The Story Of The Magi

"The Gift of the Magi" is a short story by O. Henry first published in 1905. The story tells of a young husband and wife and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money. The main idea of "The Gift of the Magi" is that the value of a gift is in the giver, rather than the gift itself. Jim and Della, out of their love for each other, purchased a gift that required them to sacrifice something that was precious to them.

Presents sixteen short fiction stories by nineteenth-century American author O. Henry, including the title work about the Christmas sacrifices of a young married couple.

"The Gift of the Magi" is a short story by and nbsp;O. Henry and nbsp;first published in 1905. The story tells of a young husband and wife and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money. As a sentimental story with a moral lesson about gift-giving, it has been popular for adaptation, especially for presentation at and nbsp;Christmas and nbsp;time. The plot and its and nbsp;twist ending and nbsp;are well-known, and the ending is generally considered an example of and nbsp;comic irony. It was allegedly written at and nbsp;Pete's Tavern and nbsp;on Irving Place in New York City.

There's More to This Story Than You've Been Told Is there more about the story of Christmas you wish you understood or that you have specific questions about? In this storybook of biblical truth and history, Rick Renner takes you on the magical journey of Christ's coming to earth as a baby — and the purpose of His coming — in a way you’ve probably never heard it before. Featuring full-color, original illustrations by artist Lev Kaplan of Stuttgart, Germany, Christmas — the Rest of the Story tells the spellbinding story of God’s plan to redeem mankind — from the angel’s pronouncement to the virgin Mary, and her espousal and marriage to Joseph all the way to the angels’ glorious heralding of the Savior’s birth and His young, "ordinary" life marked by God Almighty’s extraordinary plan. Some of the topics covered include: Why God chose Mary. Why angels viewed God in the flesh with such wonderment. Who were the "shepherds keeping watch" and the Magi? What was the value of the Magi’s famous gifts? A baby-dedication ceremony of all ceremonies! Why King Herod was so troubled by this historical birth? The humility of the Creator’s death. How to prepare for Jesus’ next coming. This book is sure to be a favorite family book in your home, perhaps for generations to come! Jesus’ birth, life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection is truly the greatest story on earth — but it has never been more uniquely told than in these pages written by Rick Renner.

"The English translation at the beginning of each section is France's own, designed to provide the basis for the commentary. This adept translation uses contemporary idioms and, where necessary, gives priority to clarity over literary elegance." -- BOOK JACKET.

Is There More to The Story? Do you really know the story of Christmas? Is there more to the story about the birth of our Savior than what you've been told? In this 15-part series, Christmas – The Rest of the Story, Rick Renner dives deep into the parts of the Christmas story that most people have never heard. Rick says, "I’ve studied this story for decades, and I found fabulous treasures no one ever shared with me. In this series, we explore the Bible, history, historical writings, and so much more, so we can really understand all the events that took place surrounding the birth of Jesus!" Rick answers questions, like: Why did God choose Mary? Was Joseph really a carpenter? Who were the Magi and what was the estimated value of their gifts? Who were the shepherds keeping watch? Why was Herod so troubled by Jesus’ birth? Get ready to discover the real purpose of Christmas and rediscover the awe and wonder of the greatest miracle the world has ever known.

Each year, the Christmas double issue of the Church Times offers a feast of seasonal reading. News of Great Joy draws together the best Christmas writing by outstanding authors and poets over twenty years to create an ideal Christmas gift and a wealth of material for all who preach or lead worship at Christmas. Its many highlights include: • the eminent biblical scholar John Barton on how to understand the Old Testament prophecies of the nativity; • Barbara Brown Taylor on the prologue of John’s Gospel which is always read on Christmas Day; • Margaret Barker on the legends that have become part of the Christmas story; • an unpublished short story by Evelyn Underhill; • a piece on the origins of the Nine Lessons and Carols; • poetry and reflections on the season’s lectionary readings, and more besides.

George Tyrrell insisted that the quest for the historical Jesus was no more than scholars staring into a well to see their own reflections staring back. Jesus is the mirror image of those who study him. A similar phenomenon accompanies the quest for the historical Magi, those mysterious travelers who came from theEast, following a star to Bethlehem. In this work, ancient historian and scholar Eric Vanden Eykel helps readers better understand both the Magi and the ancient and modern interpreters who have tried to study them. He shows how, from a mere twelve verses in the Gospel of Matthew, a varied and vast literary and artistic tradition was born. The Magi examines the birth of the Magi story;its enrichments, embellishments, and expansions in apocryphal writing and early Christian preaching;its artistic expressions in catacombs, icons, and paintings and its modern legacy in novels, poetry, and music. Throughout, the book explores the fascination the Magi story elicits in both ancient and modern readers and what the legacy of the Magi story tells us about its storytellers--and ourselves.

The fifty-six essays in this book present cultural reflections on the gospel reading assigned for each Sunday in Cycle A of the Roman Lectionary. Each essay highlights aspects of the first-century, Eastern Mediterranean cultural world in which Jesus lived and suggests across-cultural comparison with contemporary Western culture. With this background information, readers can make more fitting applications of the Scripture to modern life situations. Used as an aid in preaching, Lectionary-based catechesis, Scripture study, or for the interest and knowledge it brings, The Cultural World of Jesus will add form and substance to your understanding of the Word that dwelt among us." "

A compilation of apocryphal Christian texts, many translated into English for the first time, with comprehensive introductions. This second volume of New Testament Apocrypha continues the work of the first by making available to English readers more apocryphal texts. Twenty-nine texts are featured, including The Adoration of the Magi and The Life of Mary Magdalene, each carefully introduced, copiously annotated, and translated into English by eminent scholars. These fascinating texts provide insights into the beliefs, expressions, and practices of a range of Christian communities from the early centuries through late antiquity and into the medieval period.

O. Henry's classic tale of the wisest gifts of Christmas, brought to life by P.J. Lynch's extraordinary art, is itself a gift to share and treasure. In a shabby New York flat, Della sobs as she counts the few coins she has saved to buy a Christmas present for her husband, Jim. A gift worthy of her devotion will require a great sacrifice: selling her long, beautiful hair. Jim, meanwhile, has made a sacrifice for Della that is no less difficult. As they exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, the discovery of what each has done fills them with despair, until they realize that the true gifts of Christmas can be found more readily in their humble apartment than in any fine store. O. Henry paints a masterly portrait of unfaltering love, a haven from the harsh world outside. The poignancy of his story is captured in P.J. Lynch's eloquent art, wherein every glance, every gesture, tells a subtle truth.

PART I: "The Magi's Gold" will bring the Gospel to life for even the most skeptical readers. From Joseph's dilemma with his new young bride, to Herod's reckless slaughter of the innocents, you'll follow the unfolding of events as God brings His Own son into this material world. Here is a realistic drama of how the world's greatest adventure began, with motivated characters in a difficult ancient setting. This smallest of the four Gospel novels, part of the "God Becomes Man" series, will set the stage with depth and clarity for an adventure that continues to this day. Without sacrificing reverence, this fictional dramatization of the Christmas story can enhance the reader's familiar bond with the living Jesus. Every parent should make this dramatic Gospel story available to their teenagers.

The Titles of Jesus in Christology was recognised as a major contribution to Christological study when it was first published in German in 1963. Its translation into English a few years later cemented this status. Hahn undertakes a massive and detailed examination of the various traditions that led to the use of names for Jesus that we now recognise as characteristic of the very early Church. Moreover, he carefully distinguishes between the different Christological conceptions present in these differing branches of primitive Christianity, and embodied in the terms they produced. His analysis and categories have been followed by many later scholars, who built on his detailed study of the peculiarities of the different titles given to Jesus by the different communities that followed him.

O. Henry, the pen name of William Sydney Porter, is one of the most famous short story writers of all times whose stories are known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and clever twist endings. O. Henry is so acknowledged as a great short story writer that his pen name is associated with a prestigious American award given to short stories of exceptional merit. Included in this collection of "The Gift of the Magi and Other Short Stories" is the title story which describes the struggles of a poor young married couple as they strive to secretly buy each other Christmas gifts. Also included in this collection are the following stories: "The Cop and the Anthem," "Springtime A La Carte," "The Green Door," "After Twenty Years," "The Furnished Room," "The Pimienta Pancakes," "The Last Leaf," "The Voice of The City," "While The Auto Waits," "A Retrieved Reformation," "A Municipal Report," "A Newspaper Story," "The Ransom of Red Chief," "A Ghost of a Chance," and "Makes the Whole World Kin."

Seminar paper from the year 2008 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,3, University of Flensburg (Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik), course: American Short Fiction , language: English, abstract: "The Gift of the Magi" is one of O. Henry's most famous short stories. In this paper I will have a closer look at the short story “The Gift of the Magi“ by O. Henry. I will start by analyzing the major themes love, sacrifice and wisdom. Furthermore, I will also have a look at the ending of the story, which is an example of the so-called ‘O. Henry twist’. By analyzing these different aspects of the short story I will conclude with the meaning for the reader today and the question whether this short story is worth reading.

Matthew's Gospel contains material unique to it among the canonical Gospels. What is the background for this material? Why does the writer of Matthew's Gospel tell the story of Jesus in the way he does--including women in his genealogy, telling the story of the birth of Jesus in his particular way, and including the visit of the magi led by a star? Enoch and the Gospel of Matthew shows that the writer of Matthew was familiar with themes and traditions about the antediluvian patriarch Enoch, including the story of the fall of the angels called "watchers," who transgress their heavenly boundaries to engage in illicit relations with women and teach them forbidden arts. The Gospel writer shows that Jesus brings about the eschatological repair of the consequences of the watchers' fall as told in the Enochic legend. This study focuses on Matthew's genealogy and infancy narrative and also has implications for the study of women in Matthew, since it is often through the stories of women in Matthew that the repair of the watchers' transgression takes place.

For over one hundred years, the International Critical Commentary series has held a special place among works on the Bible. It has sought to bring together all the relevant aids to exegesis — linguistic and textual no less than archaeological, historical, literary and theological—with a level of comprehension and quality of scholarship unmatched by any other series. No attempt has been made to secure a uniform theological or critical approach to the biblical text: contributors have been invited for their scholarly distinction, not for their adherence to any one school of thought. The first paperback editions to be published cover the heart of the New Testament, providing a wealth of information and research in accessible and attractive format.