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"Epiphany," in the (1916) Catholic Encyclopedia:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05504c.htm
The Epiphany, from Exciting Holiness, Collects & Readings
for the Festivals & Lesser Festivals of the Calendar of the Church of
England:
http://www.oremus.org/liturgy/e-h/m01/d06.html
The Epiphany Season by Dennis Bratcher at the Christian Resource
Institute. Articles, liturgies, and other resources.
http://www.cresourcei.org/cyepiph.html
Inclusive Language Seekers Liturgies from Seekers Church:
"In the Shadow of God" (1999)
http://www.seekerschurch.org/liturgies/199901.htm
"In the World" (1998)
http://www.seekerschurch.org/liturgies/199801.htm
"The Appearance of God" (1997)
http://www.seekerschurch.org/liturgies/199701.htm
Highlights of Study Resources for Day of Epiphany, 2000:
Matthew 2:1-12
http://www.textweek.com/mtlk/matt2a.htm
The Wise Men and the Star of Christ, a multi-page
historical/theological site by Rev. Phil Greetham is at
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/p_greetham/wisemen/home.html
Herod the Great, basic background from Wayne Blank's Daily Bible
Study:
http://www.execulink.com/~wblank/herod.htm
"In 46 B.C.E. Julius [Caesar] had begun annual games dedicated to
Venus, whom the Julian family claimed as their ancestor. After the
death of Julius in March, 44, his adopted son Octavian staged the
annual weeklong games in July and dedicated them in honor of Julius
Caesar. A comet appeared 'about the eleventh hour' the day the games
began. In popular lore it was seen as Caesar's soul ascending to
heaven.
"On New Year's Day in 42 B.C.E., the Senate declared Julius Caesar to
be a god."
- Robert Funk (Editor), Jesus Seminar, The Acts of Jesus: The
Search for the Authentic Deeds of Jesus, p. 128
The conjunction was actually a very rare triple conjunction, where
Saturn and Jupiter appeared to do a cosmic waltz - approaching, almost
merging, then receding again. The first encounter was May 27, the
second September 15 (when the Earth, Saturn and Jupiter were almost
perfectly aligned - with Saturn rising in the east as the sun set in
the west) and the third on October 6.
"It was followed by a near-conjunction of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn in
September of 6 B.C.
- "Science Solves the Ancient Mysteries of the Bible", Popular
Science, December 96
"'In the east' is a mistranslation of en th anatolh which also means
'at first light of dawn' which, of course, comes from the east. If the
triple conjunction of 7/6 BCE was interpreted by the gospel writers as
the 'Star of Bethlehem,' it was indeed visible only at dawn and would
have been viewed in the constellation of pisces in the southern
sky....coincidentally over Bethlehem if one is traveling south from
Jerusalem."
- Jack Kilmon (CrossTalk)
"When the eastern ruler Tiradates, whom Pliny calls a 'magus,' came to
pay homage to Nero, 'He had brought magi with him.' Approaching the
Caesar, 'He knelt upon the ground, and with arms crossed called him
master and did obeisance,' writes Dio Cassius. In Matthew, when the
magi entered the presence of Jesus, they 'bowed to the ground in
homage to him' (Matt. 2:1 1). And not only Nero and Jesus received
such honors; Suetonius writes in his life of Augustus that when young
Octavius Caesar was born, 'Publius Nigidius Figulus the astrologer,
hearing at what hour the child had been delivered, cried out, "The
ruler of the world is now born." Everyone believes this tale.' In the
same section of this work, Suetonius adds that when Augustus entered
the house of Theogenes the astrologer, the man 'rose and flung himself
at his feet'.''
- Randal Helms, Gospel Fictions (1988) p. 55
"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come
out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel."
- Numbers 24:17a
"...the 'Star' prophecy finds its way into Christian tradition as the
' Star of Bethlehem' which heralds Jesus' birth."
- Baigent and Leigh, The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception
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Ephesians 3:1-12
http://www.textweek.com/pauline/eph3a.htm
"The Calling and Design of the Church: A Study in Ephesians," by
Lehman Strauss at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
http://www.bible.org/docs/nt/books/eph/design.htm
"...The household of God must be managed according to a particular
plan; therefore it was a high honor bestowed upon Paul when God
entrusted His plan to him..."
Isaiah 60:1-6
http://www.textweek.com/prophets/isaiah60.htm
A New Day Dawns: Verse Commentary on Isaiah 60:1-3, 15-22, Dennis
Bratcher, Christian Resource Institute.
http://www.cresourcei.org/isa60.html
"...These are feminine forms in Hebrew, as they are throughout the
chapter. We find out later in the chapter that the message is to the
city of Jerusalem (v.14). The poetic imagery personifies Jerusalem as
a beautiful woman (51:17-52:2). The historical background of this
passage concerns the restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem in the
time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Biblical writers often use "Jerusalem" and
"Zion" as poetic symbols for the entire people of God (Matthew
23:37)..."
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Further distribution of this e-mail message is encouraged.
Jenee
Jenee Woodard -- Jackson, Michigan
mailto:jeneewd@dmci.net
The Text This Week: http://www.textweek.com
"And the shock of walking out of the theater into
broad daylight can be terrifying!"
--Martin Scorsese