Tomie dePaola’s “gorgeous…sumptuous” (Horn Book Magazine) retelling of the story of the three wise kings is perfect for sharing with little ones during the Christmas season! Three wise men of the East, having seen a new star symbolizing the birth of a great king, follow the star to Bethlehem where they present gifts to the newborn Jesus. This beautiful rendition of the well-known tale is sure to delight young readers.

"The perfect Christmas gift for anyone interested in the historical background behind the birth of Jesus of Nazareth." — Robert J. Hutchinson, author of The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Bible, The Dawn of Christianity, and Searching for Jesus. "Utterly refreshing and encouraging." — Eric Metaxas, New York Times bestselling author of Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy and Martin Luther "The best book I know about the Magi." — Sir Colin John Humphreys, Ph.D., author of The Mystery of the Last Supper Modern biblical scholars tend to dismiss the Christmas story of the “wise men from the East” as pious legend. Matthew’s gospel offers few details, but imaginative Christians filled out the story early on, giving us the three kings guided by a magical star who join the adoring shepherds in every Christmas crèche. For many scholars, then, there is no reason to take the gospel story seriously. But are they right? Are the wise men no more than a poetic fancy? In an astonishing feat of detective work, Dwight Longenecker makes a powerful case that the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem really happened. Piecing together the evidence from biblical studies, history, archeology, and astronomy, he goes further, uncovering where they came from, why they came, and what might have happened to them after eluding the murderous King Herod. In the process, he provides a new and fascinating view of the time and place in which Jesus Christ chose to enter the world. The evidence is clear and compelling. The mysterious Magi from the East were in all likelihood astrologers and counselors from the court of the Nabatean king at Petra, where the Hebrew messianic prophecies were well known. The “star” that inspired their journey was a particular planetary alignment—confirmed by computer models—that in the astrological lore of the time portended the birth of a Jewish king. The visitors whose arrival troubled Herod “and all Jerusalem with him” may not have been the turbaned oriental kings of the Christmas carol, but they were real, and by demonstrating that the wise men were no fairy tale, Mystery of the Magi demands a new level of respect for the historical claims of the gospel.

The publication of the King James version of the Bible, translated between 1603 and 1611, coincided with an extraordinary flowering of English literature and is universally acknowledged as the greatest influence on English-language literature in history. Now, world-class literary writers introduce the book of the King James Bible in a series of beautifully designed, small-format volumes. The introducers' passionate, provocative, and personal engagements with the spirituality and the language of the text make the Bible come alive as a stunning work of literature and remind us of its overwhelming contemporary relevance.

Each Christmas, adults and children alike delight at the story of the kings from the East who followed the star to Bethlehem to offer gifts to the newborn Christ. While this familiar tale is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, another little-known version later emerged that claimed to be the eyewitness account of the wise men. This ancient manuscript has lain hidden for centuries in the vaults of the Vatican Library, but through the determined persistence of a young scholar, Brent Landau, this astonishing discovery has been translated into English for the very first time as the Revelation of the Magi. Everything we know about the wise men is based on only a few verses from the Bible. With the Revelation of the Magi, we can now read the story from the Magi's perspective. Readers will learn of the Magi's prophecies of God's incarnation from the beginning of time, their startling visitation in the form of a star, the teachings they receive from the baby Jesus, and the wise men's joyous return to their homeland to spread the good news. This ancient version of the Christmas story is guaranteed to astonish and delight. It will also raise larger questions of the significance and meaning of Christ's birth, and the mission to spread the good news to every corner of the globe. All the drama and intrigue of the brief description of Jesus's birth in the Bible is filled out in greater, more colorful detail, offering for the first time the complete story of these beloved characters.

Through gentle verse and rich illustrations, children hear an accurate portrayal of the Magi, dispelling misunderstandings that put three Wise Men at Jesuss birthplace.

Learn all about the Wise Men's journey to Bethlehem in this new board book, perfect for little ones curious about the story behind their Nativity set. From Patricia A. Pingry, the best-selling author of The Story of Christmas, comes a biblically faithful retelling of the journey of the wise men. This little board book begins with the appearance of the star in the sky on the night of Jesus's birth; follows the wise men's long journey to Bethlehem, including their visit with King Herod; and culminates with the wise men presenting gifts to Jesus as he sits on his mother's lap. With simple vocabulary and fresh, contemporary illustrations, this book will make the perfect addition to the beloved The Story of . . . series. With simple vocabulary and fresh, contemporary illustrations, this book will make the perfect addition to the beloved The Story of . . . series.

Christmas is a time of celebration, rich with ritual and detail. But more than just a season for angels and wrapping paper, Christmas has its own heritage which intersects in fascinating ways with human history and human beliefs, behaviors, and experiences. In this book of fifty Christmas questions, Joseph Walsh gives us the details behind Christmas traditions, such as Santa's origin and appearance, the story of Rudolph, holiday decorations and greenery, the nativity, Christmas tales, celebrations and rituals, gift-giving, and card-sending. He links contemporary practices and historical tradition, explaining why, for instance, we kiss under the mistletoe, and describing the time when Christmas was responsible for a truce in World War I. In this illustrated book, readers will find answers to questions they've often asked and some they've never thought about.

Presents a family guide to the Bible that, told through historic art and artifacts, tells the stories of biblical characters and highlights their greater meaning for mankind.

The NIV is the world's best-selling modern translation, with over 150 million copies in print since its first full publication in 1978. This highly accurate and smooth-reading version of the Bible in modern English has the largest library of printed and electronic support material of any modern translation.

One evening long ago, three women in three very different corners of the world are struck by the light of a bright new rising star, and each feels compelled to follow it. The three women meet on a path of starlight, and together they walk through the hills to a small thatched stable, where a baby lies in a makeshift crib, surrounded by expensive gifts. The women have nothing to give except gifts from the heart. Mary Hoffman?s beautiful story, enhanced by Lynne Russell?s glowing artwork, gently reminds all readers of the contributions women have made to Christianity.