What Kind of Astronomical Marvel was the Star of Bethlehem?
Generations of Christians have helped ring in the Christmas season by singing John Henry Hopkins Jr.’s 1857 carol, “We Three Kings,” with its evocative chorus: “Star of wonder, star of night / Star with royal beauty bright / Westward leading, still proceeding / Guide us to thy perfect light.” But what exactly was this mysterious “star of wonder”? We know, from the Gospel of Matthew, that these kings—or “Magi,” as Matthew calls them—saw something brilliant in the night sky, a celestial body that beckoned them to Jesus’ birthplace in Bethlehem.
The Historical Identity of the Magi
Who were the Magi? We often call them “wise men,” but that’s not a helpful designation. Nor is it helpful to think of them as philosophers. The Magi, straightforwardly, were scholars engaged in astronomy and astrology. They made regular observations of stars, planets, comets, and other phenomena. The Magi were probably from Babylon.
Investigating the Biblical and Historical Record
Matthew’s gospel is widely acknowledged to be an ancient biography. When an ancient biography is written in the same century as its subject, it is generally characterized by a concern with historical accuracy. As for Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth, Luke and other historical accounts corroborate key elements. For example, what Matthew records about Herod matches up with what first-century historian Josephus tells us. It is perfectly legitimate, then, to look at Matthew as a source of historical information, and to ask whether astronomy supports his claims.
Scientific Rigor in Biblical Scholarship
Biblical scholar Colin R. Nicholl is the latest to venture an explanation for this astronomical marvel. Blending Bible research with findings from expert astronomers, Nicholl makes the case that the Star of Bethlehem was actually an extraordinary comet. As a biblical scholar, he argues that if figuring out the biblical text requires one to understand history, geography, religion, sociology, or something else, then it’s a responsibility to do the necessary study. The challenge is to be as rigorous about studying the relevant science as you are about studying the Bible.
Why have biblical scholars shied away from studying the science behind the star? Because it requires knowledge outside their specialized areas. Some back away simply out of skepticism that the biblical text relays accurate history. However, it’s obvious from Matthew 2 that the Star of Bethlehem is a real astronomical entity that was faithfully observed by astronomers in the Ancient Near East.
Publication Details
The following table provides details regarding the scholarly work investigating this phenomenon:
| Title | The Great Christ Comet: Revealing the True Star of Bethlehem |
| Author | Colin R. Nicholl |
| Foreword | Gary Kronk |
| Publisher | Crossway |
| Length | 368 pages |
| Price | $45.08 |
A biblical scholar investigates the mysterious object that guided the Magi to Jesus and asks: And was it even a star? Nicholl is willing to hang in even when he doesn’t initially understand what the text is saying, refusing to be so quick to disregard Matthew’s historical claims.