The Other Side of the Handbill

THE following experience was related by a woman witness of Jehovah at a circuit assembly in Illinois: “I was born into a Catholic family and had gone to several churches when, finally, I decided not to go to any of them as there was ‘something lacking.’ Several years ago I returned home from work one day to find a handbill advertising a public lecture of Jehovah’s witnesses. I was not impressed with the title of the lecture, nor the name Jehovah’s witnesses, as I never heard of them before; in fact, I did not even know who Jehovah was! But the message on the other side of the handbill asked the question, ‘How Well Do You Know Your Bible?’ This impressed me.

“I always wanted to know the Bible, so I wrote out a check and sent for the New World Translation before making supper and went to the corner to mail it. After I received the Bible, a Witness called on me one Saturday morning. During our conversation I recognized she knew something about the Bible. I mentioned that I wished I knew the Bible, and a study was started immediately. After she left, my husband threw up his hands and said, ‘Don’t get me mixed up with these people!’ Not knowing anything about ‘these people,’ I read the book ‘Let God Be True’ almost in its entirety that night. In the morning I mentioned to him that this was the only book on religion I had ever read that made sense. It was not long afterward that he joined our Bible study.

“In the meantime my mother passed away. My sister called and said, ‘Don’t study anymore with these people. With mother’s death and your studying the Bible, you are so confused. I’m coming over to straighten you out and comfort you.’ That evening I placed the book ‘Let God Be True’ with her and started a study the following week, which continued until we were both dedicated to Jehovah and baptized on the same day. My husband, who did not want anything to do with ‘these people,’ was baptized fifteen months later. I thank Jehovah God for sending someone to spread the Word of life—and I thank that someone who left a little handbill at our door when we were not at home.”

Questions From Readers

● Why does the New World Translation speak of the men who came from the East to view the child Jesus as astrologers? (Matt. 2:1) According to Strong’s dictionary of Greek words, the word here is magos and means ‘a Magian, i.e., Oriental scientist, by implication a magician, a sorcerer.’—R. A., United States.

Because magos means Magus or Magian, various Bible versions do have “Magi” in a marginal or footnote reading at Matthew 2:1, such as the Newberry Study Bible and the American Standard Version. On the other hand, some translations have the word “Magi” right in the text. Among such are Weymouth and the Catholic Confraternity. Now, who were these magi and for what were they renowned?

Many dictionaries speak of the magi as being a priestly caste of ancient Media and Persia. The Imperial Bible Dictionary gives considerable information about the background of the magi:

“According to Herodotus the magi were a tribe of the Medes, who professed to interpret dreams, and had the official charge of sacred rites; they were, in short, the learned and priestly class, and having, as was supposed, the skill of deriving from books and the observation of the stars a supernatural insight into coming events, they came to be possessed of great influence, and never failed to be consulted on all great occasions. Whether there was a native class among the Babylonians who practised the same learning and arts, or the Median tribe became naturalized also there, there can be no doubt that a class bearing the name of magi, and holding much the same position as among the Persians, existed in Babylon. Nay, so much did they appear to be at home there, that the word Chaldean came to be nearly synonymous with magus among the Greeks and Romans, and reference is also made in Scripture to the great account that was made among the Babylonians of that kind of mystic lore and assumed supernatural skill, for which the magi were renowned. Indeed, later investigations tend rather to make Babylon than Media and Persia the centre of full-blown magianism. ‘Originally, the Median priests were not called magi. . . . From the Chaldeans, however, they received the name of magi for their priestly caste, and it is thus we are to explain what Herodotus says of the magi being a Median tribe.’”

It is true that the word magos can mean “Oriental scientist,” but what kind of science was it for which the magi were famous? Was it science as it is understood today? Hardly. Rather, it appears to have been compounded largely of magic and astrology. The prophet Isaiah said concerning Babylon and its magi: “Stand still, now, with your spells and with the abundance of your sorceries, in which you have toiled from your youth; that perhaps you might be able to benefit, that perhaps you might strike people with awe. You have grown weary with the multitude of your counselors. Let them stand up, now, and save you, the worshipers of the heavens, the lookers at the stars, those giving out knowledge at the new moons concerning the things that will come upon you.”—Isa. 47:12, 13.

Rightly, then, the word magos at Matthew 2:1 was taken by the ancient readers of Matthew to refer to astrologers. Among them are Justin, Origen and Tertullian. Wrote Tertullian, for instance: “We know the mutual alliance of magic and astrology. The interpreters of the stars, then, were the first . . . to present Him [Jesus] ‘gifts.’” (The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. III, p. 65) The name “Magi” became current “as a generic term for astrologers in the East.”—The New Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia, Vol. 22, p. 8076.

So it is most likely that those particular “magi” or “wise men” of Matthew 2:1 were astrologers, for were they not being guided by lights in the sky, by what appeared to be a moving star? (Matt. 2:2) This is strong circumstantial evidence that these magi were astrologers. Thus The New Testament by Charles B. Williams reads “star-gazers,” at Matthew 2:1, with a footnote in explanation: “That is, students of stars in relation to events on earth.” Fittingly, then, not only the New World Translation, but also three other modern English translations, An American Translation, The New English Bible and The New Testament in Modern English by J. B. Phillips, all read, at Matthew 2:1, “astrologers.”

Announcements

FIELD MINISTRY

In their ministry during July Jehovah’s witnesses will continue to manifest faith, to the preserving alive of their souls and to the blessing of men of goodwill. To that end, they will joyfully embrace the opportunity of presenting everywhere the fine Bible study aids “Let Your Name Be Sanctified” and “Your Will Be Done on Earth,” with two booklets, on a contribution of $1.

ARE YOU SEEKING HAPPINESS?

Happiness is not the goal in life. It is the reward for right living. What are true Christian principles? Is just the “golden rule” necessary? If so, why was the rest of the Bible provided? Read the book “This Means Everlasting Life.” It could well be called a Christian’s guidebook to right living. That is because it is truly based on the Bible. Send 50c. Learn the way to genuine happiness.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS

August 18: Strength Imparted Through Encouragement. Page 424.

August 25: Giving Encouragement to Others. Page 430.