Mystery of the Magi - Father Dwight Longenecker - The Quest to Identify the Three Wise Men

Mystery of the Magi

The Quest to Identify the Three Wise Men

Father Dwight Longenecker

Regnery History

ISBN 9781621576297

eISBN 9781621576563

ASIN B06XZF7D4X

 

I have followed Father Longenecker on social media since I started blogging 15 years ago. I have picked up a few books that he has written, and a few that he has contributed to. I became aware of this volume after reading From Afar by Roger Thomas. And though that volume is fiction and this one non-fiction they are great compliments to each other. I picked this book up based on the title and author. I did not even read the description. When I started reading I thought ‘wow this is some great history and research’ and then I realized the whole book is history. It was an absolutely fascinating book to read. Once I got going, I could hardly put it down. I read it over 4 days because things were busy at work. And now a week later I am still thinking about it often. The chapters in the volume are:

Introduction

The Three Wise Men: Facts or Fairy Tale?

Is the Bible True?

Matthew: Man of History

Fantastic Flights of Fantasy

Sages and Stargazers

The Riddle of the Nabateans

The Middle Eastern Melting Pot

Prophecies or Predictions?

The Herod Connection

The Three Treasures

The Star of Bethlehem

Wise Men from the East

What Happened to the Wise Men?

Conclusion

Why Does It Matter?

Acknowledgments

Bibliography

Notes

This is one of those books that I was blessed to have read. And one that I cannot stop talking about. I have recommended it to about 2 dozen people through email, live chats, or calls. And if it were not 2020, and I wasn’t working from home that number would be tripled. 

The book examines prejudices on both sides of the field. And then goes into a deep dive on historical sources, pilling the threads and string until a tapestry is revealed that leads to only one real possible conclusion of who the Magi really were. 

This book is a mix of theology, history, archeology, and to be honest pure genius. This volume would be an excellent read during Advent over Christmastide, or to be honest at any time. I read it just before Advent and it has really help set the tone going into that season this year for me. There was not anything to non like in this volume. The information is presented in an engaging manner. It goes deep into the history and politics of the region and time. This book will help you see the Magi in a new light, and you will likely consider them in a new way going forward. 

Another great aspect of this work is the examination of different theories regarding the star of Bethlehem. Longenecker presents a number of theories that might account for these events. And he presents both pros and cons of the theories. 

This book is masterfully researched. It was written as part of a personal quest to understand, and to know. Longenecker really wanted to know and he dug and dug until he found what might have been. Stripping away the fantastical latter addons to the story and looking at the account from Matthew and using it as a basis for the research he has written a book that is both well researched and easily accessible. It is a volume that high school students could engage with. And the older you are and more you have read the deeper you will be able to go with this material.

This is an excellent read. And one I am certain will bless any reader. I would encourage you to give this a read and see where it leads you.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2020 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Father Longenecker:
A Sudden Certainty: Priest Poems 
Adventures in Orthodoxy 
An Answer Not An Argument: Essays on Apologetics 
Catholicism Pure and Simple 
Challenging Catholics: A Catholic Evangelical Dialogue 
Christianity Pure and Simple 
How to be an Ordinary Hero 
Immortal Combat 
Is Anybody There?: The Question of God 
Letters on Liturgy 
Listen My Son: St. Benedict for Fathers 
Mary: A Catholic-Evangelical Debate 
More Christianity: Finding the Fullness of the Faith 
Mystery of the Magi 
Our Lady?: A Catholic-Evangelical Debate 
Praying the Rosary for Inner Healing 

Praying the Rosary for Inner Healing: Second Edition 
Praying the Rosary for Spiritual Warfare 
Saint Benedict for Busy Parents 
Slubgrip Instructs 
St. Benedict and St. Therese: The Little Rule & the Little Way 
The Gargoyle Code 
The Great Battle: Living by Faith 
The Path to Rome 
The Quest for the Creed 
The Romance of Religion 
The Vicar of Great Snoring 
Why Do You Believe That?: A Protestant-Catholic Conversation 
…