18 lines
1.1 KiB
TeX
18 lines
1.1 KiB
TeX
\def \MAGOS {MAGOS: In the Greek world in general this word was used to mean: a member of the Persian priestly caste, or a possessor and user of supernatural knowledge and power (namely, a magician).
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\fnPar
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The LXX has the term only in Dan.2:2 for those who have magical and religious arts in Babylon.
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\fnPar
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In Matt. the reference seems to be to those who have special wisdom in reading the stars
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(\myxref{Matt}{2}{1}, \myxref{Matt}{2}{7}, \myxref{Matt}{2}{16}) Astronomy and astrology were inseparable in that day,
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and represented a very advanced education.
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Babylonian mathematicsin particular was surprisingly advanced:
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they had calculated the value of sqrt(2) to 6 significant digits(!),
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and were able to solve quadratic and cubic equations.
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In \myxref{Acts}{13}{6} and \myxref{Acts}{13}{8} MAGOS is parallel to PSEUDOPROPHETES (`pseudo-prophets'),
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and seems to bea reference to a house philosopher, who is possibly tempted to use the name of God magically.
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\fnPar
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The verb form, MAGEU\={O} `to perform magic' only occurs in \myxref{Acts}{8}{9}
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\fnPar
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(This footnote lists every appearance of MAGOS and MAGEUO).
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}
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