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“The Great Christ Comet is a stunning book. Colin R. Nicholl develops a convincing case for what exactly the Star of Bethlehem was. The book reads like a detective novel, and while it is full of evidence, information, and argumentation, it is accessible and enjoyable to read. This work is now the definitive treatment of the subject. I highly recommend it.”
J. P. Moreland, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Biola University; author, The Soul: How We Know It’s Real and Why It Matters
“I am simply in awe of this book. The Great Christ Comet is an absolutely astonishing triumph of interdisciplinary scholarship so rarely seen and so tremendously illuminating as to merit bright comparison with the very celestial phenomenon it describes. Both lead us to the Manger and to the Great Poet within, whose syllables are the Moon and Sun and Stars.”
Eric Metaxas, New York Times bestselling author of Miracles and Bonhoeffer
“The most comprehensive interdisciplinary synthesis of biblical and astronomical data yet produced. It is a remarkable feat that a biblical scholar has been able to master the scientific data at such a level of erudition. No discussion of the historicity of the Star of Bethlehem can afford to ignore this book.”
Simon Gathercole, Senior Lecturer in New Testament, University of Cambridge; author, Where Is Boasting? and The Preexistent Son
“In this erudite, engrossing, and compelling book, Colin R. Nicholl painstakingly develops a new solution for the enduring mystery of the Star of Bethlehem, bringing together the biblical story and ancient descriptions of the sky with modern understandings of astronomy. Nicholl’s argument—that the celestial visitor was actually a phenomenal comet that passed perilously close by Earth in 6 BC—is certain to be discussed and debated for years to come.”
Duncan Steel, Visiting Astronomer, Armagh Observatory; Visiting Professor, University of Buckingham; author, Eclipse and Marking Time
“This is an amazing study. It reads like an absorbing detective story. Nicholl starts with a detailed reading of Matthew’s account of the visit of the Magi. He makes the case, based on ancient and modern astronomy, that the star of Bethlehem was a great comet whose behavior in the sky would have been interpreted by ancient astrologers as announcing the birth of a Jewish Messiah. The depth and breadth of learning that Nicholl displays is prodigious and persuasive, and all future studies will have to take its proposals most seriously.”
Gordon Wenham, Adjunct Professor of Old Testament, Trinity College, Bristol
“This is an outstanding book, quite breathtaking in the range of its scholarship, yet a page-turner in terms of its accessibility. Colin R. Nicholl is eminently followable, using detective skills to assess the biblical, historical, and astronomical evidence that lead him to conclude that the ‘star’ of Bethlehem was a comet. A real tour de force that I recommend unreservedly to a broad readership.”
John C. Lennox, Professor of Mathematics, University of Oxford
“Colin R. Nicholl brilliantly tackles a subject that has been debated for centuries. The Great Christ Comet is a captivating book on the Star of Bethlehem. You will not be able to put this book down!”
Louie Giglio, Pastor, Passion City Church, Atlanta, Georgia; Founder, Passion Conferences
“Readers of this book will learn a lot of astronomy, history, and theology. Nicholl has produced a remarkable and fascinating book that combines the best of recent scientific scholarship with the best biblical scholarship. The Great Christ Comet is a model of the integration of science and Scripture, and presents a tightly reasoned and highly plausible argument that the Star was a comet. A terrific read!”
Donald A. Hagner, George Eldon Ladd Professor Emeritus of New Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary; author, Matthew (Word Biblical Commentary)
“Fascinating reading. Clearly the author has not only done his homework but has meticulously mined both quarries, theological and astronomical.”
Paul L. Maier, Russell H. Siebert Professor of Ancient History, Western Michigan University
“Nicholl breaks important new ground in the quest for the historical Star of Bethlehem. Not only does he develop a formidable case for identifying the Star as a great comet; he also proposes a fresh explanation as to what it may have done to so impress the Magi. Nicholl has a clear understanding of the relevant areas of modern astronomy, and especially of the nature, evolution, and orbital dynamics of comets as currently understood. This work will be of great interest to astronomers, theologians, historians of science, and the general public, and will hopefully stimulate important new lines of scientific enquiry.”
Mark E. Bailey MBE, Director, Armagh Observatory; coauthor, The Origin of Comets
“Colin R. Nicholl’s magnum opus, which interprets Matthew’s Nativity ‘star’ as a spectacular comet, is fascinating and illuminating. He supports his thesis by appealing to Babylonian, classical, and patristic texts as well as modern astronomical research on comets. His comprehensive mastery of the data enables him to present a detailed scenario of the Magi’s initial sighting, subsequent observations, journey, and visit to the house in Bethlehem to view the newborn Christ child.”
Edwin M. Yamauchi, Professor Emeritus of History, Miami University
“This is the only book I know of by a biblical scholar on the Star of Bethlehem. It is rooted in a detailed analysis of the biblical text and offers a comprehensive scientific explanation for the Star of Bethlehem. Nicholl makes a compelling case that the Star was a comet, supporting this conclusion with a mass of evidence from a variety of sources. I strongly recommend his work on one of the most fascinating biblical mysteries.”
Sir Colin Humphreys, Professor and Director of Research, Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge; author, The Miracles of Exodus
“This rigorous and compelling book sets a new standard for the study of the Star of Bethlehem. No prior investigation of this mystery has brought the disciplines of biblical studies and astronomy together in such a clear, thoroughly researched, and decisive way. Nicholl lets us observe the skies with the Magi and walk with them all the way to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. This richly illustrated and pleasantly accessible work is a must-read for everyone even vaguely interested in the Magi’s Star. I enthusiastically recommend this eye-opening book!”
John J. Hartmann, former Assistant Lecturer of Greek, University of Cambridge; Pastor, New Reformation Church, St. Louis, Missouri
“Colin R. Nicholl offers an impressive case for understanding the Magi’s star as a comet. He has produced a readable and beautifully illustrated introduction to relevant fields of astronomy, and has laid out pertinent historical data with proportion, care, and integrity. Based on detailed biblical study and current astronomical knowledge, Nicholl develops a fascinating reconstruction of the unprecedented events relating to the Star and the Magi.”
John Nolland, Tutor in New Testament, Trinity College, Bristol; Visiting Professor, University of Bristol; author, The Gospel of Matthew (The New International Greek Testament Commentary)
“The Great Christ Comet is a significant new contribution to the long-running debate over the nature of the Star of Bethlehem. One of the book’s many strengths is its critique of earlier, widely discussed hypotheses proposed to explain the Star. The book also explains the relevant astronomy very clearly at a level the general r
eader should have no trouble following. The case Nicholl makes for the Star being a great comet is certainly worthy of serious consideration.”
Martin Gaskell, Department of Astronomy, University of California at Santa Cruz
“It is a real pleasure to commend The Great Christ Comet to everyone who has ever wondered what could possibly account for the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem. Few have expended as much earnest research, or written as clearly, on the astronomical basis for this special event as has Colin R. Nicholl. When you’re reading this book, the pages turn rapidly—similar to the way the pages fly when you’re engrossed in a mystery novel. All readers will be richly rewarded!”
Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Colman M. Mockler Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Old Testament and President Emeritus, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
The Great Christ Comet
Revealing the True Star of Bethlehem
Colin R. Nicholl
The Great Christ Comet: Revealing the True Star of Bethlehem
Copyright © 2015 by Colin R. Nicholl
Published by Crossway
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law.
All photographs and illustrations used by permission.
Cover design: Josh Dennis
Cover image: Sirscha Nicholl
First printing 2015
Printed in China
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway. 2011 Text Edition. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture references marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Single words or short phrases have been quoted from the American Standard Version (ASV), Common English Bible (CEB), Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), International Standard Version (ISV), King James Version (KJV), NET Bible (NET), New American Standard Bible (NASB), New English Bible (NEB), Revised English Bible (REB), and Revised Version (RV).
In the Bible translations quoted, “Yahweh” is regularly substituted for “the Lord.”
Italics in Bible translations have been added by the author.
Translations of Biblical passages, phrases, or words by the author are marked as such.
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4335-4213-8
ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-4216-9
PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-4214-5
Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-4215-2
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Nicholl, Colin R., author.
The great Christ comet : revealing the true Star of Bethlehem / Colin R. Nicholl.
1 online resource.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.
ISBN 978-1-4335-4214-5 (pdf)
ISBN 978-1-4335-4215-2 (mobi)
ISBN 978-1-4335-4216-9 (epub)
ISBN 978-1-4335-4213-8 (hardcover)
1. Comets. 2. Star of Bethlehem. 3. Astonomy in the Bible. 4. Bible. Matthew. I. Title.
QB724
226.2'085236—dc23 2014025184
Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Build: 2015-10-09 03:38:29 PM
To my parents, Drew and Florence Nicholl
Contents
Illustrations
Tables
Foreword by Gary W. Kronk
Preface
1 “Star of Wonder”
Introducing the Bethlehem Star
2 “We Beheld (It Is No Fable)”
The Testimony of Matthew’s Gospel
3 “They Looked Up and Saw a Star”
The Story of the Star
4 “What Star Is This?”
Evaluating the Major Hypotheses
5 “What Sudden Radiance from Afar?”
Introducing Comets
6 “A Stranger midst the Orbs of Light”
The Star as a Comet
7 “Yon Virgin Mother and Child”
The Celestial Wonder
8 “With Royal Beauty Bright”
Messiah’s Star
9 “Lo, the Star Appeareth”
Profiling the Comet
10 “Following Yonder Star”
Tracking the Comet
11 “Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning”
The Greatest Comet in History
12 “The Light Everlasting That Fades Not Away”
The Ongoing Story
Appendix 1: The Chinese Comet Records
Appendix 2: The Meteor Storm of 6 BC
Glossary of Astronomical Terms
Bibliography
Sources for Carol Quotations
Notes
Illustrations
3.1 “The Magi in the House of Herod,” by James Tissot
4.1 The Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction on May 29, 7 BC
4.2 How a nova occurs
5.1 The nucleus of Comet Tempel 1
5.2 The nucleus of Comet Hartley 2 as it degasses
5.3 How a comet develops a coma and tail
5.4 The coma of Donati’s Comet, 1858
5.5 Globular versus elliptical comas
5.6 Comet Ikeya-Zhang on March 18, 2002
5.7 Tail orientation at different stages of a comet’s orbit
5.8 The orientation of Halley’s Comet relative to the Sun in 1531
5.9 Comet tail lengths
5.10 The Great Comet of 1577
5.11 Coggia’s Comet, 1874
5.12 Comet Donati on October 5, 1858
5.13 Comet Arend-Roland in April 1957
5.14 Comet Lulin on January 31, 2009
5.15 The Great Comet of 1680
5.16 Comet Lovejoy in 2011
5.17 Comet Holmes during its outburst in 2007
5.18 Forward-scattering and backscattering
5.19 Comet McNaught on January 20, 2007
5.20 Comets as portrayed in Hevelius’s Cometographia
5.21 The Great Comet of 1861 (Tebbutt)
5.22 Cometary orbits
5.23 Sketch of the Great September Comet of 1882
5.24 The orbital elements of a comet
5.25 How meteoroid streams may give rise to meteor showers and storms
5.26 The radiant of the Andromedid Meteor Storm on November 27, 1872
5.27 Painting of the Great Comet of 1843
5.28 Impression of the 1843 Comet
5.29 Drawing of the Great Comet of 1811
5.30 Painting of the Great Comet of 1811
5.31 Engraving of the Great Comet of 1811
5.32 Comet Ikeya-Zhang on March 20, 2002
6.1 Giotto’s “Adoration of the Magi” fresco in Padua
6.2 Halley’s Comet on June 6, 1910
6.3 Halley’s Comet in 1066 as portrayed on the Bayeux Tapestry
6.4 Comet Hale-Bopp in 1997
6.5 The Great Comet of 1881 (Tebbutt) on June 25/26, 1881
6.6 Observational drawing of the Great Comet of 1843
6.7 Watercolor of the Great Comet of 1680
6.8 Wood engraving of the Great Southern Comet of 1880
6.9 Wood engraving of Comet Wells of 1882
6.10 Lithograph of the Great Comet of 1843
6.11 Coin showing Caesar’s Comet of 44 BC
7.1 The scepters of Merodach-Baladan II and of Sargon II
7.2 The Furrow (Virgo) holding an ear of grain
7.3 Representations of Virgo from the 2nd century BC to the 2nd century AD
&
nbsp; 7.4 Artistic re-creation of Ptolemy’s representation of Virgo
7.5 Isis with Horus, her child
7.6 Virgo’s crown of twelve stars
7.7 Virgo on the ceiling of the Esna Temple in Egypt
7.8 Parthian coin featuring Queen Musa
7.9 Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon
7.10 Jewish Virgo (Bethulah) on a zodiac wheel at Beth Alpha
7.11 Virgo as envisioned in Revelation 12
7.12 Astronomy of the zodiacal constellations
7.13 The seven-headed Hydra
7.14 Isis preparing to nurse her son Horus
7.15 The Babylonian constellation Serpent (or Hydra)
7.16 Comet Hyakutake on March 21/22, 1996
7.17 Comet Hale-Bopp on April 4, 1997
7.18 Comet Hyakutake on April 13, 1996
7.19 Comet Hyakutake on March 28, 1996
8.1 Tiglath-pileser III, king of Assyria
9.1 The Christ Comet’s orbit viewed from the time of perihelion on September 27, 6 BC
9.2 Halley’s Comet on March 8, 1986
10.1 The constellation Pisces as envisioned by Ptolemy
10.2 Hale-Bopp on May 24, 1996
10.3 The Christ Comet on November 21, 8 BC
10.4 The constellation Aquarius
10.5 The possible celestial scene on December 5, 7 BC
10.6 The Christ Comet on December 17, 7 BC
10.7 Movements of the Christ Comet from November 21, 8 BC, to December 17, 7 BC
10.8 Movements of the Christ Comet from December 17, 7 BC, to September 29, 6 BC
10.9 The Christ Comet and Earth on July 30, 6 BC
10.10 The jets of Comet Daniel’s coma on August 5, 1907
10.11 Comet Tebbutt’s jets
10.12 The Christ Comet and Earth on August 14, 6 BC
10.13 The Archer attacks the Scorpion
10.14 The Christ Comet on September 15, 6 BC
10.15 Section of the frieze from the Arch of Titus in Rome
10.16 The trumpet-like Great Comet of 1843 on March 17
10.17 Halley’s Comet in 1910
10.18 Photographic drawing of Halley’s Comet on May 15, 1910
10.19 The Great Comet of 1680
10.20 The Great Comet of 1618
