Did the Star of Bethlehem really exist? at Fiona Veitch Smith

Star of Wonder?

Did the Star of Bethlehem actually exist? I will look at various theories surrounding the Star of Bethlehem and ask a leading astronomer from Durham University for his views.

Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.
(Matt 1:2)

Ever since Matthew the Apostle penned these words in the decades following Jesus’ death, the search has been on to link the Star to an actual astronomical event, even though only one of the Gospels even mentions it.

Evidence of the Magi

The Magi (or the Wise Men) were possibly astrologers from the region around present-day Baghdad or ancient Babylon. It’s unclear how many of them there were, as the mythical ‘three’ is related to the story that three gifts were given to the Christ Child – frankincense, gold and myrrh. In ancient times astrologers and astronomers were one and the same thing. It was widely believed that celestial bodies had both an influence on earthly matters and also foretold significant upcoming events – particularly relating to the lives of kings and rulers. As such, Magi were often in the employ of wealthy and influential potentates, keen to know whether the gods were smiling on them or not.

The Magi would have been tracking developments in the night sky as a matter of course, and anything unusual would have caught their attention. So when a ‘new star’ was spotted, it was an easy step to link it to the birth of a new king. But why a King of the Jews? One theory is that the star was spotted in the constellation of Pisces, which was believed to have particular astrological significance for the nation of Israel.

So the Magi would have packed their camels (or more likely, their servants would have done it for them), and they would have followed the projected trajectory of the star. This, with the astrological association of Israel, may have led them to Herod’s palace in Jerusalem – what better place to look for a new king? Despite what the song says, it’s highly unlikely that it would have literally hovered over a Bethlehem stable. That of course, is if it was an actual physical phenomenon.

Evidence of modern astronomy

Developments in modern astronomy now allow scientists to map the night sky over Judea around the beginning of the First Century with great accuracy, and yet scientists are still divided as to whether or not the Star of Bethlehem actually existed.

One of these is Professor Richard Stephenson from Durham University, a Christian, and a leading academic in the field of applied historical astronomy. In his work, Professor Stephenson uses the early astronomical records compiled by the stargazers from the ancient world and applies them to modern science. He has written computer programmes that can map ancient astronomical occurrences with surprising accuracy. His main field of enquiry is into eclipses and supernovae and he has some very interesting theories about the eclipse that might have taken place at Jesus’ crucifixion. He has also done some research into the Bethlehem Star.

The evidence investigated

Investigation into the Star is nothing new. The Christian theologian Ignatius (Bishop of Antioch in the early 2nd Century) speculated that it might have been something akin to a comet. In 1285 in the Annals of the Abbey of Worcester it is suggested that the star effect may have been caused by the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. A similar theory was presented in 1604 by one of the fathers of modern astronomy, Johannes Kepler. After noticing a brilliant new star close to a conjunction of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, Kepler calculated that a similar conjunction appeared in 7BC; thus, he suggested, the Bethlehem Star might have been something similar.

In modern times, the most prolific writer on the Star is David Hughes of the University of Sheffield (author of ‘The Star of Bethlehem Mystery’). Hughes, and those who agree with him, follow Kepler’s line that it may indeed have been a planetary conjunction. A planetary conjunction takes place when two or more stars ‘line up’ and appear more spectacular than usual. In this case, Jupiter and Saturn.

‘This is just one of many theories,’ says Professor Stephenson.

The bottom line is that there are a number of potential candidates or it may have been none. But the evidence does not seem to back up the planetary conjunction theory. Records show that a conjunction did take place late in 7BC, but Jupiter and Saturn were not particularly close together – only twice the moon’s diameter – so this would hardly have been a very spectacular event.

An eclipse of the planet Jupiter by the moon in 6BC has also been put forward, but as this would not have been visible in either Jerusalem or Babylon it could scarcely be described as a significant event.

Some years ago Professor Stephenson and fellow academics David Clark and John Parkinson, presented a theory that the Star of Bethlehem may have been a nova (the spontaneous explosion of a star) that appeared in 5BC (Quarterly Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society, 1977).

Date of Jesus’ birth disputed

One of the problems in finding a suitable candidate for the Star is that the actual date of Jesus’ birth has long been in dispute. However, it is now widely accepted that King Herod died around the spring of 4BC as historical records mention his death coinciding with a lunar eclipse that modern research has confirmed took place at this time. As King Herod was alive when the Magi came looking for the Christ Child, the Star, if it existed, needed to have appeared before then.

Professor Stephenson and his colleagues searched the historical records around this period and discovered that Chinese astrologers noticed a ‘broom star’ that was visible for 70 days in 5BC. A ‘broom star’ usually referred to a comet, but, as no tail was noted, and the star did not appear to move, Professor Stephenson and his colleagues theorised that this could have been a nova that was also visible from Judea.

Contrary evidence

However, in recent years, Professor Stephenson has revised his theory. He finds it strange that the account in Matthew’s Gospel suggests that the ‘new star’ had not been observed by Herod’s court (which like any other court of the time would have been teeming with astrologers), and, of course, that the other gospel writers don’t even mention it.

The question of how a mundane event such as a planetary conjunction or comet could possibly lead a group of ancient Magi to Bethlehem precisely at the right time to see the infant Saviour has never been satisfactorily addressed. None of the theories appear to be adequate. No known astronomical phenomenon could possibly move in the way described by St Matthew – first seen in the east, then evidently disappearing for a while and finally stopping directly overhead. In particular, no planet can ever pass directly overhead at the latitude of Bethlehem,

Professor Stephenson concludes.

So is it just a fable?

So if no astronomical evidence supports a physical star, does this mean it’s a Christian fable, reinforced year after year through songs and Christmas stories? Not necessarily, Professor Stephenson believes.

The Star of Bethlehem appears to have been seen only by the Magi. Perhaps the star represented a vision sent by God for them alone. I feel that today some investigators of the Star seem in danger of placing too much emphasis on pure astronomy – showing skill in the use of computer techniques – but ignoring the Divine aspect.

Does science contradict faith?

This seems an unusual view, coming from a leading scientist. But Richard Stephenson is first and foremost a committed Christian, and he sees no contradiction between faith and science:

Are we not simply being naïve trying to find a scientific explanation for what might have been an act of God? There are limitations to science – we could very easily be wrong.

This alarms me, trying to support Biblical texts with spurious scientific arguments. We don’t need to prove it; we need to accept that our knowledge is finite. It’s not for the pot to argue with the potter as to how he was made.

God has given us an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Scientists should try to be aware that we are discovering more of God’s world, by His grace. God should always be at the centre of any scientific investigation, but we should beware of forcing the facts to fit our beliefs.

So the jury is still out on the nature of the Star that will inevitably adorn millions of Christmas cards this season.

Fiona Veitch Smith