Revelation of the Magi: The Lost Tale of the Wise Men's Journey to Bethlehem - Hardcover

Brent Landau

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0061947032 ISBN 13: 9780061947032

Publisher: Bravo Ltd, 2010

Synopsis

The first-ever English translation of an ancient manuscript dating back to the 2nd or 3rd century discovered in the Vatican Library tells the Christmas story from the point of view of the three kings from the East. We have all heard the Christmas story of the three kings from the East who followed the star to Bethlehem to offer gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newborn Christ child. While the basics were reported in the Gospel of Matthew, now we can listen to the whole story as told from the homeland of the Magi themselves. This is the first English translation of an ancient text, written from the point of view of the Magi about their miraculous trip! The Revelation of the Magi has languished in the Vatican Library for centuries. The text outlines a complex ritual and religious system for the Magi, who live in the mysterious far-eastern land of Shir and embody the ideal of 'pre-Christian' religious belief. This translation fits in well with our other successful stand-alone translations of extra-biblical texts like the Gospels of Mary and the Gospel of Thomas.

About this title

Review:

Of the many recently discovered earliest Christian documents, Revelation of the Magi is by far the most fascinating. Landau's presentation bright and sharp as a gemstone emphasizes the unique challenge and radical depth of this ancient text's theology. --John Dominic Crossan, author of Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography and The Greatest Prayer

The fascinating story of the Wise Men from the East who came to see baby Jesus is presented, for the first time in English, in a remarkable new version based on an ancient Syriac text, and the result is a tale that is astonishing, delightful, and theologically sophisticated. --Marvin Meyer, author of Gospels of Mary

This lovely text, skillfully translated and accompanied by expert commentary shows that early Christians approached the Christmas story with refreshing creativity. Landau is to be congratulated for bringing this important and unexpectedly influential work to light. --Jennifer Knust, author of Unprotected Texts

From the Back Cover:

Each Christmas, adults and children alike delight at the story of the kings from the East who followed the star to Bethlehem to offer gifts to the newborn Christ. While this familiar tale is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, another little-known version later emerged that claimed to be the eyewitness account of the wise men. This ancient manuscript has lain hidden for centuries in the vaults of the Vatican Library, but through the determined persistence of a young scholar, Brent Landau, this astonishing discovery has been translated into English for the very first time as the Revelation of the Magi.

Everything we know about the wise men is based on only a few verses from the Bible. With the Revelation of the Magi, we can now read the story from the Magi's perspective. Readers will learn of the Magi's prophecies of God's incarnation from the beginning of time, their startling visitation in the form of a star, the teachings they receive from the baby Jesus, and the wise men's joyous return to their homeland to spread the good news.

This ancient version of the Christmas story is guaranteed to astonish and delight. It will also raise larger questions of the significance and meaning of Christ's birth, and the mission to spread the good news to every corner of the globe. All the drama and intrigue of the brief description of Jesus's birth in the Bible is filled out in greater, more colorful detail, offering for the first time the complete story of these beloved characters.

About this edition

• Publisher: Bravo Ltd
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0061947032
• ISBN 13: 9780061947032
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 160