A Running Theory

[Roughsoul1991]

We are never told what Mary and Joseph did with the gold they received from the magic but most assume it was also symbolic for a King.

Over the weekend I got the opportunity to speak to a collector of ancient Roman coins and asked him about the currency of that time. Long story short he said the sum of gold given to Mary and Joseph was as rare as like hitting the lottery today. 1 gold coin was a year worth of wages.

So I couldn't but think about the atonement money in the OT.

Exodus 30:16
New International Version
16 Receive the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the tent of meeting. It will be a memorial for the Israelites before the Lord, making atonement for your lives.”

Each person would pay a few pieces of silver to make a temporary atonement for their lives.

My running theory is that the sum of gold being such a massive sum of money could have atoned for a huge amount of people.

Could this by symbolic for Jesus's atonement paid by His blood on the cross?

 

[pottersclay]

Intresting question brother....now i know that in the days of JESUS there was temple money which differs from the roman money.
Judas was also a treasurer of the twelve.
Weather the gold had to be exchanged for the temple money or they were pemitted to keep it as such ....no clue.

 

[Diakonos]

I am not sure about your specific question, but I do recall hearing that each of the three gifts represents the 3 offices Jesus held

Gold = King
Frankincense = Priest
Myrrh = Prophet

 

[Roughsoul1991]

I am not sure about your specific question, but I do recall hearing that each of the three gifts represents the 3 offices Jesus held

Gold = King
Frankincense = Priest
Myrrh = Prophet

Yes these are the usual assumption. They are good assumptions but the Bible doesn't say what they were for. Frankincense is also used in burial so was being the lamb of God, wrapped in cloth and laid into a manger.

I'm simply asking is it plausible to assume the gold could of been symbolic for the atonement of mankind's sins in correlation to the atonement money in the OT.

The gold was fit for a king which meant it was a huge amount that could of paid the atonement price for a huge unknown factor of people.

My theory is all the elect who are in the Book of Life.

 

[Diakonos]

is it plausible to assume the gold could of been symbolic for the atonement of mankind's sins

It's a plausible option if at least 2 Biblical witnesses substantiate it.

The wise men may be a fulfillment of Isaiah 60:6

“"those from Sheba will come [to Jerusalem]; They will bring gold and frankincense,
And will bear good news of the praises of the LORD.”​

and Psalm 72:10–11

“Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring presents;
The kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
And let all kings bow down before him, All nations serve him.” ​

​

 

[BeeThePeace]

Yes these are the usual assumption. They are good assumptions but the Bible doesn't say what they were for. Frankincense is also used in burial so was being the lamb of God, wrapped in cloth and laid into a manger.

I'm simply asking is it plausible to assume the gold could of been symbolic for the atonement of mankind's sins in correlation to the atonement money in the OT.

The gold was fit for a king which meant it was a huge amount that could of paid the atonement price for a huge unknown factor of people.

My theory is all the elect who are in the Book of Life.

I thought the gold was to insure Jesus was financially secure to grow up as more than just a carpenters son.

If silver was used in the OT accounts for atonement, why would gold be used for the same purpose in the new? Or maybe I'm not understanding.

Why would gold be used for the purpose you suggest? God can be bought?

And if that was the purpose of the gold, how would Jesus' blood blot out the sins of the world?

 

[Nehemiah6]

My running theory is that the sum of gold being such a massive sum of money could have atoned for a huge amount of people.

No amount of money could atone for sins. The provisions under the Old Covenant were temporary, but in anticipation of the coming Lamb of God.

 

[Roughsoul1991]

I thought the gold was to insure Jesus was financially secure to grow up as more than just a carpenters son.

If silver was used in the OT accounts for atonement, why would gold be used for the same purpose in the new? Or maybe I'm not understanding.

Why would gold be used for the purpose you suggest? God can be bought?

And if that was the purpose of the gold, how would Jesus' blood blot out the sins of the world?

Gold= extremely more valuable

Symbolic for Jesus's blood in atonement to be extremely more valuable.

But who knows the Bible doesn't say what the gold was used for or explained if it was symbolic.

 

[Roughsoul1991]

No amount of money could atone for sins. The provisions under the Old Covenant were temporary, but in anticipation of the coming Lamb of God.

Yeap probably nothing to it other than financial reasons.

 

[Beckie]

Gold= extremely more valuable

Symbolic for Jesus's blood in atonement to be extremely more valuable.

But who knows the Bible doesn't say what the gold was used for or explained if it was symbolic.

The OP brought this passage to mind..
Jesus said :
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

We are never told what Mary and Joseph did with the gold they received from the magic but most assume it was also symbolic for a King.

Over the weekend I got the opportunity to speak to a collector of ancient Roman coins and asked him about the currency of that time. Long story short he said the sum of gold given to Mary and Joseph was as rare as like hitting the lottery today. 1 gold coin was a year worth of wages.

So I couldn't but think about the atonement money in the OT.

Exodus 30:16
New International Version
16 Receive the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the tent of meeting. It will be a memorial for the Israelites before the Lord, making atonement for your lives.”

Each person would pay a few pieces of silver to make a temporary atonement for their lives.

My running theory is that the sum of gold being such a massive sum of money could have atoned for a huge amount of people.

Could this by symbolic for Jesus's atonement paid by His blood on the cross?

could be

you know the altar in the ot was covered with gold , the frankincense and Myrrh were two main ingredients for the anointing oil for the high priest and king. And the incense that was to burn before the altar. The high priest was to attend these thkngs of gold and even bare the golden censor for the day of atonement.

I’ve always thought this to be significant regarding Jesus eternal priesthood and kingship after he was glorified. Those gifts seem to be for a king and priest according to the ot pattern found in the law for the earthly and temporary leviticle priesthood and thier ordinances and patterns given to Moses

 

[JaumeJ]

The OP brought this passage to mind..
Jesus said :
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Amen Elsewhere it is written down by Isaiah the we are being tried, but not as gold or silver, rather in the fire of affliction that we be not cut orr.

Our faith is like ened to gold. The walls of new Jerusalem are made up of gold, the faith of the saints. The street is paved with gold so pure it can be seen into like water or glass. Yes even in the parable of the servants being given talents of gold, it can be likened to the gift of faith which is to be increased bye each of the servants lest one be found amiss, without righteousness upon His return.

I praise God with all others who do, for He is worthy, not I. God bless you for your words which help fortify a good foundation.

 

[posthuman]

We are never told what Mary and Joseph did with the gold they received from the magic but most assume it was also symbolic for a King.

Over the weekend I got the opportunity to speak to a collector of ancient Roman coins and asked him about the currency of that time. Long story short he said the sum of gold given to Mary and Joseph was as rare as like hitting the lottery today. 1 gold coin was a year worth of wages.

So I couldn't but think about the atonement money in the OT.

Exodus 30:16
New International Version
16 Receive the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the tent of meeting. It will be a memorial for the Israelites before the Lord, making atonement for your lives.”

Each person would pay a few pieces of silver to make a temporary atonement for their lives.

My running theory is that the sum of gold being such a massive sum of money could have atoned for a huge amount of people.

Could this by symbolic for Jesus's atonement paid by His blood on the cross?

i don't think so. silver is symbolic for atonement; atonement money is always paid in silver.

as far as what they did with it, pragmatically speaking you know, they fled to Egypt for some years - i imagine this financed that. we also never hear of Joseph again after the events when Jesus was a young boy, so it is usually presumed that Mary was a widow, and perhaps this small fortune ((tho we do not know how much the magi actually gave)) sustained her in her later years. speculation of course - and as mentioned, we don't know how much gold they gave, or how much spices ((the spices may have been worth even more than the gold!)). it's possible there was little more than enough for them to travel to Egypt, live there a while, travel back and set up a domicile in Nazareth. maybe it wasn't even enough for that.

the amount isn't given so i believe the amount isn't important.

 

[Roughsoul1991]

i don't think so. silver is symbolic for atonement; atonement money is always paid in silver.

as far as what they did with it, pragmatically speaking you know, they fled to Egypt for some years - i imagine this financed that. we also never hear of Joseph again after the events when Jesus was a young boy, so it is usually presumed that Mary was a widow, and perhaps this small fortune ((tho we do not know how much the magi actually gave)) sustained her in her later years. speculation of course - and as mentioned, we don't know how much gold they gave, or how much spices ((the spices may have been worth even more than the gold!)). it's possible there was little more than enough for them to travel to Egypt, live there a while, travel back and set up a domicile in Nazareth. maybe it wasn't even enough for that.

the amount isn't given so i believe the amount isn't important.

There was nothing special about the silver for atonement. It was simply the value needed as prescribed by God. So the theory looks at if it took I think 7 pieces of silver to atone for one, how much more would a sum of gold atone for? It is true that Jesus paid in blood for all sin. But equally true not all will be saved. So in theory could the sum of gold represent the elect or those in the book of life?

I have not chose to accept this theory but only taking it into full examination.

 

[posthuman]

I have not chose to accept this theory but only taking it into full examination.

then fully examine it; please do!

search the Bible for 'silver' and see how many times the law requires it or allows it as a ransom or atonement
and then check 'gold' to see if it ever is used in the law as a ransom or atonement



by all means, don't just stand on your opinion that "this has value" and "this also has value" therefore "they are interchangeable"
see what scripture says; that is how to find out what these things mean as symbols, as God defines them

 

[Radius]

The gold financed their trip to Egypt when they fled. And throughout his young adult life. Likely traveling/lodging/giving to the poor/etc.

 

[posthuman]

the value needed as prescribed by God

that is the special thing, bro.
God designated silver as a ransom or atonement price.

of course blood is the real ransom, but as symbols go -- we have to take God's definitions, not our own.
that's why i'm like, well, that's a nice thought, but you might as well say the frankincense represents atonement too, since it was worth more than its weight in gold.

that's just not how symbolism works.

 

[Roughsoul1991]

then fully examine it; please do!

search the Bible for 'silver' and see how many times the law requires it or allows it as a ransom or atonement
and then check 'gold' to see if it ever is used in the law as a ransom or atonement



by all means, don't just stand on your opinion that "this has value" and "this also has value" therefore "they are interchangeable"
see what scripture says; that is how to find out what these things mean as symbols, as God defines them

Silver was cheaper so an individual could more easily afford it. It was used as a value. So 1 gold coin could pay for estimated (without doing math) 100 people.

 

[Roughsoul1991]

that is the special thing, bro.
God designated silver as a ransom or atonement price.

of course blood is the real ransom, but as symbols go -- we have to take God's definitions, not our own.
that's why i'm like, well, that's a nice thought, but you might as well say the frankincense represents atonement too, since it was worth more than its weight in gold.

that's just not how symbolism works.

God designated silver as a ransom or atonement price.

God designated a value for the ransom. It simply took a few pieces of silver to make that value. Nothing special in the silver other than the value of it.

Not sure about frankincense being more expensive than gold.

 

[posthuman]

Not sure about frankincense being more expensive than gold.

perhaps not frankincense as much as myrrh:

https://herbandroot.com/pages/frankincense-myrrh-more-valuable-than-gold

Nothing special in the silver other than the value of it.

bro, there is something very special about it:

God designated a value for the ransom.

God designated it as the price of ransom.
not gold, but silver.

God isn't arbitrary