Does the Bible condemn astrology?
A Response To Does The Bible Condemn Astrology?
The SAB gives a listing of scriptures, some listed to condemn and others to approve of astrology. Leviticus 19:26 / Deuteronomy 18:10-12 / Isaiah 47:13-14 / Jeremiah 10:2 / Zephaniah 1:4-5 are rightfully given as scriptural condemnation of astrology.
This article will deal with the scriptures given in an incorrect attempt to show Biblical approval of astrology. The SAB first uses Genesis 1:14. This doesn't really require any scholarly approach to the Bible through linguistics or any other means; it only requires a little common sense. The verse is obviously referring to the practical use of the sun and moon as signs of night and day and of seasons, not of the mystical use for the purpose of ascertaining ones fortune and future. Astrology was often closely connected to the pagan gods, and the fact that God forbade such use makes this quite clear.
Judges 5:20 / Matthew 2:1-2 and Luke 21:25 will also be discussed.
Judges 5:20 has inspired a considerable amount of speculation; some view it as simply a poetic means of expressing some divine intervention, others see it as being a literal meteor shower while still others think it could have been astrological predictions from Sisera that proved false. The Bible doesn't specify but the first of these views is the most likely. However, since astrology is the foretelling of the future by means of the stars, and not a literal warfare involving the stars, Judges 5:20 can't logically be prescribed as a Biblical approval of astrology.
At Matthew 2:1-2 where the KJV uses "wise men" the Greek word majoi is used and is sometimes translated as Magi, Magians, astrologers, star gazers etc. The Imperial Bible-Dictionary (Vol. II, page 139 says: "According to Herodotus the magi were a tribe of the Medes, who professed to interpret dreams, and had the official charge of sacred rites . . . They were, in short, the learned and priestly class, and having, as was supposed, the skill of deriving from books and the observation of the stars a supernatural insight into coming events . . . Later investigations tend rather to make Babylon than Media and Persia the centre of full-blown magianism. 'Originally, the median priests were not called magi . . . From the Chaldeans, however, they received the name of magi for their priestly caste, and it is thus we are to explain what Herodotus says of the magi being a Median tribe' . . . (J.C. Muller in Herzog's Encl.)." - Edited by P. Fairbairn, London, 1874.
Justin Martyr, Origen, and Tertullian all thought of the magoi as astrologers. Now, to me, this has always been an intriguing demonstration of how modern day Christianity has so distorted the Bible's meaning in order to mix pagan teachings such as Christmas into their beliefs. Without straying too far from the subject let me just point out a few items of interest here and then explain why these verses do not support a Biblical approval of astrology, if you haven't already guessed.
First of all, Matthew uses the Greek word magoi, which is accurately translated as astrologers. Not Kings or anything that doesn't indicate astrologers. He doesn't specify the number of them so it can't be assumed that there were three. Jesus wasn't a baby in a manger at their arrival; he was now two years old and living in a house. (Matthew 2:11) The 'star' was only visible to the astrologers, and it didn't lead them directly to Jesus, but rather to Herod, who wanted Jesus dead. It was Satan's plan to lead these astrologers to Jesus so that Herod could kill him. The star that hangs upon the pagan Christmas trees of countless Christians.
Getting back to the subject of astrology, there is no indication that these verses support a Biblical approval of astrology because astrology wasn't used. It really is that simple. These astrologers came, as did others, and gave gifts, not astrological advice. Did Mary and Joseph know who they were at the time of their arrival? It was only later that they were informed to leave before Herod came and killed all of the infants up to two years old. The gifts given had nothing to do with astrology.
The Language used at Luke 21:25 would have been familiar to the people whom Jesus spoke. Similar metaphoric usage was not at all uncommon in the Hebrew Scriptures. Similar phrases can be found to describe divine announcements against Babylon, Edom, Egypt and northern Israel. (Isaiah 13:9-10; 34:4-5 / Jeremiah 4:28 and Ezekiel 32:6-8)
It is a pronouncement upon the nations, not a literal approval of astrology. The reason the Bible condemns astrology to the point of punishment of death to ancient Israelites is that it looks to false gods, demons, and other means of control and deception. The spreading of these teachings confuses and detracts from the creator who wants to see everlasting life for all of those who would have it. The Christian sees the spread of this misinformation much the same as the sin of Adam who caused the death of all mankind that followed him.
The SAB gives a listing of scriptures, some listed to condemn and others to approve of astrology. Leviticus 19:26 / Deuteronomy 18:10-12 / Isaiah 47:13-14 / Jeremiah 10:2 / Zephaniah 1:4-5 are rightfully given as scriptural condemnation of astrology.
This article will deal with the scriptures given in an incorrect attempt to show Biblical approval of astrology. The SAB first uses Genesis 1:14. This doesn't really require any scholarly approach to the Bible through linguistics or any other means; it only requires a little common sense. The verse is obviously referring to the practical use of the sun and moon as signs of night and day and of seasons, not of the mystical use for the purpose of ascertaining ones fortune and future. Astrology was often closely connected to the pagan gods, and the fact that God forbade such use makes this quite clear.
Judges 5:20 / Matthew 2:1-2 and Luke 21:25 will also be discussed.
Judges 5:20 has inspired a considerable amount of speculation; some view it as simply a poetic means of expressing some divine intervention, others see it as being a literal meteor shower while still others think it could have been astrological predictions from Sisera that proved false. The Bible doesn't specify but the first of these views is the most likely. However, since astrology is the foretelling of the future by means of the stars, and not a literal warfare involving the stars, Judges 5:20 can't logically be prescribed as a Biblical approval of astrology.
At Matthew 2:1-2 where the KJV uses "wise men" the Greek word majoi is used and is sometimes translated as Magi, Magians, astrologers, star gazers etc. The Imperial Bible-Dictionary (Vol. II, page 139 says: "According to Herodotus the magi were a tribe of the Medes, who professed to interpret dreams, and had the official charge of sacred rites . . . They were, in short, the learned and priestly class, and having, as was supposed, the skill of deriving from books and the observation of the stars a supernatural insight into coming events . . . Later investigations tend rather to make Babylon than Media and Persia the centre of full-blown magianism. 'Originally, the median priests were not called magi . . . From the Chaldeans, however, they received the name of magi for their priestly caste, and it is thus we are to explain what Herodotus says of the magi being a Median tribe' . . . (J.C. Muller in Herzog's Encl.)." - Edited by P. Fairbairn, London, 1874.
Justin Martyr, Origen, and Tertullian all thought of the magoi as astrologers. Now, to me, this has always been an intriguing demonstration of how modern day Christianity has so distorted the Bible's meaning in order to mix pagan teachings such as Christmas into their beliefs. Without straying too far from the subject let me just point out a few items of interest here and then explain why these verses do not support a Biblical approval of astrology, if you haven't already guessed.
First of all, Matthew uses the Greek word magoi, which is accurately translated as astrologers. Not Kings or anything that doesn't indicate astrologers. He doesn't specify the number of them so it can't be assumed that there were three. Jesus wasn't a baby in a manger at their arrival; he was now two years old and living in a house. (Matthew 2:11) The 'star' was only visible to the astrologers, and it didn't lead them directly to Jesus, but rather to Herod, who wanted Jesus dead. It was Satan's plan to lead these astrologers to Jesus so that Herod could kill him. The star that hangs upon the pagan Christmas trees of countless Christians.
Getting back to the subject of astrology, there is no indication that these verses support a Biblical approval of astrology because astrology wasn't used. It really is that simple. These astrologers came, as did others, and gave gifts, not astrological advice. Did Mary and Joseph know who they were at the time of their arrival? It was only later that they were informed to leave before Herod came and killed all of the infants up to two years old. The gifts given had nothing to do with astrology.
The Language used at Luke 21:25 would have been familiar to the people whom Jesus spoke. Similar metaphoric usage was not at all uncommon in the Hebrew Scriptures. Similar phrases can be found to describe divine announcements against Babylon, Edom, Egypt and northern Israel. (Isaiah 13:9-10; 34:4-5 / Jeremiah 4:28 and Ezekiel 32:6-8)
It is a pronouncement upon the nations, not a literal approval of astrology. The reason the Bible condemns astrology to the point of punishment of death to ancient Israelites is that it looks to false gods, demons, and other means of control and deception. The spreading of these teachings confuses and detracts from the creator who wants to see everlasting life for all of those who would have it. The Christian sees the spread of this misinformation much the same as the sin of Adam who caused the death of all mankind that followed him.
