The Magi and Astrology in the Nativity Story

In this episode we discuss the story of the Magi, the birth of Jesus, and the astrology surrounding the Nativity story, with astrologers Reverend Lindsay Turner and Chris Brennan.

We explore the celebration of Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, and analyze the Gospel of Matthew's account of the astrologers from the East who followed a star to Bethlehem.

We discuss the distinction between approaching the Nativity as a historical event versus a literary narrative, and how the author of Matthew partially used the story of the Magi to legitimize Jesus as a king in the 1st century. We also look at technical astrological terms found in the Greek text, such as anatole or "at its rising," and how this relates to Hellenistic astrology.

We also talk about the relationship between early Christianity and astrology, including the non-canonical Acts of Paul and Thecla, the liturgical seasons aligning with the Zodiac, and how modern Christians can reconcile their faith with astrological practice.

This is episode 519 of The Astrology Podcast

Lindsay's Website

https://badpastor.me

Timestamps

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:34 Epiphany and Three Kings Day traditions
00:01:45 The Nativity story and the Star of Bethlehem
00:03:50 Historical vs. literary approaches to the Gospels
00:05:41 The Gospel of Matthew and Hebrew prophecy
00:08:05 Reading the Magi passage (Matthew 2:1-12)
00:10:52 Who were the Magi? Astrologers vs. Persian priests
00:12:00 The context of natal astrology in the 1st Century
00:13:30 The political subversion of the Nativity story
00:16:27 "At its rising" (Anatole) as a technical astrological term
00:18:23 Crossover between New Testament Greek and astrological texts
00:20:14 Theories on the Star: Comets, conjunctions, and novae
00:26:27 The solar eclipse at the crucifixion
00:31:00 Astrology used to legitimize Jesus in Matthew
00:33:30 Did the Magi renounce astrology?
00:36:51 The Manger nebula in the constellation Cancer
00:39:19 The Thema Mundi and the birth chart of the cosmos
00:41:05 The debate over the date of Jesus' birth
00:48:25 The Acts of Paul and Thecla and lost Christian texts
00:54:38 Mary Magdalene and the seven daimons
01:02:15 Fate, free will, and Stoicism in the ancient world
01:05:45 Early Christianity as social rebellion
01:09:30 Identity in Christ vs. astrological identity
01:15:33 Liturgical seasons and the Zodiac
01:17:28 Saturnalia, Sol Invictus, and the origins of Christmas
01:21:50 Stigma against astrology in the modern church
01:29:50 The shared origins of Christianity and Hellenistic astrology
01:32:00 Astrology as a bridge between science and religion
01:35:10 Lindsay’s upcoming book and contact info
01:36:35 Sponsors and credits