Plot: Christianity is a big lie.

1. THE DA VINCI CODE: Truth or fiction? Plot: Christianity is a big lie.

2. Why Bother Examining This? 1. Supposed Historical Fact Thinly Veiled As Fiction • First Page of the Book: • “FACT…” • “The Priory of Sion – a European secret society founded in 1099 – is a real organization. In 1975 Paris’s Bibliotheque Nationale discovered parchments known as Les Dossiers Secrets, identifying numerous members of the Priory of Sion, including Sir Isaac Newton, Botticelli, Victor Hugo and Leonardo da Vinci” • “The Vatican prelature known as Opus Dei is a deeply devout Catholic sect that has been the topic of recent controversy due to reports of brainwashing, coercion, and a dangerous practice known as ‘corporal mortification’…. • “All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate.”

3. The Main Claims of The Da Vinci Code: • Mary Magdalene and Jesus were married and had a child. • There are over 80 Gnostic Gospels = earlier, true reports of Christ. • Constantine, at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. invented the idea of Jesus’ divinity, then gathered up and burned the true (Gnostic) Gospels that emphasized Jesus’ human traits. • Constantine collated the New Testament as we know it. • The Church (Roman Catholic Church) covered all this up. • The first Christians practiced ritualistic sex rites and were pagan. • The Priory of Sion has preserved and guarded the truth for over 1000 years. Leonardo Da Vinci hid clues in his paintings. • In The Last Supper, Mary Magdalene is to the right of Jesus, in the character normally interpreted to be John.

4. The Main Claims of The Da Vinci Code: • Mary Magdalene and Jesus were married and had a child. • There are over 80 Gnostic Gospels = earlier, true reports of Christ. • Constantine, at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. invented the idea of Jesus’ divinity, then gathered up and burned the true (Gnostic) Gospels that emphasized Jesus’ human traits. • Constantine collated the New Testament as we know it. • The Church (Roman Catholic Church) covered all this up. • The first Christians practiced ritualistic sex rites and were pagan. • The Priory of Sion has preserved and guarded the truth for over 1000 years. Leonardo Da Vinci hid clues in his paintings. • In The Last Supper, Mary Magdalene is to the right of Jesus, in the character normally interpreted to be John.

5. Claim #1: “Constantine Collated the Bible...” “Jesus Christ was a historical figure of staggering influence, perhaps the most enigmatic and inspirational leader the world has ever seen….Understandably, His life was recorded by thousands of followers across the land….More than eighty gospelswere considered for the New Testament, and yet only a relative few were chosen for inclusion – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John among them…The Bible, as we know it today, was collated by the pagan Roman emperor Constantine the Great.” (pg.231)

6. Claim #1: “Constantine Collated the Bible...” • “Fortunately for historians…some of the gospels that Constantine attempted to eradicate managed to survive. The Dead Sea Scrolls were found in the 1950s hidden in a cave near Qumran in the Judean desert” (pg.234)

7. Claim #1: “Constantine Collated the Bible...” • “The twist is this…Because Constantine upgraded Jesus’ status almost four centuries after Jesus’ death, thousands of documents already existed chronicling His life as a mortal man. To rewrite the history books, Constantine knew he would need a bold stroke. From this sprang the most profound moment in Christian history….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. The earlier gospels were outlawed, gathered up, and burned” (pg.234)

8. Claim #1: “Constantine Collated the Bible...” • Answer: • The Nicean Council was almost three centuries after Jesus, not four. • Neither Constantine nor the Nicene Council ever discussed the canon of scripture nor the Gnostic Gospels. • Constantine never attempted to eradicate any Bible documents. • There were only dozens, not “thousands”, of documents, only about 15 Gnostic “Gospels”, not 80.

9. Claim #1: “Constantine Collated the Bible...” • Answer: • They all came later, not earlier than the NT Gospels. • Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947, not the 1950s; contained no “gospels”, nor any other NT books, nor any books related to Christianity. • The Gnostic Gospels do not picture a human Jesus, but a divine Jesus.

10. Claim #1: “Constantine Collated the Bible...”

11. The Main Claims of The Da Vinci Code: • Mary Magdalene and Jesus were married and had a child. • There are over 80 Gnostic Gospels = earlier, true reports of Christ. • Constantine, at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.invented the idea of Jesus’ divinity, then gathered up and burned the true (Gnostic) Gospels that emphasized Jesus’ human traits. • Constantine collated the New Testament as we know it. • The Church (Roman Catholic Church) covered all this up. • The first Christians practiced ritualistic sex rites and were pagan. • The Priory of Sion has preserved and guarded the truth for over 1000 years. Leonardo Da Vinci hid clues in his paintings. • In The Last Supper, Mary Magdalene is to the right of Jesus, in the character normally interpreted to be John.

12. Claim #2 – “The Council of Nicea voted on the divinity of Jesus and it was close vote” • “At [the Council of Nicea]….many aspects of Christianity were debated and voted upon – the date of Easter, the role of the bishops, the administration of sacraments, and, of course, the divinity of Jesus….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….The vote was relatively close.” (pg.233).

13. Claim #2 – “The Council of Nicea voted on the divinity of Jesus and it was close vote” • Answer: • The Council of Nicea did not debate the divinity of Jesus, but rather Arian heresy that Jesus was not eternal by nature. • Constantine was sympathetic to the Arians, not to the “divine” Jesus. • They voted, but Jesus’ divinity won 316-2! • However, the divinity of Jesus was a central teaching of the NT 2 1/2 centuries before the Council of Nicea (Jn 1.1-3; 20.28-29; Heb 1.3,8; Tit 2.13; Acts 20.28; etc.)

14. Claim #2 – “The Council of Nicea voted on the divinity of Jesus and it was close vote” Jn 1.1-3,14“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”

15. Claim #2 – “The Council of Nicea voted on the divinity of Jesus and it was close vote” Jn 20.28-29“Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.’”

16. Claim #2 – “The Council of Nicea voted on the divinity of Jesus and it was close vote”

17. Claim #3 – “Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene” • “…Jesus as a married man makes infinitely more sense than our standard biblical view of Jesus as a bachelor…Because Jesus was a Jew…the social decorum during that time virtually forbid a Jewish man to be unmarried. According to Jewish custom, celibacy was condemned, and the obligation for a Jewish father was to find a suitable wife for his son. If Jesus were not married, at least one of the Bible’s gospels would have mentioned it and offered some explanation for His unnatural state of bachelorhood.” (pg.245)

18. Claim #3 – “Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene” • The Holy Grail = The bloodline of Jesus and Mary. • (The Real Da Vinci Code clip)

19. Claim #3 – “Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene” • TDVC makes two arguments: 1. Jesus was married, proven because… • Social standards would have required it. • If he was not, the Bible would have said so. 2. Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, proven because… • Mary traveled with Jesus and was unconnected to another man. • Mary touched him intimately (Lk 7.26f; Jn 12.1-3) • Gnostic Gospels suggest it. • Da Vinci’s Last Supper suggests it.

20. Who Was Mary Magdalene? • From Magdala; Seven demons cast out • One of several woman who traveled with Jesus and His disciples -- Lk 8.1-3; Mk 15.41 Luke 8:1-3 “Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.”

21. Who Was Mary Magdalene? • From Magdala; Seven demons cast out • One of several woman who traveled with Jesus and His disciples -- Lk 8.1-3; Mk 15.41 • Probably not married, since not connected to any male, but rather connected to a place (Magdala). • Of six Marys in the Gospels, Mary Magdalene is the only one not connected to a man (e.g. a son, a brother or a husband).

22. Who Was Mary Magdalene? • Jesus appeared to her and the other women and told them to go tell the disciples he is alive – Mt 28.1-7; Luke 24:10-11 • But he appeared to Mary first: Mark 16:9 “Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons.”

23. Who Was Mary Magdalene? • Jesus appeared to her and the other women and told them to go tell the disciples he is alive – Mt 28.1-7; Luke 24:10-11 • But he appeared to Mary first: Jn 20.16-18 “Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, ‘Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’’ Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord,’ and that He had said these things to her.”

24. Was Jesus Married? Day of Discovery Clip

25. Was Jesus Married? • Many women traveled with Jesus: Luke 8:1-3 “…The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna out of their private means., and many others who were contributing to their support.”

26. Was Jesus Married? • Many women traveled with Jesus: Mark 15:41 “When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.”

27. Was Jesus Married? • Many women traveled with Jesus. • No passage links Mary exclusively with Jesus. • If Jesus had been married, there was plenty of opportunity for the Bible to say so: 1 Cor 9:5-6 “Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working?”

28. Was Jesus Married? • TDVC: “Mary touched Jesus too intimately” • “Such a public display by the sinful woman of Lk 7.36f would be offensive to 1st Century Jews, unless she was Jesus’ wife” • No proof that this was Mary. • It was offensive to the host, Simon: Luke 7:39 “Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.’”

29. Was Jesus Married? • TDVC: “Mary touched Jesus too intimately” • “Such a public display by the sinful woman of Lk 7.36f would be offensive to 1st Century Jews, unless she was Jesus’ wife” • Jesus often did “offensive” things, going against the popular culture. • Not unusual for women to feel so free with Jesus (Lk 7; Jn 12.1-3; Mt 9.20; Jn 4 ): Mt 28.9“And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him”

30. Was Jesus Married? • TDVC: “An unmarried Rabbi or adult Jew = un-Jewish” • Jesus was not officially a “Rabbi” • Many exceptions: • Students of the Law (Rabbinic teachings; HI:JFCCE:2.119f) • The Essene and Qumran communities: • Josephus (Antiquites 18.1.5.20-21; Wars, 2.8.2.121-121). Held the Essenes in high regard for their celibacy. • Jeremiah; John the Baptist (Elijah); Apostle Paul (1 Cor 7.8-9)

31. Was Jesus Married? • TDVC: “An unmarried Rabbi or adult Jew = un-Jewish” • Jesus was not officially a “Rabbi” • Many exceptions • Jesus taught celibacy as a legitimate option Mt 19:10-12 “The disciples said to Him, ‘If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.’ But He said to them, ‘Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.’”

32. Was Jesus Married? • TDVC: “An unmarried Rabbi or adult Jew = un-Jewish” • Jesus was not officially a “Rabbi” • Many exceptions • Jesus taught celibacy as a legitimate option • Good reasons to break the normal custom ofmarriage: • Itinerant lifestyle and total devotion to God. • Would be killed at young age (cf. 1 Cor 7.26-29). • If had a child, men would argue about his divinity.

33. Was Jesus Married? • No reason to hide a marriage of Jesus and Mary: • A married Jesus would not offend his claims to divinity: • Jesus did many human things: hungered, thirsted, grew tired, wept, was tempted, etc. • Marriage, sex and children were created in the minds of God.

34. Was Jesus Married? • Biblical Evidence: No • Early Church Fathers: No • Gnostic Gospels?

35. Was Jesus Married? • Alleged Proof from the Gnostic Gospels • The Gospel of Philip – Jesus kissing Mary, his “companion” (Philip 63:32-64.10): “And the companion of the [Lord] Mary Magdalene [loved] her more than [all] the disciples [and used to] kiss her [often] on her […].” (Brackets = broken and missing sections in the manuscript)

36. Was Jesus Married? • Alleged Proof from the Gnostic Gospels • Where was the kiss? On the forehead, cheek or mouth? • It doesn’t say, as that part is missing. • Was the kiss sexual? • Probably not, even if on lips: • “For it is by a kiss that the perfect conceive and give birth. For this reason we also kiss one another” (Philip). • “Jesus said, ‘He who will drink from my mouth will become like me” (Thomas, 108).

37. Was Jesus Married? • Alleged Proof from the Gnostic Gospels • Does “companion” mean “wife”: • “As any Aramaic scholar will tell you, the word companion, in those days, literally meant spouse” (TDVC pg. 246). • This gospel was originally written in Greek and even the Coptic translation found at Nag Hammadi borrows the Greek koinonos for “companion”. • Greek koinonos = “Partners” (Lk 5.10; 2 Cor 8.23); “partakers”; “fellowship”, “sharers”. Never “wife” in Scripture. • “Wife” is Gk. Gyne

38. Was Jesus Married? • Alleged Proof from the Gnostic Gospels • Dated to 4th Cent. A.D. • What is there to confirm their accuracy? • Many Gnostic stories are symbolic for spiritual ideas: • Mary = Gnostics. • The other disciples = the Christians who reject the Gnostics.

39. Was Jesus Married? • Biblical Evidence: No • Early Church Fathers: No • Gnostic Gospels?

40. Was Jesus Married? • Biblical Evidence: No • Early Church Fathers: No • Gnostic Gospels? No

41. Claim #3 – “Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene”

42. Various Other Historical Blunders: • “Priory of Sion est. in 1099 to protect the Holy Grail” • Truth: Priory of Sion was a hoax, est. by con-man Pierre Plantard in 1954; dissolved in 1957.

43. Various Other Historical Blunders: • Ancient Olympics occurred on an 8-year cycle to honor Venus. • Truth: 4-year cycle to honor Zeus.

44. Various Other Historical Blunders: • Five million women were burned as witches by the RCC during the Middle Ages. • Truth: ~30,000 men and women convicted (some killed) by RCC, secular governments and individuals.