Zoroastrian Interpretations
Some scholars have suggested that the Magi were Zoroastrian priests, drawing on Persian religious traditions. Gerardo Novioli and Giuseppe Messina advanced the argument that the Zoroastrian doctrine of a future savior (Saushyant) influenced the story of the Magi. Messina cited sources such as the prophet Hystaspes and later Christian and Arabic texts to support the idea that Zoroastrian expectations shaped Matthew’s narrative.
However, this view has been widely criticized. The concept of salvation in Zoroastrianism differs significantly from Christian theology, and there is little evidence that Matthew consciously incorporated Zoroastrian doctrine. While some early Church Fathers, including Clement of Alexandria, speculated about the Magi’s Persian origins, most modern scholars consider them to have been astrologers from Mesopotamia rather than religious fanatics or political dissidents.
Astrological Context
In the ancient world, astrology and astronomy were closely linked. Babylonian and Mesopotamian scholars were renowned for their study of the heavens. Origen, Jerome, and Augustine accepted the idea that the Magi were astrologers who interpreted celestial signs as indicators of significant earthly events.
