An appellation given among the Medes and Persians to a class of priests, wise men, philosophers, etc., who devoted themselves to the study of the moral and physical sciences, and particularly cultivated astrology and medicine. They alone performed the religious rites, and pretended to communicate to men secret things, future events, and the will of the gods. See MEDIA. As they thus acquired great honor and influence, they were introduced into the courts of kings and consulted on all occasions. They also accompanied the army in warlike expeditions; and so much importance was attached to their advice and opinions, that nothing was attempted without their approbation. A similar class of men existed in Babylon, Egypt, Arabia, etc. The book of Daniel shows in what high estimation they were held in Babylon, Daniel was appointed master of the wise men; but their jealousy of his wisdom and their hatred of his religion, as well as the terms in which they are spoken of in Isaiah 47:13,14 Daniel 2:9,27, show that as a class they were destitute of true wisdom.

Not so those who came "from the East" to salute and adore the infant Jesus, Matthew 2:1-12. The captivity of the Jews beyond the Euphrates had dispersed throughout the East much knowledge of the true God; and these philosophers and astronomers, in their search after wisdom, had found and believed the prophecies respecting the Messiah, and were divinely guided to his presence at Bethlehem. See STAR. In them, the science and philosophy of the heathen world laid their homage at the feet of Christ. Compare Psalm 72:10,11 Isaiah 60:1-3.

Eastern Wise-Men, or Magi, visit Jesus, the New-Born King.
... Part First. The Period of Christ's Life Prior to His Ministry. XIII. Eastern
Wise-Men, or Magi, Visit Jesus, the New-Born King. (Jerusalem and Bethlehem, bc4.) ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xiii eastern wise-men or magi.htm

The Wise Men and the Shepherds
... Matthew says that the wise men of the time were the first to appreciate the coming
of Christ. ... Many people now write as if religion were for the magi only. ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/xxix the wise men and.htm

The Longing of the Heathen for a Saviour. --The Star of the Wise ...
... The Magi studied astrology, and in their study found a sign of Christ. ... [57] In the
case of the wise men, a real truth, perhaps, lay at the bottom of the error ...
/.../section 19 the longing of.htm

"We have Seen his Star"
... They themselves might have found Jesus, and might have been ready to lead the magi
to His birthplace; but instead of this, the wise men came to call their ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 6 we have seen.htm

Whether those to whom Christ's Birth was Made Known were Suitably ...
... also another point of contrast: for the Magi were wise and powerful ... as Simeon and
Anna; and to sinners, as the Magi. He was made known both to men, and to women ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether those to whom christs.htm

Following the Star.
... These wise men were called Magi. They had heard that a great One would be born
about this time, and that He would be the King of the Jews. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter ii following the star.htm

The First-Fruits of the Gentiles
... It is futile to attempt to determine the nationality of the wise men. Possibly they
were Persian magi, whose astronomy was half astrology and wholly observation ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the first-fruits of the gentiles.htm

An Examination of the Question as to How it was Possible for them ...
... considerations unspecified, I simply venture on the assertion that, when the wise
men failed to ... note on the relative position of the visit of the Magi and the ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xi an examination of the.htm

The Greek Philosophy in Great Part Derived from the Barbarians.
... These are the times of the oldest wise men and philosophers among the Greeks. ... He
held converse with the chief of the Chaldeans and the Magi; and he gave a hint ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xv the greek philosophy in.htm

The visit and Homage of the Magi, and the Flight into Egypt
... It could not be, that these Magi should become the innocent instruments of Herod's ...
Warned of God in a dream, the wise men' returned into their own country ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter viii the visit and.htm