Should Christians Celebrate Epiphany?

Mar 28

Every year on January 6th, millions of Christians around the world celebrate Epiphany, also known as Three Kings' Day. This holiday commemorates the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, represented by the visit of the Magi, as described in Matthew 2:1-12. But is this a holiday that Christians should be celebrating?

The Origins and History of Epiphany

The word “Epiphany” comes from the Greek word epiphania, meaning “manifestation” or “appearance.” Historically, Epiphany is one of the oldest Christian holidays, dating back to at least the 4th century. Some scholars believe it may have originated as early as the 2nd century with a Gnostic sect.

Originally, Epiphany celebrated both Jesus’ birth and His baptism. Over time, Western tradition emphasized the visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12). And for many Eastern Orthodox Christians, the holiday focuses more on Jesus’ baptism. Epiphany is observed by many Christian denominations, including the Catholic Church (the largest group celebrating the holiday), as well as Lutheran, Anglican, Moravian, Methodist, United Protestant congregations, and Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Traditions Associated with Epiphany

Epiphany is celebrated in many ways around the world. Some of the most common traditions include:

Epiphany Singing
Chalking the Door
House Blessings
Three Kings' Cake – A special cake is baked, often in the shape of a crown, with a small baby figurine, bean, or almond hidden inside. In England, if you find the baby you get to be “king” for the day, while in the US, you have to bring the cake next year.
Giving of Gifts – In Spain and in some South American countries, children polish their shoes and leave them by the door before going to bed. The next morning, there are gifts if they have been good that year. If they have been bad, they are given coal or a black hard candy instead.
Winter Swimming
Church Services

The Three Kings

Though the Bible does not specify the number of Magi or their names, tradition holds that there were three: Balthazar, Melchior, and Caspar. Balthazar is often depicted as the king of Arabia or Ethiopia, Melchior as the king of Persia, and Caspar as the king of India. They are said to have traveled on a horse, a camel, and an elephant, respectively. These three figures are often venerated as patron saints of travelers.

Should Christians Celebrate Epiphany?

A key question for Christians is whether Epiphany is a holiday that should be observed. To answer this, we turn to scripture and examine several critical questions, using the principles described in our article, How to Know the Will of God.

#1 Is There a Biblical Command to Celebrate Epiphany?

Nowhere in the Bible is there a command to observe Epiphany. While the visit of the Magi was certainly a significant event in Jesus’ early life, God does not instruct believers to commemorate it annually.

#2 Is There a Biblical Example of Early Christians Celebrating Epiphany?

The New Testament provides no record of early Christians celebrating Epiphany or anything similar. Instead, their focus was on Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, as seen in Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 11:26.

#3 Does the Bible Imply That We Should Celebrate Epiphany?

Again, the answer is no. There are no biblical passages that suggest believers should create an annual observance based on the Magi's visit.

What About Romans 14:1-6?

The Text

Some people argue that Romans 14:1-6 allows for the observance of man-made holidays like Epiphany. This passage speaks about how one person esteems one day above another, while another considers all days alike:

“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.” (Romans 14:1-6 | ESV)

However, to fully understand this passage, we must consider its historical context.

Historical Context

Let’s go all the way back to the beginning.

We do not have any record of an apostle planting the church in Rome like we do for many of the other churches in the Roman Empire. But what we do see is that there were Roman Jews present on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:10). They had traveled from Rome to celebrate the Jewish feast days in Jerusalem, and afterward, would have returned home to Rome. This year, though, they heard something new. The Messiah had come and had established the New Covenant!

We don’t know for certain whether or not these Roman Jews became Christians and established the church in Rome, but it seems likely to be the case because we have no record of the church in Rome being established by a different means. Regardless of how it happened, the church was established in Rome.

When Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome in AD 49 (including Jewish Christians, Acts 28:1-2), the church became predominantly Gentile. When Jewish Christians returned after Claudius’ death in AD 54, they found a church that had changed significantly. They returned to churches with Gentile leadership that may have felt much more Gentile in culture than the churches that they had left.

Tensions arose between Jewish and Gentile Christians, which is why Paul addressed this tension, especially here in Romans 14. This passage discusses Jewish practices such as dietary restrictions, Sabbath keeping, and feasts that some were still adhering to, concerns that troubled Jewish Christians.

Mounce says,

“At Rome there were Jewish Christians who were reluctant to give up certain ceremonial aspects of their religious heritage. They were uncertain about how faith in Christ affected the status of Old Testament regulations. Others embraced the new freedom in Christ unencumbered by an overly sensitive regard for the past.
There was considerable diversity in the early church. Some believers regarded certain days as more sacred than others. Old Testament law had declared that feast days were consecrated to God in a special way. The Sabbath, for instance, had its own set of regulations. Other believers, however, regarded all days alike. The Christian is not to despise or treat with contempt those who are still working through the relationship between their new faith in Christ and the psychological and emotional pressures of a previous orientation.“ (Mounce, Romans)

In keeping with their scruples, many Jews refused to eat meat since it was likely sacrificed to an idol, and they felt compelled to keep certain holy days such as the Sabbath. The Gentile Christians, in contrast, had no such scruples. They understood the freedom of the New Covenant and were stronger in their faith in this area.

Paul's message in Romans 14 was directed at resolving tensions between Jewish and Gentile Christians over these issues. He was not addressing the creation of new, man-made religious holidays. Using Romans 14 to justify celebrating Epiphany is an abuse of the text.

#4 Has God Commanded Us to Observe Some Other Holiday?

The New Testament give believers very clear instructions to remember Jesus through the weekly observance of the Lord's Supper (Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:24-26). Unlike Epiphany, which is based on tradition rather than biblical instruction, the Lord's Supper is clearly established in scripture.

#5 Does Epiphany Teach Any Untruths?

Yes, many traditions associated with Epiphany are not biblically accurate:

The Bible does not say there were three Magi.
The Bible does not say the Magi were kings.
The Bible does not provide the names of the Magi.
The Bible does not teach that the Magi were saints, or that saints should be venerated.

Because these elements are not in accordance with scripture, they can lead to misunderstandings about what the Bible actually teaches.

Conclusion: Should Christians Celebrate Epiphany?

John 4:24 calls us to worship God "in spirit and in truth," that is, with the right heart and in the right way.

2 Peter 1:3 tells us that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Christ, and 2 Timothy 3:16-17 affirms that scripture equips us for every good work.

Since scripture neither commands nor equips us to observe Epiphany—and since the holiday promotes traditions not based on biblical truth—the real question is not should we celebrate Epiphany, but rather why would we? Instead of following human traditions, Christians are called to focus on the observances God has explicitly given us in His Word.

For further exploration, check out our video on how to determine God's will.