Publication

1997 - Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J, New Jersey

Language

English

Word Count

69,250 words, Guess

Page Count

277 pages

Identifiers

and 2 more
  • Goodreads732650
  • LibraryThing9755

Classifications

  • DDC232.92/3
  • LCCBT315.2 .T74 1997

Description

Matthew's Gospel reveals little about the three wealthy visitors said to have presented gifts to the infant Jesus. Yet hundreds of generations of Christians have embellished that image of the Three Kings or Magi for a myriad of social and political as well as spiritual purposes. Here Richard Trexler closely examines how this story has been interpreted and used throughout the centuries. Biblically, the Journey of the Magi presents a positive image of worldly power, depicting the faithful in progress toward their God and conveying the importance of the gift-giving laity as legitimators of their deity. With this in mind, Trexler explains in particular how Western societies have molded the story to describe and augment their own power - before the infant God and among themselves.

Subjects

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