Quote:
Originally Posted by clf
wonder no more ............ it was a star. Cant remember if it was the Polestar or not, but there have been astroloical studies done to explain the story in the bible. Accounting for the time differences due to the various calendars and change in numbers of months, star patterns were studied and it was shown to be a celestial body. Hearing voices is another story, but it is believed now that the so called three wise men were unlikely to have traveled together.
Some have even suggested a low asteroid with its roar explaining the noise - as for voices, poetic licence as much of the bible is. Parables told to make it easy for those of low education to understand, for an early form of law.
She lied. Many reasons can explain a reason for lying. One being rape and the so called 'honour' attached to chaste, with the victim being blamed and stoned, as it was in Old Testament, and other scriptures of the various deities of the time (as in their laws).
he lied too, married at that time and not consummated the marriage is highly unlikely.
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Gabriel being a star is not likely if he was standing in a room telling Mary and Joseph whats happening. The star that the wise men followed has been extensively examined together with Roman and Jewish records that are available still. One investigation that appears to me to be reasonable is that Jesus was born in September a few years earlier than thought. There was no
census in the year that they were supposed to have traveled to Bethlehem but there was a few years earlier. Without getting out all of my books to look up the actual dates I cannot be certain, but think about 6 years earlier. Astronomers have worked out that at this time Haley's Comet was in the area and so was the possible "star" that was travelling across the sky showing the way. At the time Wise Men were thought to be astronomers and or astrologers.
With regard to Joseph and Mary being married at the time of the birth they may have been, but at the time of conception may well not have been. The practice at the time was the couple would be betrothed or engaged as we may say for a year before actual marriage. They would during this time live partially as a couple but under law not allowed to consummate the relationship. It was under this period Mary became pregnant. Now you may make your own mind up on what happened. I know my Sunday school teacher who was a grey haired old lady in the 1950s suggested a bit of hanky panky. But this is really down to each individuals personal faith.
As an aside it is thought from the information available that Mary was about 12 and Joseph in his mid 40's, so by then an old man but again a very common thing at this time.