The Star of Bethlehem is one of the best-known and most widely-revered elements of the Christmas story.
However, it is controversial in terms of whether the bright light that, according to the Bible and the Christmas story, guided the three Wise Men to the manger where Jesus was born was real.
And if it was natural, what was it?
Many believers seek to prove that it was a natural phenomenon, while others argue that whether it literally happened is less important than its catechistic value.
From the development of astronomy during the Middle Ages, there have been numerous theories advanced.
Accounts of this special star, however, begin with the Bible and other ancient texts.
The “Star in the East,” also known as the Christmas Star, is mentioned in twelve places in the Bible, including, according to Christian beliefs, in some places in the Old Testament.
The most widely associated Old Testament reference to the Star of Bethlehem is in Psalm 29: “The Heavens declare the Glory of God, the sky proclaims God’s handiwork.”
This passage is used to promote the idea that God was using the star as a sign to signal his coming presence on Earth in human form.
Another reference derived from the Old Testament is found in the prophecy of Balaam, who gave blessings of Israel in place of the curses he was ordered to give.
In this story, Balaam declared: “a star will come forth from Jacob, a scepter will arise from Israel.”
Another Old Testament allusion may be found in the book of Job, one that furthermore supports the belief that the star was actually an angel.
This passage reads: “as the morning stars sang together and the angels shouted for joy.” Also, Psalm 147says: “He counts all the stars and calls them all by name.”
The more direct Biblical references to the Star of Bethlehem, however, occur in the New Testament, mainly in the Gospel of Matthew.
In Matthew, the story begins with the sighting of the star by the Three Wise Men, also known as the Three Kings, or the Magi.
In it, the Three Wise Men went to Jerusalem to ask “Where is the child who has been born the King of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage.”
Then when King Herod of Judea heard the news, he was scared, believing that this new king would usurp him.
So, seeking to find and kill the new king, Herod asked the Wise Men to go search for the child and “bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”
Holy Bible open to the New Testament
In this account, the Wise Men continued on their journey, and “there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising until it stopped over the place where the child was.”
But probably the most famous reference to an unusual celestial light identified it as an angel, is found in the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke, which reads:
“There were shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them.”
The shepherds were described as a “sore afraid,” and the angel then told them: “Fear Not. For I bring you tidings of great joy,” which was the birth. “in the city of David… a savior.”
Interestingly, in this Gospel, those who responded to the heavenly sign to seek out the newborn Jesus were not kings or wise men, but simple shepherds.