Opus imperfectum in Matthæum
fifth century CE
translated by Jason Colavito
2025
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NOTE |
The Revelation of the Magi is the name modern scholars have given to an apocryphal narrative about the Magi that was told sometime before the fifth century CE tracing their lineage to the sons of Seth and explaining how they came to look for the star that guided them to Bethlehem. The most complete version of the story exists in only one manuscript, an eighth century CE Syriac historical text known as the Zuqnin Chronicle. However, this text has only been published in Syriac, which I cannot read, and a single English translation, which remains under copyright. A summary of the story, attributed to a now-lost Book of Seth, also appeared three centuries earlier in the Opus imperfectum in Matthæum, a fifth century CE Christian commentary on the Book of Matthew, and that summary I translate below.
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From the Book of Seth
It has been told, says the Preacher, on the testimony of I know not what Scripture, which is not in truth authentic, but which delights the Faith, rather than destroys it, that on the shores of the Eastern Ocean a nation possessed a book that bears the name of Seth, in which it was spoken of the Star that was to appear to the Magi, and of the offerings which the Magi were to present to the Son of God. This nation, instructed by this Book, chose twelve of the most religious among them, and charged them with the care of watching for when the Star would appear. When one of them came to die, he was replaced by one of his sons, or by one of his relatives. These were called Magi in their language, because they served God in silence and in a low voice. These Magi would go up every year, after the wheat harvest, to a mountain which is in their country, which they call the Mount of Victory, and which is very pleasant because of the fountains that water it, and the trees that cover it. There is also a cave hollowed out of the rock; and it was there that, after washing and purifying themselves, they offered sacrifices and prayed to God in silence for three days.
They had not discontinued this pious practice for a great number of generations, when finally the awaited Star came down upon their mountain. They saw in it the figure of a little child, upon whom was the image of a Cross. It spoke to them, and told them to go to Judea, and that they would see there a child, the Star always going before them for two years along the road.
They had not discontinued this pious practice for a great number of generations, when finally the awaited Star came down upon their mountain. They saw in it the figure of a little child, upon whom was the image of a Cross. It spoke to them, and told them to go to Judea, and that they would see there a child, the Star always going before them for two years along the road.
