Mystery of the Magi
The Quest to Identify the Three Wise Men
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Narrated by:
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Stephen McLaughlin
About this listen
The Magi of nativity scenes are romanticized as well-dressed wisemen bringing gifts to Jesus. Traditional Chrstians tell of a miraculous star that guided exotic kings from Persia, India, and Africa. Academics dismiss both accounts as no more than a pious legend.
Who is right?
In The Mystery of the Magi, Dwight Longenecker shows that all sides are wrong and the Magi were diplomats from Petra, the capital of the Nabatean kingdom of Arabia. Weaving together the history, politics, and religion of first century Palestine, Longenecker makes his case with archeological evidence, modern technology, ancient texts, and a startling new discovery by a Spanish archeo-astronomer. Longenecker's re-assessment of the Magi tradition overturns established understandings of the New Testament and revolutionizes our reading of the Bible, and the implications demand a fresh examination of the historical roots of Christianity.
©2017 Dwight Longenecker (P)2017 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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19th Century Scholarship
- By Marianne on 10-16-18
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The World's Greatest Book
- The Story of How the Bible Came to Be
- By: Lawrence H. Schiffman Ph.D., Jerry Pattengale Ph.D.
- Narrated by: George W. Sarris
- Length: 7 hrs
- Unabridged
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From the earliest oral traditions to ink on parchment and ultimately the printing press, this is the story behind the best-selling book of all time. Original texts were captured and passed down from generation to generation by elders and leaders, many inked by hand in extreme conditions. Christians and Jews canonized the Christian, Catholic, and Hebrew Bibles over a period of thousands of years. Devoted people dedicated their lives throughout time to put this unique book into the hands of people worldwide.
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Couple of errors.
- By Simandl on 12-13-17
By: Lawrence H. Schiffman Ph.D., and others
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How God Became God
- What Scholars Are Really Saying About God and the Bible
- By: Richard M. Smoley
- Narrated by: Richard M. Smoley
- Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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This epic, thrilling journey through Bible scholarship and ancient religion shows how much of Scripture is historically false - yet the ancient writings also resound with theologies that crisscrossed the primeval world and that direct us today toward a deep, authentic inner experience of the truly sacred.
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Just Okay.
- By Thom on 10-28-21
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Truth and Fiction in The Da Vinci Code
- By: Bart D. Ehrman
- Narrated by: Bart D. Ehrman
- Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Dan Brown's immensely popular New York Times best-selling The Da Vinci Code is one of the most successful books of recent history. It has captivated millions the world over with its enthralling suspense and its provocative questions about the true nature of Jesus' life.
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A historian's approach to the Da Vinci code
- By John Mertus on 01-23-05
By: Bart D. Ehrman
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When God Spoke Greek
- The Septuagint and the Making of the Christian Bible
- By: Timothy Michael Law
- Narrated by: Stephen McLaughlin
- Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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The Septuagint, the name given to the translation of the Hebrew scriptures between the third century BC and the second century AD, played a central role in the Bible's history. Many of the Hebrew scriptures were still evolving when they were translated into Greek, and these Greek translations, along with several new Greek writings, became Holy Scripture in the early Church. Yet gradually the Septuagint lost its place at the heart of Western Christianity.
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A popular & much-needed intro to the Septuagint
- By Jacobus on 06-14-14
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Odin: The Origins, History and Evolution of the Norse God
- By: Jesse Harasta, Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Anthony R. Schlotzhauer
- Length: 1 hr and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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A one-eyed old man, with a gray cloak and a wide-brimmed hat leaning on a staff. A wanderer who appears when least expected, bringing triumph or doom. The god of prophecy, poetry and fate. A shape changer. A sorcerer. The god Odin cuts a dramatic figure in Norse mythology and is still a part of the popular imagination. He is the inspiration for figures like J.R.R. Tolkien's Gandalf the Grey, and he still appears in modern literature as varied as Marvel Comics and Neil Gaiman's novel American Gods.
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Not what I expected but enjoyable nontheless
- By Goose on 07-13-15
By: Jesse Harasta, and others
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Don't Know Much about the Bible
- Everything You Need to Know About the Good Book but Never Learned
- By: Kenneth C. Davis
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey, Lorna Raver
- Length: 16 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Bringing to life the world of the Old and New Testaments, the acclaimed creator of the bestselling Don’t Know Much About® series transforms dry, difficult reading into colorful and realistic accounts. Relying on new research and improved translations, Kenneth C. Davis uncovers some amazing questions and contradictions about what the Bible really says: Jericho’s walls may have tumbled down because the city lies on a fault line; Moses never parted the Red Sea; There was a Jesus, but he wasn’t born on Christmas and he probably wasn't an only child....
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decent survey of the topic
- By bookouri on 02-02-14
By: Kenneth C. Davis
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When Christians Were Jews
- The First Generation
- By: Paula Fredriksen
- Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies
- Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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In this electrifying social and intellectual history, Paula Fredriksen answers the question of how Jewish missionaries ended up inaugurating a movement that would grow into the gentile church by reconstructing the life of the earliest Jerusalem community. As her account arcs from this group’s hopeful celebration of Passover with Jesus, through their bitter controversies that fragmented the movement’s midcentury missions, to the city’s fiery end in the Roman destruction of Jerusalem, she brings this vibrant apostolic community to life.
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nothing to see here, nothing to read here
- By Anonymous User on 12-10-18
By: Paula Fredriksen
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Did Jesus Exist?
- The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth
- By: Bart D. Ehrman
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Large numbers of atheists, humanists, and conspiracy theorists are raising one of the most pressing questions in the history of religion: "Did Jesus exist at all?" Was he invented out of whole cloth for nefarious purposes by those seeking to control the masses? Or was Jesus such a shadowy figure - far removed from any credible historical evidence - that he bears no meaningful resemblance to the person described in the Bible?
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Vintage Ehrman
- By Jacobus on 07-17-12
By: Bart D. Ehrman
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The Rise and Fall of Alexandria
- Birthplace of the Modern Mind
- By: Justin Pollard, Howard Reid
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 11 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Founded by Alexander the Great and built by self-styled Greek pharaohs, the city of Alexandria at its height dwarfed both Athens and Rome. It was the marvel of its age, legendary for its vast palaces, safe harbors, and magnificent lighthouse. But it was most famous for the astonishing intellectual efflorescence it fostered and the library it produced. If the European Renaissance was the "rebirth" of Western culture, then Alexandria, Egypt, was its birthplace.
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A good listen
- By Jeffrey on 10-02-08
By: Justin Pollard, and others
What listeners say about Mystery of the Magi
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- Jessica McKinney
- 11-18-17
Longenecker hits it out of the park!
The author takes you on a journey in the style of a detective proving his case. The details and information he pieces together, based on a story that hold a few verses in the Bible, is astounding. The narrator has a cadence that takes a minute to get used to. But before the first chapter is over, you’re thankful for his narration.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Lisa Mcknett
- 01-05-23
the best of my list
good read I read it twice and will take notes and read it again. Full of references and good theories.
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- Donna B
- 12-12-20
Remarkable
I enjoyed the depth of this book. From time to time I choose books I expect to represent an opposing philosophy in order to flesh out my own ideas or understand others better. Last few years I have listened to a few books and lectures on Christianity- finding I prefer Catholic historians and thinkers. I thought a book about believing in the Magi an amusing distraction from the my other struggles with faith. I was curious what a priest would write about the Magi and was willing to be amused by it. I had no idea such a rich history existed. I am impressed and interested to hear more about early Church history. Lack of reality on the civilization the New Testament was forged in seems to be be the exact void I suffer from. I learned a great deal. I am amazed at how much I loved this book. I completely agree with the author on his summation on why a book on the Magi matters. Tky for the time you took to write it. Enjoy your blog as well.
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- Pastor Ryan
- 08-06-18
A Fascinating Deep Dive into the Story of the Magi
This is a thoughtful exploration of the Bible's tradition of the Magi who visited the young child Jesus. Longenecker begins by deconstructing the common story of the "We Three Kings" from the Christmas carol and offers instead a thesis that locates the Magi in a neighboring kingdom. His evidence is by no means definitive, but he makes a compelling circumstantial case. I read the book as part of my Advent preparation and reflection and my only complaint is that the book lacked a profound "a ha" at the end. I left with some fantastic cultural context and a viable historical proposal, but it didn't rock my world. With all that said, I enjoyed the book thoroughly.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Kathy
- 02-20-21
Mystery and History
A great read! Very interesting ancient middle eastern history lesson and some fascinating exploration of possible explanation for the Magi and the star. Narrator was good, but mispronounced words and names that are commonly known.
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- Caitlin
- 01-06-20
5 stars!
As I have been digging into the Christmas story more deeply, I looked into the theology, history, and theories of the magi, the star, and King Herod. This books presents some intelligent questions, unique angles, and well thought out points along with a blend of Christian perspectives and historical facts that make for an interesting read. I really loved it.
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- S. O.
- 09-25-24
Riveting and well researched
Really enjoyed this new perspective on the story of the Magi. It’s grounded in history, scholarly rigor, and is well researched.
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- Patti S
- 11-15-20
Makes so much sense!
I loved it and will recommend it to anyone! Well done, Father Longenecker! Well done!
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- Customer Anon
- 12-28-17
very plausible historical explanation of the Magi
main theme of Magi as historical Nabateans highly plausible, though some of the side points seem a little odd.
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- Assad M. Saif
- 12-22-22
Loved this author’s take…
It’s easy to accept everything here in mainstream, culture and harder to work through the different literature surrounding ancient stories like the magi. This was a great one!
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