Christian Responses To The DaVinci Code:

(All scripture quotes are from the NASB unless otherwise noted)

     May 19, 2006 brought yet again another attack on Christianity and on our beliefs about Jesus and the history that transpired during that time. What was this attack? It was the release of a movie that is based on a very popular book…The DaVinci Code. The theme of this book has been around for some time, but there hasn’t been such a following as with this book. The book is actually categorized as a fictional work, but Dan Brown seems to indicate that there is a lot of truth in his book as well.

     On his website under the FAQ, Dan Brown was asked how much of his book was true. His response was, “The DaVinci Code is a novel and therefore a work of fiction. While the book's characters and their actions are obviously not real, the artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals depicted in this novel all exist (for example, Leonardo DaVinci's paintings, the Gnostic Gospels, Hieros Gamos, etc.). These real elements are interpreted and debated by fictional characters. While it is my belief that some of the theories discussed by these characters may have merit, each individual reader must explore these characters' viewpoints and come to his or her own interpretations. My hope in writing this novel was that the story would serve as a catalyst and a springboard for people to discuss the important topics of faith, religion, and history.” Dan Brown doesn’t deny that the arguments presented by his characters are fictional at all. He actually seems to leave the door wide open to them being understood as fact.  If you still don't think that Dan Brown believes what he has written is true, listen to part of an interview that he did called "Chronicle" where he discusses how he became a believer in the information contained in the book that he wrote. You can also listen to this other audio clip from an interview that Dan Brown did on the "Today Show" with Matt Lauer where he says, except for the characters, it's all fact. To listen this entire interview and many others that Dan Brown did, go to his website.

     The basic story line is as follows: Famed symbologist Professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is called to the Louvre museum one night where a curator has been murdered, leaving behind a mysterious trail of symbols and clues. With his own survival at stake, Langdon, aided by the police cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou), unveils a series of stunning secrets hidden in the works of Leonardo DaVinci, all leading to a covert society dedicated to guarding an ancient secret that has remained hidden for 2000 years. After recovering a very important clue to the whereabouts of the Holy Grail, the pair turn to Sir Leigh Teabing, a British Knight who has made it his life's work to find the Grail. He helps them to escape France and get to London to continue the search. Neveu's grandfather has left clues to the whereabouts of the Grail, but they are cryptic messages and symbols which only Neveu and Langdon are able to make sense of.  

     As Christians we need to have an answer for  those who choose to attack God’s word (2 Timothy 2:15 - Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth) and the Christian FAITH in particular. Although we can’t address everything in the DaVinci Code, we felt it was necessary to have some Christian responses for the most common arguments that seem to come from reading this book, as well as the movie now that it is out.

The DaVinci code (Dan Brown):  According to Teabing, the historian in The DaVinci Code, the Nag Hammadi texts represent “the earliest Christian records”. These “unaltered gospels,” he claims, tell the real story about Jesus and early Christianity (Chap. 58).

The Truth:  Dan Brown is asserting through Teabing that the Gospels which are in our bibles today are from later writings versus the Nag Hammadi text. The Nag Hammadi texts are a group of writings that were written by a heretical group known as the Gnostics. These writings are also known as the Gnostic gospels. The most famous ones are the gospel of Philip, the gospel of Thomas, and the gospel of Mary. Although you may recognize the biblical names, these gospels were not written by the people for whom they were named. A little checking into Church history will reveal that the contents of the Nag Hammadi texts, which where considered heretical writings by the early Church Fathers, where written around 175 – 350 A.D. The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark & Luke) have been dated around 45 – 65 A.D. How do we know this? Well, these 3 Gospels recorded historical events and statements of Jesus Christ. As an example, Jesus prophesized about the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (Mat 24:1-2; Mark 13:1-2; Luke 21:5-6), which history tells us actually did happen around 70 A.D. None of the Synoptic Gospels make mention of the prophecy coming to pass as a side note. This indicates that the Gospels must have been written before the event took place, which is why scholars date them prior to 70 A.D. Since we know that Christ died around 33 A.D., which writings would you believe to be more accurate and thus closer to the time of Jesus? In fact, the entire New Testament was written by 100 A.D. (For more information on Gnosticism go here).

The DaVinci code (Dan Brown): Teabing paused, eyeing Sophie. “Constantine commissioned and financed a new Bible, which omitted those gospels that spoke of Christ's human traits and embellished those gospels that made Him godlike.” (Chap. 55)

The Truth:  Dan Brown is trying to assert by Teabing’s statement, “Constantine commissioned and financed a new bible”, that the Christian bible as we know it today was somehow altered. Emperor Constantine did ask bishop Eusebius of Caesarea to have fifty copies of the New Testament reproduced for the new imperial capital at Constantinople, but the work of collating the New Testament books had been done over the preceding centuries. Constantine in no way had any input into what books of the bible were to be included. The four gospels had long been accepted as part of the Christian Scriptures. Matthew, Mark and Luke also describe Jesus as having many dozens of human traits. He exhibited: hunger, anger, impatience, and other emotions. He even bled and died. The “so-called” omitted gospels that Dan Brown was referring to were the Gnostics gospels, but we already discussed how they weren’t the earliest writings, thus not the most reliable.

The DaVinci code (Dan Brown):  “Indeed,” Teabing said. “…During this fusion of religions, Constantine needed to strengthen the new Christian tradition, and held a famous ecumenical gathering known as the Council of Nicaea.”…“At this gathering,” Teabing said, “many aspects of Christianity was debated and voted upon—the date of Easter, the role of the bishops. The administration of sacraments, and of course, the divinity of Jesus. [Sophie] “I don’t follow. His divinity?” “My dear,” Teabing declared, “until that moment in history, Jesus was viewed by His followers as a mortal prophet… a great and powerful man, but a man nonetheless. A mortal. Not the Son of God?” “Right,” Teabing said. “Jesus’ establishment as the Son of God was officially proposed and voted on by the Council of Nicaea. “Hold on. You’re saying Jesus divinity was the result of a vote? “A relatively close vote at that,” Teabing added…(Chap. 55)

The Truth:  First, was the vote at the Council of Nicaea a close vote or not? Well, if you call 316 to 2 in favor of all the ecumenical doctrines presented a close vote then I guess Dan Brown is right. Also, the council of Nicaea was convened to affirm what the early church had already believed about Jesus for centuries, not to invent something new. Secondly, it is asserted that prior to 325 A.D. (which is when the council met), all of Jesus’ followers believed that he was nothing more than a “mortal prophet”. Now that we have established the New Testament writings to be the earliest account of Jesus’ life, let’s start by quoting scripture from the New Testament that teaches Jesus was not just a mortal prophet, but that He was God. (John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. , Col 2:9  For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form. , 2 Peter 1:1  Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. , Tit 2:13  looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.) To further dispel this notion, let’s also look at what the early Church Fathers had to say prior to 325 A.D. (see the following website for more quotes from these and other Church Fathers):

Ignatius [A.D. 30–110.] - The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians:

 [Chapter VII.—Beware of false teachers] - There is one Physician who is possessed both of flesh and spirit; both made and not made; God existing in flesh; true life in death; both of Mary and of God; first passable and then impassible, -  even Jesus Christ our Lord.

[Chapter XVIII. - The glory of the cross] - For our God, Jesus Christ, was, according to the appointment of God, conceived in the womb by Mary, of the seed of David, but by the Holy Ghost. He was born and baptized, that by His passion He might purify the water.

The Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp:

[Chapter VIII.—Let other churches also send to Antioch] - I pray for your happiness for ever in our God, Jesus Christ, by whom continue ye in the unity and under the protection of God, I salute Alce, my dearly beloved. Fare ye well in the Lord.

Justin Martyr [A.D. 110–165.] - Lost Work of Justin on the Resurrection

[Chapter X. - The body saved, and will therefore rise] - But if our physician Christ, God, having rescued us from our desires, regulates our flesh with His own wise and temperate rule, it is evident that He guards it from sins because it possesses a hope of salvation, as physicians do not suffer men whom they hope to save to indulge in what pleasures they please.

Taitian the Assyrian [A.D. 110–172.] - Taitian's Address to the Greeks

[Chapter XXI. - Doctrines of the Christians and Greeks respecting God compared] - We do not act as fools, O Greeks, nor utter idle tales, when we announce that God was born in the form of a man. I call on you who reproach us to compare your mythical accounts with our narrations.

The DaVinci code (Dan Brown):  In the beginning of chapter 58, Teabing tries to show Sophie that there is a clue in Davinci’s painting of “The Last Supper”, which proves there was a relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. He tells Sophie that this painting was not of Jesus and the twelve Apostles, but that it was in fact Jesus and only eleven Apostles with Mary Magdalene sitting to Jesus’ right.

The Truth:  Throughout history, it has always been understood that the Apostle John was sitting on Jesus’ right-hand side. DaVinci code theorist have made statements that the person to the right of Jesus is a female. The thing that these people need to remember is that John was the youngest of all the disciples. Most renaissance painters generally depicted young males in a very effeminate manner, and Leonardo DaVinci was no exception. Besides, if it isn’t John sitting next to Jesus, then where is he, and why would DaVinci omit admittedly one of the most beloved disciples of Jesus Christ? (See John 13:23).

The DaVinci code (Dan Brown):  Teabing pointed to a passage, “The Gospel of Philip is always a good place to start.” Sophie read the passage: And the companion of the Savior is Mary Magdalene. Christ loved her more than all the disciples and used to kiss her often on her mouth. The rest of the disciples were offended by it and expressed disapproval. They said to him, “Why do you love her more than all of us?” The words surprised Sophie, and yet they hardly seemed conclusive. “It says nothing of marriage.” “Au contraire.” Teabing smiled, pointing to the first line. “As any Aramaic scholar will tell you, the word companion, in those days, literally meant spouse.” Langdon concurred with a nod. Sophie read the first line again. “And the companion of the Savior is Mary Magdalene.” (Chap. 58)

The Truth:  We left the best for last, because this is probably the most important accusations of Dan Brown’s book. What was Mary Magdalene’s connection with Jesus Christ? Was Jesus married to Mary Magdalene? First, lets look at the source for this quote…the gospel of Philip. Again this gospel is Gnostic in origin, and was written sometime around 250 A.D., which is 200 years after Jesus’ death (not a very reliable source in our opinion). Next, let’s take a look at what was really in the fragments of this Gnostic gospel:  

And the companion of the [...] Mary Magdalene. [...loved] more than [all] the disciples,

[and use to] kiss her [often] on her [...]. The rest of [the disciples...]. They said to him

"Why do you love her more than all of us?"

     As you can see by the brackets (indicating inserted or missing words), there were a lot of words missing from the fragments of the gospel of Philip, which have been inserted by the author. Lets look at the word “companion” in this document. The character, Teabing, mentions that any scholar of the Aramaic language would say that the word “companion” in those days meant “wife”. Again, Dan Brown didn’t do much studying on what language the gospel of Philip was written in, because if he did, he would have found that this fragment was written in the Coptic language, which is a slightly modified form of the Greek language. The Coptic word in question (koinônos) is the word translated as “companion” in this case. A study of this word would reveal that the most common translation for this word would be “spiritual partaker”, or “co-participant”, not wife. So, again this along with all the other arguments, falls apart. So this is the so-called proof text that Dan Brown uses to backup his claim that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene? Even if Dan Brown were to make mention of the “kissing” in this gospel (which he doesn’t), the original fragments don’t say where Mary was kissed because the word is missing. The author does insert the word “mouth”, but for all we know, it could have been the forehead, the cheek, or even the hand. Dan Brown is really reaching on this one…

     We hope that you have found this information to be of some value to you. We also pray that if you do read the book or see the movie that you don’t just take Dan Brown’s word for what is presented. Please take time to do some research on your own to find the truth of what really happened so that the word of God prevails. (Share this article with a friend)

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