Compiled by W.J.

Chamberlin, Director 1992

Bible Museum and Biblical Research Foundation
6413 Snow Apple Dr.
Clarkston, MI 48346
research87@biblemuseum.org

Matthew 2:1

Sister Finn (an instructor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit) took our class to hear a Catholic
scholar speak to a group of priests during our last class before our holiday break. He was talking about
the Gospel of Matthew. He got on to the first two chapters of Matthew and mentioned the “Magi” and
who he thought they were (learned scholars). So during the question and answer time I raised a question
about the magi and who many scholars say they were. The so-called scholar tried to put the question
down by indicating that I didn’t know what I was talking about - who are you to question me, you are
just a student, you’re not even a priest. I even told him that a number of translations translated “Magi”
as “Astrologers”. I was told that only one translation did and that translation, in its revision, changed
back to “Magi”. He listed some six or so translations (both Catholic and Protestant; one that he
mentioned was the New English Bible) that did not. I told him he was not correct in that statement and
I said I could prove it. Therefore, the enclosed is my proof.

Notice that not only did the Catholic New American Translation but four other Catholic translations do
likewise. (Five Catholic translations is a significant number since there are not many Catholic
translations in English.) Notice that three famous Catholic Commentaries also indicate that the Magi
were astrologers. How many more Catholic commentaries and encyclopedias indicate the same thing
(but, that is all I have in my library)?

In addition, 19 other non-Catholic translations indicate that the “Magi” were “Astrologers”. I did not
exhaust my Bible collection to find these 21. I only wanted to show that a large number of scholars do
not agree with the one at SHMS.

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 TRANSLATION COMPARISON
Matthew 2:1
Did kings or wisemen visit the baby Jesus? Neither. According to the Greek Text, they were “Magi”
or “Astrologers”.

The following translations and versions are given as support and proof.

1. Alford, H. N.T. 1872 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . footnote - Magi

2. American Standard Version 1902 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . footnote - Magi
3. Amplified Bible 1965 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Astrologers
4. Berkeley Version N.T. 1945 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Text - Magi - footnote- Astrologers
5. Centenary Version N.T. 1924 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
6. Concordant Version N.T. 1931 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
7. Confraternity Version N.T. 1943 Catholic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
8. Cunnington, M.A. N.T. 1926 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . footnote - Magi
9. Darby Holy Scriptures 1890 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
10. Fenton, F. N.T. 1906 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
11. Good News for Modern Man N.T. 1966. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Men who study the stars
12. Goodspeed An American Translation 1963 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Astrologers
13. Grant Numerical Bible 1908 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Text - Magi, footnote - Astrologers
14. Greber, J. N.T. 1937 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
15. Kleist & Lilly N.T. 1956 Catholic .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
16. Klingensmith, D. Today’s Engl. N.T. 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
17. Lamsa, G.M. Bible 1957 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
18. Mills, J. 1761 Mortimer Divers Parts of the Holy Scriptures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . footnote - Magi
19. Moffatt, J. Bible 1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magicians
20. Moss, A. Jesus - The Four Gospels 1971 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
21. Murdock N.T. 1851 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
22. Newberry Bible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . footnote - Magi
23. New English Bible 1961 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Astrologers
24. New World Translation 1961 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Astrologers
25. Noyes N.T. 1878 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magians
26. Overbury, A.E. N.T. 1932 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
27. Panin, I. N.T. 1966 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
28. Platts, J. N.T. 1827 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . footnote - Astrologers
29. Phillips, J.B. N.T. 1958 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Astrologers
30. New American Version 1973 Catholic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Astrologers
31. New International Version 1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
32. Rheims Bible 1582 Catholic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sages
33. Revised Standard Version 1952 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . footnote - Magi
34. Sawyer, L.A. N.T. 1858 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
35. Scott, D. 1741 St. Matt. Gospel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
36. Scott, T. Bible 1812 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . footnote - Magi

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37. Schonfield, H.J. Authentic N.T. 1956 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Text - Magi; footnote - Astrologers
38. Spencer, F.A. Four Gospels 1945 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Text - Wisemen; footnote - Astrologers
39. Taylor, J. Triglott Evangelists 1834.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Text - Sages; footnote - Magi
40. Taylor, K. Living Bible 1967 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Astrologers
41. Traina Sacred Name N.T. 1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
42. Translator’s N.T. 1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
43. Wade, G.W. Documents of the N.T. 1934 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Astrologers
44. Weymouth, R.F. N.T. 1901 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
45. Williams, C.B. N.T. 1950 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Star-gazers
46. Wilson, R.M. Book of Books 1938 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi - Wisemen
47. Young’s Literal Translation of the Bible 1898 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mages
48. Twentith Century N.T. 1904 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magians
49. Doddridge Family Expositor 1761. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Text - Sages: footnote - Magi
50. Hammond, H. N.T. 1653 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mt. 2:1 - Astronomers; Mt. 2:16 - Magi
51. Haweis, T. N.T. 1795 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magians
52. Scarlett, N. N.T. 1798 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
53. Wakefield, G. N.T. 1795 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
54. Clarke, S. Paraphrase on Four Evangelists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Astronomers or Philosophers
55. Adams, J.E. 1979. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
56. Barclay, Wm. N.T., 1968.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Text - Scholars who are students of the stars
57. Callan, Rev. Charles J. The Four Gospels, 1918. Catholic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Text - Wisemen;
Commentary - Men of learning, devoted to the study of Astrology
58. Clarke, S. Paraphrase on the Four Evangelists, 1701.. . . . . . . . . . Astronomers or Philosophers
59. Cole, Marley Living Destiny, Four Gospels, 1984.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Astrologers
60. Doddridge Family Expositor, 1761. Text - Sages; Footnote - Magi
61. Hammond, H. N.T., 1653.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mt 2:1 - Astronomers; Mt 2:16 - Magi
62. Montgomery, Helen Centerary Version N.T., 1924.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
63. New American Version, 1973. Catholic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Astrologers
64. New International Version, 1973.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi
65. New Revised Standard Version, 1990.. . . . . . . . . . . . . Text - Wisemen; Footnote - Astrologers)
66. Revised English Bible, 1989... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Astrologers

67. Scarlett, N. N.T., 1798.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi

68. Schonfield The Original New Testament, 1985... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Text - Magi;
Footnote - Persian priests with Astrological & occult knowledge
69. The Bible For Today’s Family: Contemporary English Version, 1991.. . . . . . . Text - Wisemen;
Footnote - People famous for studying the stars
70. Torry, C.C. Four Gospels, 1933.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magi

This is a good sample of the variety of scholars whose translations and versions indicate that the Kings
or Wisemen were indeed “Magi” or possibly “Astrologers”. How many state either in the text or in the
footnote that the “Magi” were “Astrologers”?

See also the attached sheets from:

1. The Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968, page 67
[43:20-21]

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2. The Anchor Bible - Matthew. Introduction, Translation, and Notes by W.F. Albright and C.S.
Mann. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Co., Inc., 1971, pages 12-15.

3. The Four Gospels; An Introduction. Bruce Vawter, C.M. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Co.,
Inc., 1967, pages 66-67.

4. The Interpreter’s one-volume Commentary on the Bible... Edited by Charles M. Laymon.

Nashville: Abingdon, 1971, pages iii-vi, 611.

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The above facts then lead me to the following FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

If the magi were indeed astrologers then the star would make sense, not just a symbolic star, but a
real star. The star would have to be a special star for if it was a normal star you would not be able to see
movement from a star that is light years away. Yet the scriptures state, “...the star that they had seen
at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.”
The next question would logically be, “Who put the star there for the magi to follow” especially
since astrology is condemned in the scriptures (Isaiah 47:12-15; Deut. 4:19; 2 Ki 23:5; Zeph. 1:4-5)?
Is it important to know who put the star there for the astrologers? Well, what was the results of the star
being there? Would the God who is described in the scriptures as a “God of love” be responsible for the
death of all baby boys two years and under in the area of Jesus’ birth?
Who would want the new born King, a Savior for the world, to be put to death before he could
possibly do just that? The same one tried at a later time when Jesus was in the wilderness.

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THIS ACCOUNT. IT MAY OR MAY NOT
BE A CORRECT INTERPRETATION, BUT IT DOES GET A PERSON TO THINKING,
DOESN’T IT?

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