A Christian Response to “The DaVinci Code” Forest Hills Bible Chapel 21 May 2006

A Christian Response to A Christian Response to “The DaVinci Code”“The DaVinci Code”

Forest Hills Bible ChapelForest Hills Bible Chapel21 May 200621 May 2006

What is “The DaVinci Code”?What is “The DaVinci Code”?

““The DaVinci Code” is a novel, written in The DaVinci Code” is a novel, written in 2003, by Dan Brown.2003, by Dan Brown.

Through some of its characters, it prevents Through some of its characters, it prevents some very controversial assertions about some very controversial assertions about Jesus Christ and Christianity.Jesus Christ and Christianity.

Though the novel, and movie, are described Though the novel, and movie, are described as “fiction,” the author clearly asserts some as “fiction,” the author clearly asserts some very specific beliefs he holds regarding the very specific beliefs he holds regarding the historicity of Christianity.historicity of Christianity.


It is a murder mystery, of the “thriller” It is a murder mystery, of the “thriller” sort.sort.

It contains 454 pages in 105 chapters, and is It contains 454 pages in 105 chapters, and is very much a “page turner”very much a “page turner”

Its author claims that it is an historical Its author claims that it is an historical novel, with a fictional plot and fictional novel, with a fictional plot and fictional characters.characters.

Consider the claims the novel makes:Consider the claims the novel makes:


““All descriptions of artwork, architecture, All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in thisdocuments, and secret rituals in thisnovel are accurate.” – Dan Brown.novel are accurate.” – Dan Brown.

The novel claims that orthodox Christianity The novel claims that orthodox Christianity is a hoax; “the greatest cover up in human is a hoax; “the greatest cover up in human history.”history.”

Characters in “The DaVinci Code”Characters in “The DaVinci Code”

Victim: Jacques Sauniere, Curator of the Victim: Jacques Sauniere, Curator of the Louvre Museum in Paris, and (secretly) the Louvre Museum in Paris, and (secretly) the Grand Master of the Priory of Sion.Grand Master of the Priory of Sion.

Characters in “The DaVinci Code”Characters in “The DaVinci Code” Murderer: Silas, a large albino monk, Murderer: Silas, a large albino monk,

associated with the allegedly secretive Opus associated with the allegedly secretive Opus Dei, an order of the Roman Catholic Dei, an order of the Roman Catholic Church.Church.


““The Teacher” – the master plotter of the The Teacher” – the master plotter of the novel; his identity is kept secret until near novel; his identity is kept secret until near the end of the novel. It is Silas, the albino the end of the novel. It is Silas, the albino monk, who does his bidding.monk, who does his bidding.


Robert Langdon, professor of symbology at Robert Langdon, professor of symbology at Harvard University – the “hero.”Harvard University – the “hero.”

Sophie Neuveu, cryptographer for the Sophie Neuveu, cryptographer for the French Judicial Police; granddaughter of French Judicial Police; granddaughter of the victim.the victim.

The Murder SceneThe Murder Scene

Sauniere has been found dead – murdered in the Louvre museum. Strangely, his dead body is posed in a manner that resembles DaVinci’s “Vitruvian Man”

The Plot of the Novel/MovieThe Plot of the Novel/Movie In the few minutes between being shot and In the few minutes between being shot and

dying, Sauinere leaves several cryptic clues dying, Sauinere leaves several cryptic clues about the reasons for his murder.about the reasons for his murder.

The police inspector believes that Robert The police inspector believes that Robert Langdon has committed the murder, but as Langdon has committed the murder, but as the police prepare to arrest Langdon, the police prepare to arrest Langdon, Sophie manages to spirit him away. Sophie manages to spirit him away.

They decipher clues her grandfather has They decipher clues her grandfather has left behind. These clues involve a left behind. These clues involve a secret secret group group which guards a which guards a devastating secretdevastating secret about the Church.about the Church.

The Plot of the Novel/MovieThe Plot of the Novel/Movie

The rest of the book is a combination of The rest of the book is a combination of their flight from the French police (and their flight from the French police (and from Silas the murderer), while from Silas the murderer), while simultaneously seeking to locate and simultaneously seeking to locate and decipher the clues Saunière has left behind decipher the clues Saunière has left behind to direct them to …the Holy Grail!to direct them to …the Holy Grail!

In the course of their flight, Sophie and In the course of their flight, Sophie and Langdon travel to several places in France, Langdon travel to several places in France, then to London, and finally to Scotland. then to London, and finally to Scotland.

Sir Leigh TeabingSir Leigh Teabing They seek out Leigh Teabing, ex-British They seek out Leigh Teabing, ex-British

Royal Historian, who lives in a chateau Royal Historian, who lives in a chateau outside Paris.outside Paris.

Teabing is one of the world’s experts on the Teabing is one of the world’s experts on the Holy Grail and the Priory of Sion.Holy Grail and the Priory of Sion.

Sir Leigh TeabingSir Leigh Teabing

Teabing fills them in on the secret of the Teabing fills them in on the secret of the Holy Grail.Holy Grail.

The “Secret” of the Holy GrailThe “Secret” of the Holy Grail

Jesus Christ was a mere mortal man – the Jesus Christ was a mere mortal man – the idea that he was Divine was not believed or idea that he was Divine was not believed or taught until the time of Constantine, taught until the time of Constantine, Emperor of Rome – ca. A.D. 325.Emperor of Rome – ca. A.D. 325.

At the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325, At the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325, Constantine commissioned a “new Bible” Constantine commissioned a “new Bible” which promoted Jesus as divine – which promoted Jesus as divine – destroying all those earlier documents destroying all those earlier documents which showed Jesus as a mere human.which showed Jesus as a mere human.

The “Secret” of the Holy GrailThe “Secret” of the Holy Grail

The purpose for “rewriting” the Bible was The purpose for “rewriting” the Bible was to consolidate and solidify the Church’s to consolidate and solidify the Church’s power base.power base.

In DaVinci’s “Last Supper” he tells us, not In DaVinci’s “Last Supper” he tells us, not wwhathat the Holy Grail is….but the Holy Grail is….but whowho the Holy the Holy Grail is.Grail is.

The Holy Grail…is a woman: Mary The Holy Grail…is a woman: Mary Magdalene, whose womb bore the seed of Magdalene, whose womb bore the seed of Jesus Christ!Jesus Christ!

The Last SupperThe Last Supper

A Christian ResponseA Christian Response The DaVinci CodeThe DaVinci Code is an interesting is an interesting

combination of very engaging, suspenseful combination of very engaging, suspenseful prose (my opinion), containing 1900+ year prose (my opinion), containing 1900+ year old heresy! It is at one and the same time old heresy! It is at one and the same time both very fascinating…and tirelessly boring both very fascinating…and tirelessly boring (again, my opinion)!(again, my opinion)!

The reliability, and the historicity, of the The reliability, and the historicity, of the New Testament gospels and epistles have New Testament gospels and epistles have long been affirmed, and are historically long been affirmed, and are historically defensible.defensible.

A Christian ResponseA Christian Response

While the first complete list of 27 New While the first complete list of 27 New Testament books is found in the Athanasian Testament books is found in the Athanasian Canon (A.D. 327), numerous books of the Canon (A.D. 327), numerous books of the NT were revered, and considered inspired, NT were revered, and considered inspired, as early as the first century A.D.as early as the first century A.D.

See, for example, 2 Peter 3:14-16, where See, for example, 2 Peter 3:14-16, where Peter considers the letters of Paul to be Peter considers the letters of Paul to be equal to “the other Scriptures.”equal to “the other Scriptures.”

Evidence of TraditionEvidence of Tradition by David Theron. by David Theron.


There is no reliable biblical or extra-biblical There is no reliable biblical or extra-biblical evidence that Jesus was married.evidence that Jesus was married.

1 Corinthians 9:5 – “Do we have no right to 1 Corinthians 9:5 – “Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?”Cephas?”

The NT Gospels were written within one The NT Gospels were written within one generation of Jesus; the apocryphal generation of Jesus; the apocryphal “gospels” were written 100-200 years after “gospels” were written 100-200 years after Jesus.Jesus.


While Mary Magdalene was an important While Mary Magdalene was an important person in the Gospel accounts, there is no person in the Gospel accounts, there is no biblical text which associates Mary with biblical text which associates Mary with either Jesus, or any other man.either Jesus, or any other man.

Many theologians, 200-300 years before Many theologians, 200-300 years before Constantine, affirmed the deity of Jesus Constantine, affirmed the deity of Jesus Christ.Christ.


Ignatius of Antioch (d. A.D. 117) – the Ignatius of Antioch (d. A.D. 117) – the Ephesian Christians are “…united and elect Ephesian Christians are “…united and elect in a true passion, by the will of the Father in a true passion, by the will of the Father and of Jesus Christ our God" and of Jesus Christ our God"

Polycarp of Smyrna (d. A.D. 155) – He Polycarp of Smyrna (d. A.D. 155) – He blesses those “…who shall believe on our blesses those “…who shall believe on our Lord and God Jesus Christ and on His Lord and God Jesus Christ and on His Father that raised Him from the deadFather that raised Him from the dead.”.”


Justin Martyr (d. A.D. 165) – “…the Father Justin Martyr (d. A.D. 165) – “…the Father of the universe has a Son, who--since He is of the universe has a Son, who--since He is the First-Begotten Logos of God--is true the First-Begotten Logos of God--is true Deity“Deity“

Irenaeus (d. A.D. 203) – Christians believeIrenaeus (d. A.D. 203) – Christians believe ". . . in one Christ Jesus, our Lord, the Son ". . . in one Christ Jesus, our Lord, the Son of God, was incarnate for our salvation. . . of God, was incarnate for our salvation. . . that to Christ Jesus, our Lord and God and that to Christ Jesus, our Lord and God and Savior and King, every knee should bow.Savior and King, every knee should bow.

Some Final ThoughtsSome Final Thoughts

There is a war between Truth and Error; There is a war between Truth and Error; Light and Darkness. This war has been Light and Darkness. This war has been going on since the Fall, and it continues going on since the Fall, and it continues today.today.

We must defend ourselves against false We must defend ourselves against false doctrine and error, while also reaching out doctrine and error, while also reaching out and showing the love of Christ to all those and showing the love of Christ to all those around us.around us.


Our faith is reasonable, historically Our faith is reasonable, historically defensible, and can be proven based on a defensible, and can be proven based on a proper presentation the biblical, historical proper presentation the biblical, historical evidence.evidence.

When we confront doubt (either in When we confront doubt (either in ourselves, or in others), our response should ourselves, or in others), our response should be positive, encouraging, and should stress be positive, encouraging, and should stress the clear truth of God’s revelation.the clear truth of God’s revelation.

Christianity is a Christianity is a subjective faithsubjective faith based on based on objective, historical criteria. objective, historical criteria. “He lives!”“He lives!”


Conspiracy theories by definition cannot be Conspiracy theories by definition cannot be disproved, and often collapse under their disproved, and often collapse under their own weight.own weight.

As Christians, let us not respond to As Christians, let us not respond to phenomena such as The DaVinci Code with phenomena such as The DaVinci Code with protests, picketing, and boycotts, because protests, picketing, and boycotts, because these simply don’t work.these simply don’t work.

For example,For example,

Two Final ThoughtsTwo Final Thoughts

““Be very careful, then, how you live – not as Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are every opportunity, because the days are evil.” - Ephesians 5:15-16evil.” - Ephesians 5:15-16

Always be prepared to give an answer to Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. – 1 Peter 3:15bgentleness and respect. – 1 Peter 3:15b

Documents

A Christian Response to “The DaVinci Code” Forest Hills Bible Chapel 21 May 2006