This is a topic that has piqued my curiosity for years now. As a Christian & a traditional/classical astrologer, I have read just about every theory out there and devoted some time to examining the various arguments, speculations, and facts we can point to. We are dealing with ancient history; sometimes the evidence is ambiguous or non-existent so it is clear my opinion is also largely conjecture.
The story of the Star of Bethlehem is found in the second chapter of the book of Matthew in the New Testament.
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship[1] him.”
Many questions present themselves and perhaps these following two are at the top of the list; what did the wise men see that led them to believe a king would be born in Israel? Why were they even interested? To answer those questions one has to know 1) what astrology was being practiced at the time and 2) the historical context.
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[1] proskuneō gr – literally or figuratively to prostrate oneself in homage. As you will see later in this study, paying homage is much closer to the truth than using the religiously loaded word, worship.
Steven Birchfield Astrologer 