Da Vinci Code Series

Part Two:Was Jesus Married?

Da Vinci Code Series

Part Two:Was Jesus Married?

Was Jesus Married?Was Jesus Married?

• Question started surfacing in Spring 2003.

• Didn’t drop out of the sky but came from this bestseller.

• Already 19% of respondents of beliefnet have said they believe that Jesus was married.

• Question started surfacing in Spring 2003.

• Didn’t drop out of the sky but came from this bestseller.

• Already 19% of respondents of beliefnet have said they believe that Jesus was married.

Biblical Challengesfrom

The Da Vinci Code

Biblical Challengesfrom

The Da Vinci Code

Biblical ChallengesBiblical Challenges

• p. 231 – “The Bible is a product of man, my dear. Not of God.”

• p. 235 – “Almost everything our fathers taught us about Christ is false.”

• p. 233 – “You’re saying Jesus’s divinity was the result of a vote?”

• p. 231 – “The Bible is a product of man, my dear. Not of God.”

• p. 235 – “Almost everything our fathers taught us about Christ is false.”

• p. 233 – “You’re saying Jesus’s divinity was the result of a vote?”

Biblical ChallengesBiblical Challenges

• p. 231 – “More than eighty gospels were considered for the New Testament.”

• p. 249 – “Mary Magdalene carried the royal bloodline of Jesus Christ?”

• p. 249 – Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and had a child.

• p. 231 – “More than eighty gospels were considered for the New Testament.”

• p. 249 – “Mary Magdalene carried the royal bloodline of Jesus Christ?”

• p. 249 – Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and had a child.

Sound Familiar?Sound Familiar?

• Most of the ideas can be found in the book Holy Blood, Holy Grail.

• The difference?• The book Holy Blood, Holy

Grail sold 20,000 copies while The Da Vinci Code has already sold nearly five million.

• Most of the ideas can be found in the book Holy Blood, Holy Grail.

• The difference?• The book Holy Blood, Holy

Grail sold 20,000 copies while The Da Vinci Code has already sold nearly five million.

What is the Da Vinci Code?What is the Da Vinci Code?

• Mary Magdalene is in Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting The Last Supper (244).

• V-shape is the symbol for the Holy Grail.

• Mary Magdalene is in Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting The Last Supper (244).

• V-shape is the symbol for the Holy Grail.

Who was Mary Magdalene?Who was Mary Magdalene?

• Mary was from the town of Magdala.• Mary traveled with Jesus (entourage).• Mary was at the cross, at the burial, and at the

resurrection.• Mary was not a prostitute:

• Misperception began with Pope Gregory (AD 591) who conflated two different people into one.

• Confused with prostitute (Luke 7:36-50) who washed the feet of Jesus.

• Mary was from the town of Magdala.• Mary traveled with Jesus (entourage).• Mary was at the cross, at the burial, and at the

resurrection.• Mary was not a prostitute:

• Misperception began with Pope Gregory (AD 591) who conflated two different people into one.

• Confused with prostitute (Luke 7:36-50) who washed the feet of Jesus.

New TestamentNew Testament

• No reference to Jesus being married.

• Gospels talk about his natural relatives (father, mother, siblings), but never a wife.

• No reference to Jesus being married.

• Gospels talk about his natural relatives (father, mother, siblings), but never a wife.

Jesus & Other WomenJesus & Other Women

• Unlike other Jewish leaders, Jesus had close relationships with women.

• Several women (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna) helped support Jesus and the disciples.

• Unlike other Jewish leaders, Jesus had close relationships with women.

• Several women (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna) helped support Jesus and the disciples.

How do we answerthe challenges of

The Da Vinci Code?

How do we answerthe challenges of

The Da Vinci Code?

The Last SupperThe Last Supper

Gnostic TextsGnostic Texts

• Discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt in 1945.

• They were an important archaeological find.

• Yielded 45 works, five of which were called “gospels.”

• Gospel of: Truth, Thomas, Egyptians, Philip, and Mary.

• Discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt in 1945.

• They were an important archaeological find.

• Yielded 45 works, five of which were called “gospels.”

• Gospel of: Truth, Thomas, Egyptians, Philip, and Mary.

Gnostic TextsGnostic Texts

• A few of the texts are cited in The Da Vinci Code to prove that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene.

• These are:• Gospel of Mary (2nd C.)• Gospel of Philip (3rd C.)

• A few of the texts are cited in The Da Vinci Code to prove that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene.

• These are:• Gospel of Mary (2nd C.)• Gospel of Philip (3rd C.)

Gospel of MaryGospel of Mary

But Andrew answered and said to the brethren, “Say what you (wish to) say about what she has said. I at least do not believe that the Savior said this. For certainly these teachings are strange ideas.” Peter answered and spoke concerning these same things. He questioned them about the Savior: “Did He really speak with a woman without our knowledge and not openly? Are we to turn about and all listen to her? Did He prefer her to us?”

But Andrew answered and said to the brethren, “Say what you (wish to) say about what she has said. I at least do not believe that the Savior said this. For certainly these teachings are strange ideas.” Peter answered and spoke concerning these same things. He questioned them about the Savior: “Did He really speak with a woman without our knowledge and not openly? Are we to turn about and all listen to her? Did He prefer her to us?”

Gospel of MaryGospel of Mary

Then Mary wept and said to Peter, “My brother Peter, what do you think? Do you think that I have thought this up myself in my heart, or that I am lying about the Savior?” Levi answered and said to Peter, “Peter, you have always been hot tempered. Now I see you contending against the woman like the adversaries. But if the Savior made her worthy, who are you indeed to reject her? Surely the Savior knows her very well. That is why He loved her more than us.”

Then Mary wept and said to Peter, “My brother Peter, what do you think? Do you think that I have thought this up myself in my heart, or that I am lying about the Savior?” Levi answered and said to Peter, “Peter, you have always been hot tempered. Now I see you contending against the woman like the adversaries. But if the Savior made her worthy, who are you indeed to reject her? Surely the Savior knows her very well. That is why He loved her more than us.”

Gospel of PhilipGospel of Philip

“And the companion of the […] Mary Magdalene. [… loved] her more than [all] the disciples [and used to] kiss her [often] on her […]. The rest of the disciples were offended by it and expressed disapproval.”

Gospel of Philip 63:33-36

“And the companion of the […] Mary Magdalene. [… loved] her more than [all] the disciples [and used to] kiss her [often] on her […]. The rest of the disciples were offended by it and expressed disapproval.”

Gospel of Philip 63:33-36

Gnostic “Evidence”Gnostic “Evidence”

• Both texts are probably symbolic.

• Gospel of Mary – Peter (Orthodox), Mary (Gnostics).

• Gospel of Philip – kissing is most likely symbolic.

• Neither teaches that Jesus was married.

• Both texts are probably symbolic.

• Gospel of Mary – Peter (Orthodox), Mary (Gnostics).

• Gospel of Philip – kissing is most likely symbolic.

• Neither teaches that Jesus was married.

Other “Evidence”Other “Evidence”

• Mary traveled with Jesus.• She was not the only women to do so.

• Mary had a “special” relationship with Jesus.• Even if this is true, notice that this is never

called marriage.• Jesus as a good Jew would be married. He

was also a teacher and functioned like a rabbi (Mark 11:21).

• Mary traveled with Jesus.• She was not the only women to do so.

• Mary had a “special” relationship with Jesus.• Even if this is true, notice that this is never

called marriage.• Jesus as a good Jew would be married. He

was also a teacher and functioned like a rabbi (Mark 11:21).

Was Single UnJewish?Was Single UnJewish?

• Jesus was not technically a rabbi, nor did He portray Himself as one.

• Jesus talks about “eunuchs for the kingdom” (Matthew 19:10-12) and appears to model it after Himself.

• The Essenes were known for their emphasis on celibacy (Josephus, Antiquities 18.1.5.21; Jewish War 2.8.2.121-122; Philo, Hypothetica 11.14-18).

• Jesus was not technically a rabbi, nor did He portray Himself as one.

• Jesus talks about “eunuchs for the kingdom” (Matthew 19:10-12) and appears to model it after Himself.

• The Essenes were known for their emphasis on celibacy (Josephus, Antiquities 18.1.5.21; Jewish War 2.8.2.121-122; Philo, Hypothetica 11.14-18).

Contrary EvidenceContrary Evidence

• Mary is not tied to any male anywhere when she is named in Scripture.

• Jesus shows no special concern for Mary Magdalene at the cross.

• Other disciples were married, but Jesus is not named (1 Corinthians 9:4-6).

• Early church had no problem with prominent women (e.g. Mary, the Mother of Jesus).

• Mary is not tied to any male anywhere when she is named in Scripture.

• Jesus shows no special concern for Mary Magdalene at the cross.

• Other disciples were married, but Jesus is not named (1 Corinthians 9:4-6).

• Early church had no problem with prominent women (e.g. Mary, the Mother of Jesus).

ConclusionConclusion

• Jesus was not married to Mary Magdalene.• She was not pregnant with his child• She did not flee to France.• There is no royal bloodline.• There is no conspiracy to cover up what never

happened.• Next week Pat Zukeran will talk about New

Testament reliability and the gnostic texts.

• Jesus was not married to Mary Magdalene.• She was not pregnant with his child• She did not flee to France.• There is no royal bloodline.• There is no conspiracy to cover up what never

happened.• Next week Pat Zukeran will talk about New

Testament reliability and the gnostic texts.

Why isThe Da Vinci Code

Popular?

Why isThe Da Vinci Code

Popular?

Three UmpiresThree Umpires

• “There’s balls and there’s strikes, and I call ‘em the way they are.”

• “There’s balls and there’s strikes, and I call ‘em the way I see ‘em.”

• “There’s balls and there’s strikes, and they ain’t nothing until I call them.”

• “There’s balls and there’s strikes, and I call ‘em the way they are.”

• “There’s balls and there’s strikes, and I call ‘em the way I see ‘em.”

• “There’s balls and there’s strikes, and they ain’t nothing until I call them.”

Truth Is Stranger Than It Used to Be (1995)

Three Views of TruthThree Views of Truth

• Pre-modernism – God-centered universe, revelation, truth is absolute.

• Modernism (1850-1945) – Enlightenment, science, truth is relative.

• Postmodernism (1945+) – loss of hope for truth, truth is created.

• Pre-modernism – God-centered universe, revelation, truth is absolute.

• Modernism (1850-1945) – Enlightenment, science, truth is relative.

• Postmodernism (1945+) – loss of hope for truth, truth is created.

PostmodernismPostmodernism

• Postmodernism – is the belief that truth is not discovered but created.

• It is the belief that truth doesn’t exist except as the individual wants it to exist.

• In a postmodern world, the narrative becomes an important way to communicate truth.

• The Da Vinci Code is successful because it is a novel that tells a story.

• Postmodernism – is the belief that truth is not discovered but created.

• It is the belief that truth doesn’t exist except as the individual wants it to exist.

• In a postmodern world, the narrative becomes an important way to communicate truth.

• The Da Vinci Code is successful because it is a novel that tells a story.