History of the Christmas Star: Natural or supernatural?
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HISTORY OF THE CHRISTMAS STAR: NATURAL OR SUPERNATURAL?
The Star of Bethlehem has long intrigued scholars, sparking debates and diverse interpretations of the phenomenon.
While some skeptics dismiss it as a myth or a literary tool designed to emphasize the significance of the Nativity, others view it as a miraculous event beyond natural explanation, placed in the sky to guide the Magi.
Many scholars, however, adopt a balanced approach, seeking historical explanations for the Christmas star. Over time, numerous intriguing theories have emerged.
What were the scientific, astronomical, and astrological theories that have been explored throughout history?
History of the Christmas Star
- The Greek term for star in the Gospel account, “aster,” encompasses a variety of celestial phenomena, including comets, meteors, novae, or planets (referred to as “wandering stars” in Greek).
Chinese astronomical records, known for their accuracy and detail, surpass those of the Near East, particularly in documenting comets and novae.
In 1871, English astronomer John Williams compiled a definitive list of comets based on Chinese annals. Among these, Comet No. 52, visible for approximately 70 days in March-April of 5 B.C., appeared near the constellation Capricorn. This comet would have been visible across the Far and Near East and, as nights progressed, seemed to move westward across the southern sky. Its timing aligns intriguingly with the biblical narrative and could plausibly represent the Wise Men’s celestial guide.
Another entry, Comet No. 53, which Williams suggested might have been a nova, appeared a year later in March-April of 4 B.C. near the constellation Aquila, also visible throughout the East.
Could these celestial events have been the star that reappeared to the Magi after King Herod directed them to Bethlehem, as described in Matthew 2:9? Comets alone may not fully align with the Nativity story’s descriptions. A more plausible explanation might involve the alignment or movement of planets, which exhibit characteristics consistent with the biblical account.
The Christmas Star in Astronomical Events
In the early 17th century, astronomer Johannes Kepler observed that every 805 years, Jupiter and Saturn enter an extraordinary series of repeated conjunctions, with Mars joining the alignment about a year later. Building on Kepler’s work, modern astronomers have calculated that during 7 B.C., Jupiter and Saturn remained exceptionally close in the night sky for ten months. Notably, they formed conjunctions in May, September, and December of that year.
By February of 6 B.C., Mars had joined this celestial alignment. If the Magi were versed in the astrological traditions of their region, as is likely, such a conjunction would have held deep significance. The planets Jupiter and Saturn met within the constellation Pisces, a placement rich with astrological meaning in the ancient world.
The Christmas Star in Astrology
In ancient astrology, the giant planet Jupiter, known to the Romans as the “King’s Planet,” symbolized the supreme god and ruler of the cosmos—Marduk to the Babylonians, Zeus to the Greeks, and the highest deity in the Roman pantheon.
Saturn, the ringed planet, was regarded as the protector or guardian of the Jewish people. Meanwhile, the constellation Pisces, also linked to Syria and Israel, was associated with significant epochal events and transformative crises.
Thus, the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn within Pisces would have carried profound astrological meaning, signifying the emergence of a divine and cosmic ruler in Israel at a pivotal moment in history.
Recent Christmas Star Research
Meanwhile, more recent research on the star based on recently available astronomy software, historical research on 1st-century Jewish-Roman historian Flavius Josephus‘ manuscripts, and 17th-century astronomer Kepler‘s Three Laws of Planetary Motion is being conducted and collected at bethlehemstar.net
Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian
billpetro.com
Podcast version:
Excellent
Then, from a scriptural perspective, the “star”, followed by pagan astrologers (a practice condemned by the God of the Bible), led them, not to Bethlehem, but to Jerusalem, to Herod, who then killed many children, before REappearing and leading them to Bethlehem (to a “house” and not the stable where Jesus was born).
“Tradition” ignores the biblical account and then tries desperately (and unsuccessfully) to come up with a logical explanation. The Bible makes it much clearer for those who care to know the truth…..
Thanks for the comment, Michael. You’ve almost got it, but you might want to read my article on the “Wise Men” the Magi <https://billpetro.com/history-of-the-wise-men> to get a fuller story.
You’re right that the star “appeared” twice in the Biblical narrative. It appeared to Magi from the East. “Pagan” may not be a useful term for these people, and for this event; the Latin term pagan for “rustic, rural” did not gain traction until the 4th century when it was used by Christians to describe Romans who followed the imperial cult of Greco-Roman gods. A better word would be “gentiles,” meaning non-Jews. While we do not know all their beliefs, they believed that the “king of the Jews” would be heralded by a star and born in Palestine. The first appearance did not lead them specifically to where Jesus was, so they asked at the capital. The second appearance led them to Bethlehem, and as you say, a “house” is described as the residence.
As the Bible is silent as to the number, names, ethnicity, and ages of the Wise Men, tradition has filled in the blanks. But tradition is always less reliable than the recorded history of primary sources like the Bible.
-Bill
A pastor friend explained that the “star” was actually an angel. Here’s what he said in a discord post in a Christian server.
“2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
it was “His star”
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
The star went before them til it came and stood over where the young child was
Stars don’t do that
Angels do that
The Bible calls angels stars in several passages
stars don’t stand over a child, angels stand over a child
the wise men would not have been able to follow an actual star standing over a manger that was less than 100 miles away from their current location, if you look up and point at a star, and drive to the next state over, that star is still going to be pretty much in the same place
this was a low altitude star, which don’t exist, aka it is an angel
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
stars = sons of God = angels”
Mike,
I take it you chose the “supernatural” route. I think all would agree that “stars” don’t move, other than how they appear to cross the sky because the earth revolves upon its axis. But planets move, they’re called “wandering stars.” However, neither are in low earth orbit, as you say. The “sons of God shouting for joy” is certainly echoed in the nativity story of Luke 2:13-14.
-Bill