theology. After reading the NT in Greek she says she realized in all of this was that Jesus Christ was indeed the true Rathu spoken of in the Ahunavar. Her Iranian Studies professor insisted on a translation of the Ahunavar which essentially stated that the Rathu was to be worshipped by the people because He Was Asha incarnate. In the concepts of Asha and Vohumana is the Christian Logos. In Kshasthra Vairya is the Greek Dynamis - a title which was also attributed to Christ by the Early Church Fathers. She also found Christian understanding of the Holy Trinity in Armaiti, Havurtat and Amerdat as well as the Holy Spirit in SpentaMainyu.

Now I am no Harvard scholar but I was wondering these questions taking for granted this person is correct in her assertions:

1. Could the above information about Zoroastrian doctrine be the reason
why the Magi were expecting Christ?

2. If so, then how does this effect the exclusivity of the Hebrew YHWH in
that the Zoroastrians did not worship YHWH the Magi expected Christ and
evidently knew of the Logos?

3. Could the Persians have just had different names for the same God?

I think I remember reading somewhere in the Holy fathers that the Gentiles also had the Truth (I think St. Seraphim of Sarov).

Any comments on this perplexing topic would be greatly appreciated!

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear Stephen, you wrote:


1. Could the above information about Zoroastrian doctrine be the reason
why the Magi were expecting Christ?

2. If so, then how does this effect the exclusivity of the Hebrew YHWH in
that the Zoroastrians did not worship YHWH the Magi expected Christ and
evidently knew of the Logos?

3. Could the Persians have just had different names for the same God?

I think I remember reading somewhere in the Holy fathers that the Gentiles also had the Truth (I think St. Seraphim of Sarov).

My background with Zoroastrianism is fairly small, and primarily socio-anthropological (and very early), rather than theological. But perhaps I could speak to the more general question of patristic views towards other religions.

Many of the fathers, especially in the early period (that of the 'apologists') took far greater pains than do many today to account for, and in some manner explain, that God authentically is 'everywhere present, filling all things', and that humanity will seek after him, whatever its context. So while there might be religious systems that, as religious systems, are anathema to Christian teaching and proclaim what are often antithetical teachings about God and reality, such fathers wished to explain that, nonetheless, God will reveal himself to those who seek him. This is a far cry from religious syncretism: often the fathers who said this were the most critical of those other religions or philosophical systems - they clearly felt that they were wrong. This was anything but an articulation of 'all religions point to the same God'. Rather, it was a confession that Christ is true God and himself the Truth, and as truth reveals himself to those who seek after the truth, whatever their circumstance may be.

INXC, Matthew

[Stephen]

Dear Stephen, you wrote:



My background with Zoroastrianism is fairly small, and primarily socio-anthropological (and very early), rather than theological. But perhaps I could speak to the more general question of patristic views towards other religions.

Many of the fathers, especially in the early period (that of the 'apologists') took far greater pains than do many today to account for, and in some manner explain, that God authentically is 'everywhere present, filling all things', and that humanity will seek after him, whatever its context. So while there might be religious systems that, as religious systems, are anathema to Christian teaching and proclaim what are often antithetical teachings about God and reality, such fathers wished to explain that, nonetheless, God will reveal himself to those who seek him. This is a far cry from religious syncretism: often the fathers who said this were the most critical of those other religions or philosophical systems - they clearly felt that they were wrong. This was anything but an articulation of 'all religions point to the same God'. Rather, it was a confession that Christ is true God and himself the Truth, and as truth reveals himself to those who seek after the truth, whatever their circumstance may be.

INXC, Matthew

Thank you for this Matthew. After reading your reply a few times a thought came to me and I don't really know if it adds to your post above. The Magi came at the beginning of the birth of Christ so the "New Covenant" was not yet revealed for the Israelites or the Gentiles. I think Paul himself the OT was written in "types and shadows" so perhaps these same "types and shadows" existed in the religion of the Magi to fulfill the prophecy that "God would choose for Himself a people out of the Gentiles".

[Scott Pierson]

You might be interested in reading a book called "Spirit of Truth: The Holy Spirit in Johannine Tradition : The Origins of Johannine Pneumatology " by Father John Breck. It points out some of the similiartys of Persian / Zoroastrian thought and Jewish thought (especially in regards to concepts of the spirit and afterlife). I tend to think he has some of the influences mixed up.. the Jews most likely influenced the persians more then vice versa.. but its a good read.

I've wondered about some of the same things. I read " the Dawn and Twilight of Zoroastrianism " not to long ago and it raised a few questions in my mind.

Scott