The Da Vinci Code
Part I
By Allan E. McNabb

Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code, is a genius.  He took existing legends and myths and spun them into a twenty-first century, fictitious thriller that captivated imaginations around the world.

As any good author, Dan Brown claims that the book is based on truth, believing that “some of the theories discussed by these characters may have merit” (DanBrown.com).  But in actuality, the book is based on myths and legends invented long ago.

Good Comes From the Book
Some of the myths contained in the book were invented by Gnostics around two hundred years after Christ, in an effort to discredit Him and His church.

Besides the fact that The Da Vinci Code is very entertaining, I think it’s good that myths and legends, especially those of Gnostic origin, are exposed in the book.  Many people, through investigation of the things contained within The Da Vinci Code, have learned about Jesus and the Gnostic gospels.

As a matter of fact, this is Dan Brown’s intention.  On his web site, he says, “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.”

The Plot
In The Da Vinci Code, a man and woman (Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu) try to find the Holy Grail —  proof that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married, had at least one child, and that Jesus’ descendants walk the earth today.  In the end, the woman learns that she is a descendant of Jesus, which is a life altering revelation.

The movie ends with Robert Langdon solving the puzzle and determining the location of Mary Magdalene’s body.  With the body, DNA testing can be done to prove that specific individuals are Jesus’ descendants through Mary Magdalene.

But this isn’t the end of Robert Langdon.  Dan Brown is working on a sequel to The Da Vinci Code that picks up where the book left off, exploring “the hidden history of our nation's capital”  (DanBrown.com).

Grail Legends
There are three grail legends.  The first legend came from the imagination of Chretien de Troyes in the 12th century, who introduced the Holy Grail to the Arthurian legend as the cup from the last supper.

Other grail legends expanded and built upon the Arthurian legend.  One legend sets forth the Holy Grail as a small cup with a few drops of Jesus’ blood, collected by Mary Magdalene in the garden after His resurrection.  And another legend sets forth the Holy Grail as royal blood — Jesus married to Mary Magdalene whereby His earthly descendants walk the earth today.

Da Vinci’s, The Last Supper
In The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown employs a legend setting forth Leonardo da Vinci as a member of the Priory of Sion, an organization that protects the Holy Grail — Jesus’ marriage to Mary Magdalene, and His royal bloodline on earth today.

Allegedly, Da Vinci reveals these secrets in The Last Supper, which is illogical, even if he was a member of such an organization.  Some of the more notable aspects of the Da Vinci legend are:

  • He put Mary Magdalene to the right of Jesus, the position of prominence.  This is refuted by experts who note that the person toto Jesus’ right is pictured similarly to Da Vinci’s painting of John the Baptist; hence, it’s consistent with Da Vinci’s painting that the person to Jesus’ right is the apostle John.
  • There is a knife in Peter’s hand pointing toward Mary, showing that Peter wanted to kill her and become the head of the church.  But the knife probably reflects the violence Peter displayed when cutting off Malchus’ ear in the Garden of Gethsemane.

In reality, the Priory of Sion has been proven to be a fictitious organization created by Pierre Plantard, to substantiate his claiming that he was a descendant of Christ.  Before his death in 2000, Plantard confessed that the Priory of Sion was fictitious, and that the documents supporting its existence were fake.

The Gospels of Philip and Mary Magdalene
The gospels of Philip and Mary Magdalene are Gnostic gospels used in The Da Vinci Code.

The Gospel of Philip (late 3rd century) contains a fragment that reads, “Jesus frequently used to kiss her on the.”  The fragment breaks off and we do not know what followed.  Supporters of Gnosticism suggest that this is a reference to Jesus’ sexual relationship and marriage, telling us the He kissed Mary on the mouth.  But this is mere conjecture.  The fact is, no Gnostic Gospel states that Jesus and Mary were married, had a sexual relationship, or had children — such theories are advanced by modern religion, not by early Gnosticism.

The Gospel of Mary Magdalene (late 2nd century) alleges that Mary was the most loved by Jesus.  She allegedly received special teaching that none of the apostles received.  And Jesus, therefore, set her forth as the one He intended to lead His church — not Peter and the apostles.

Believe the Bible or Gnostic Gospels
In the next article, I’ll explore Bible verses relating to Jesus and Gnostics.  We must decide whether to believe the Bible, or Gnostic doctrines written hundreds of years after Christ.

As for Christians, faith comes by hearing God’s word, not Gnostic doctrines (Rom. 10:17).  Jesus is the source of our salvation as we obey Him through His word (Heb. 5:9; Jn. 8:24; 12:48).