Happy Epiphany!

Happy Epiphany!

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, January 6, 2026 (Donate)

Today is the Feast of Epiphany also known as the final day or the twelfth day of Christmas. After this holiday, the Christmas season officially comes to a close until the First Advent Sunday for the next Christmas season.

Celebrating Epiphany in the Victorian Era; Image requested by Bodie Hodge (ChatGPT)

From the First Advent Sunday, until Epiphany (January 6^th), it covers about month and a half! Easter holidays are the only rival in length with its Lenten season (40 days from Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday/Holy Thursday) as the countdown (like the Advent season). Though the Easter Holy Week starts with Palm Sunday and ends with Easter and Easter Monday—which is often taken as a legal holiday because Easter always falls on a Sunday.

Magi From The East

But Epiphany is in remembrance of the Wise Men who journeyed from the east to bring gifts to the newborn King. These Wise Men, often translated as Magi, would have been wise counsel for dignitaries. Though many nations of the past had Magi or Wise Men (e.g., Egypt, Assyria), the place most known for them was Babylon. It was here that Daniel saved them from destruction and became the head and greatest of their order.

It wasn’t that Daniel was a magician or anything like that, but by the power of God, Daniel did amazing things—interpreting dreams, the lion’s den, visions, and so much more. The Magi were likely from these same areas, which is east of Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

Some have pondered if Daniel had left some instructions that had been passed down through the ages to the these specific Magi who wisely put two and two together when the star appeared. Daniel discussed and prophesied about the coming Messiah. Interestingly, there were certain prophecies and information that God had Daniel seal up that was not to be recorded in the Scripture (e.g., Daniel 8:26, 12:4-9).

Why did the Magi know to bring the specific gifts they brought? One was indeed kingly—Gold. But the frankincense and myrrh were priestly and deathly/prophet-type gifts respectively. All were quite valuable of course. How did they know that the star they saw led to the Messiah? Numbers 24:27 give prophetic hints, but not enough information to know to go visit a newborn king!

Like Daniel, the Magi too were given a dream. They were warned about Herod and left via another route to return home (Matthew 2:12). The Wise Men’s connection to Daniel maybe more powerful than we realize. 

Timing

The Wise Men came later. What I mean by that is that they did not arrive on the night Jesus was born. The shepherds did, but not the Magi. They came later—at least 40 days later. Jesus was born and then was circumcised 8 days later by a Levite priest in keeping with the Law. Then after 40 days, Jesus is presented at the Temple and Mary and Joseph offer doves as sacrifices (which was the sacrifice of the poor). Anna and Simeon see the Christ child.

They return to Bethlehem. Then the Wise Men come. They present the gifts and leave, and then Mary, Joseph and Jesus flee to Egypt to escape Herod as Joseph was warned in a dream. Now Jesus' family have the funds (i.e., gold) to fund the trip. Remember, they just offered doves as a sacrifice of the poor. For more details and Bible references on the timeline see here.

This means that many nativity scenes are off. The Wise Men came later and…we don’t know how many there were! There could have been 2, 8 or even 15 and surely came with a caravan of servants and possibly soldiers! What we know is that there were 3 different types of gifts.

Nevertheless, Epiphany remains the capstone for the Twelve Days of Christmas. Traditionally, this is time of feasting with family and to exchange that final gift(s) of Christmas.

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Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist since 1998 helping out in various churches and running an apologetics website. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.  

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children. 

That Unique Christmas Star

That Unique Christmas Star

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, December 11, 2025 (Donate)

Introduction

It’s that time of year again when people start asking questions about the unique star that guided the wise men to Christ around 2000 years ago. The Star of Bethlehem was a real, historical, supernatural sign created by God and not an ordinary astronomical event. The star behaved in ways no natural celestial object can replicate, pointing to its miraculous uniqueness.

Real, but Not Natural

The Christmas Star described in Matthew 2 was a real phenomenon but not a normal astronomical object such as:

·        A conjunction or alignment of planets (such as Jupiter and Saturn)

·        A supernova or nova

·        A comet

·        A meteor

·        A regular star or wandering star

Natural celestial bodies cannot move in a purposeful way, guide travelers along a specific route, or stop directly over a single house as the text describes.

Image requested by Bodie Hodge (ChatGPT)

Matthew records that the star “went before” the Magi and then “stood over” the place where the young Child was, which means there was intentional movement and standing positions different from normal heavenly bodies that move as the earth rotates. The star first guided them from the East all the way to the Jerusalem area—and then shifted to a southern direction to lead the Magi from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. This cannot be explained by planetary motion.

Wise ancient astronomers and sky watchers, without today's light pollution and nightly distractions, were skilled enough to not have mistaken this for a routine planetary alignment. But they would see that something unique is definitely at hand. Natural objects follow predictable orbital paths and cannot behave in the uniquely directed manner that Matthew depicts of the Christmas Star.

Because of these factors, the star was a special, unique light or star provided by God. When looking back over the Scriptures, we read that God caused similar manifestations. Consider the pillar of fire and cloud that guided Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 13:21-22; Exodus 14:19-20) or other Old Testament instances where God’s glory appeared as a localized, brilliant light (1 Kings 8:10-11). Even in the New Testament Paul was surrounded by light at his conversion (Acts 22:6).

The star’s ability to guide the Magi step by step and pinpoint a specific home is like these earlier examples of the Shekinah glory (2 Chronicles 5:13-14). The use of the word “star” fits ancient terminology, which often referred to any bright light in the sky as a star, whether natural or supernatural (as well as meteors, comets, planets, etc.).

Night Sky Objects; Image requested by Bodie Hodge (ChatGPT)

Theological Knowledge

The Magi still needed divine revelation to understand its meaning though. God had to reveal that this sign announced the birth of the Messiah and that the Magi should travel to Judea to honor Him.

The Magi may have inherited knowledge of Messianic prophecy from Daniel’s earlier influence in Babylon since he was the legendary leader of them after he saved them from destruction. Recall that some of Daniel’s prophecies were sealed up. Were these Magi familiar with them as they were passed down? Possibly. Then there is the prophecy of the Star in the book of Numbers (Numbers 24:17; Matthew 2).

Conclusion

The Magi were truly wise men—even their gifts are of great significance—gold, frankincense and myrrh. God is a kingly gift, frankincense is a priestly gift (used in the Temple) and myrrh was medicinal and often used on bodies of the dead—which sadly, far too many prophets were put to death in Isreal. Thus, it was a fitting gift to representing the office of the prophets. Jesus fulfilled all three offices of Prophet, Priest, and King.

Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh; Image requested by Bodie Hodge (ChatGPT)

The Christmas Star was not a natural event like a planetary conjunction or comet. Instead, it was a supernatural, God-directed light—likely the Shekinah glory—that moved purposefully, guided the Magi tot eh exact place they needed to go—the Christ child.  

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Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist since 1998 helping out in various churches and running an apologetics website. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.  

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.