Don McClain W 65th St church of Christ - 5/21/2006 1 “Dan Brown's best-selling novel The Da Vinci...

Don McClain W 65th St church of Christ - 5/21/2006

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“Dan Brown's best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code

delivers it all: A riveting tale of international

intrigue set against a backdrop of religious

history. The book has 25 million copies in print and has spent more than two years on the New York

Times Bestseller List for Hardcover Fiction.”


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Was Jesus Married to Mary Was Jesus Married to Mary Magdalene and was she an Magdalene and was she an “apostle”??? “apostle”???

Would Jesus Being Single be Would Jesus Being Single be Un-Jewish? Un-Jewish?

Do the So-Called Secret, Do the So-Called Secret, Gnostic Gospels Help Us Gnostic Gospels Help Us Understand Jesus? Understand Jesus?

How Were the New Testament How Were the New Testament Gospels Assembled? Gospels Assembled?


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……sanctify Christ as Lord sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always in your hearts, always

being ready being ready to make a defense to to make a defense to

everyone who asks you to everyone who asks you to give an account for the give an account for the hope that is in you, yet hope that is in you, yet

with gentleness and with gentleness and reverence; reverence; 1 Peter 3:151 Peter 3:15


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Gnosticism, broadly construed, recognizes two deities: the

Demiurge-(flawed and wicked creator of a flawed and wicked material world) -who is often

equated with the God of the Old Testament; and the "good

God," the Father of Jesus, who sent his Son to show humans the way of salvation from the

corrupt material world. Salvation, under Gnosticism

consists primarily of acquiring secret knowledge, or gnosis.

According to the Gnostics, an agent or

one employed by the

Supreme Being to create the

material universe and man. [1913 Webster]


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Writings – “Gospel of Phillip”; “Gospel of Thomas”; “Gospel of

Truth”; “Gospel of Judas“ & others beginning in mid-second

century The Gospel of Thomas:

“Simon Peter said to them, "Mary should leave us, for females are not worthy of life." Jesus said,

"Look, I shall guide her to make her male, so that she too may

become a living spirit resembling you males. For every female who

makes herself male will enter heaven's kingdom."


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Valentinus – Combined Greek mysticism with Christianity to produce Gnostic system; died 160 AD

Marcion – God of OT different than God of NT;140 AD

Arius – late 300’s - early 400’s AD. – “the Son of God was not eternal,” addressed in the Council of Nicea


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““The Gospel of Truth” & The The Gospel of Truth” & The Gospel of Judas”Gospel of Judas”

“For if what they have published is the Gospel of truth, and yet is totally unlike those which have

been handed down to us from the apostles, any who please may learn, as is shown from the

Scriptures themselves, that that which has been handed down

from the apostles can no longer be reckoned the Gospel of truth.” -

Irenaeus 180 AD


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The Da Vinci Code draws on Gnostic

writings and modern re-interpretations of those

works as well as a pseudohistory of

Christian faiths along the lines of that

presented in “Holy Blood, Holy Grail.”

A controversial

non-fiction book

by Michael

Baigent, Richard

Leigh, and Henry

Lincoln, - based

on Pierre

Plantard's Priory

of Sion hoax. The

book was first

published in 1982


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Argues that there is evidence that Jesus married Mary

Magdalene, had one or more children, and that those

children or their descendents emigrated to what is now

southern France. Once there, they intermarried with the noble families that would eventually become the

Merovingian dynasty, which is championed today by a secret

society called the Priory of Sion.


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The Jesus Papers: Exposing the Greatest Cover-Up in History is a controversial

2006 book by author Michael Baigent. He explores the detailed

history of Jesus' life and crucifixion, claiming that a

set of papers backs his claims


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Sara James, Dateline correspondent: You believe that much of what we think we know about Jesus is a lie?

Michael Baigent, author: It’s a lie. It’s an obvious lie.

James: So basically, you’re asking anybody who is a Christian to question their fundamental beliefs?

Baigent: Absolutely.

Dateline NBC News - aired Sunday,

April 2 2006


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James: Some might call your position heresy.

Baigent: I should hope they would.

James: So you’re saying that there’s a cover up?

Baigent: There is a cover up. Of course there’s a cover up. . . . I don’t think Jesus died at the crucifixion. I think he survived.

Dateline NBC News - aired Sunday,

April 2 2006


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“The Last Temptation of Christ” – Nikos Kazantzakis

“The Sacred Mushroom” – John M. Allegro

“The Secret Gospel” - Christ, The Master Magician – Morton Smith

“The Jesus Scroll” – Jesus survived the cross and died at 80

“Jesus Christ Superstar” –1973


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“All descriptions of artwork,

architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate.”

Dan Brown, Author


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the Today Show October 10, 2005.

Matt Lauer: “How much of this is based on reality in terms of things that actually happened.”

Brown: “Absolutely all of it . . . is historical fact.”


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Good Morning America Nov 3, 2003,

Charlie Gibson: “How would the book have been different if he had been writing it as a work of non-fiction.

Brown: “I don’t think it would have [been different].”


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Supposedly, a secret

European society

founded in 1099 to

protect a secret

– Jesus’ marriage to

Marry Magdalene, and had a daughter, Sarah . . .

FACT: The Priory of Sion a

European secret society founded

in 1099 – is a real organization.

Page 1


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. . .The very existence of this society

“as presented by Brown and

others” is based on

documents forged by

Pierre Plantard

which were exposed in a

series of French Books

and a BBC documentary in 1996 as a

HOAX




Page 1


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National Geographic – “Da – “Da Vinci’s Vinci’s Code” –Code” –

5/20/2006 – Confirmed that the entire

“Prior of Sion”

claim is false!




Page 1


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Da Vinci - Grand master of the Priory

of Sion 1510-1519 – Fascinated with

“goddess iconology, paganism,

feminine deities, and contempt for the church.” – pg.

113


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The Sacred Feminine’ Was Covered Up By Church Authorities.”“The ancients envisioned their world in two halves – masculine and feminine.

Their Gods and Goddesses worked to keep a balance of power. Yin and yang.” (p36)


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Church leaders (some mysterious Catholic order (“The Opus Dei” ) hid this secret.

Long-suppressed Gospels—such as the Gospel of Mary, the Gospel of Thomas, and the Gospel of Philip—now are finally telling us the truth.


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“Mary Magdalene…her marriage to Jesus Christ… a matter of

historical record.” p. 244

Actual transcript from the Gnostic ‘gospel’ of Philip

3rd Century!

“And the companion of - (HOLE) -Mary Magdalene -

(Absent) - her more than the disciples… kiss her…”

'The (Second) Apocalypse of

James', - "'And he (Jesus)

kissed my mouth. He took

hold of me, saying, "My

beloved! Behold I

shall reveal to you those

(things) that (neither) [the] heavens nor

their archons have known. . . .


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“The Holy Grail” is not the cup but Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene carried the royal bloodline of Jesus

“Behold, Teabing proclaimed, the greatest cover-up in history, Not only was Jesus Christ married, but he was a father . . .” pg. 249 –


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According to the Da Vinci Code this is not John, but Mary Magdalene. Mary is the “Holy Grail” and the “V” symbolizes Jesus and Mary’s relationship… she would

carry His bloodline through a daughter named Sarah.

What’s the What’s the significance of the significance of the

“V” Formed by “V” Formed by Jesus and “John?”Jesus and “John?”

Not a PICTURE but a Not a PICTURE but a painting, painted by a painting, painted by a

PAGAN!!PAGAN!!


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Scripture references present Mary as a

devoted disciple, but there is not a hint of any kind of romantic relationship between

Jesus and Mary or that they married and had

children together.


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“Up until 325 AD disciples of Jesus held Him to be a great teacher, but not Lord and not deity”

Constantine and the Council of Nicea introduced the teachings about the Lordship and deity of Christ in 325 AD


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“Constantine turned Jesus into deity who existed beyond the scope of the human

world, an entity whose power was

unchangeable.” p. 233


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“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.” (p234)


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“Jesus’ establishment as the ‘Son of God’

was officially proposed and voted on by the Council of Nicaea…A relatively close vote at that.”

(p233)


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John 1:1-3 (NKJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the

Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with

God. [3] All things were made through Him, and

without Him nothing was made that was made.


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Clement of Rome (95); Hermas of Rome (95); Ignatius of Antioch

(110); Polycarp of Smyrna

(117,118).

“The Teachings of the Apostles” (The Didache) (100).


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The Council of Nicea did discuss the controversy between the

followers of Arius and of Athanasius. Athanasius and most

of the church leaders believed that Jesus was purely and simply God in the flesh come to earth. Arius thought Jesus was some

kind of specially-created being, not mere humanity but not fully God either. Neither side in this controversy would have agreed

with Dan Brown.


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The close vote on the deity of Jesus.

Some historians say that it was 218-2. Pretty lop-sided. . . .

Some historians who disagree that the vote was 218-2, say it

was 300-2.

We’re dealing with an author in The DaVinci Code who just isn’t

honest with the facts.


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“The Bible did not arrive by fax from heaven… The Bible is a

product of man, my dear. Not of God. The Bible did not fall

magically from the clouds. Man created it as a historical record of

tumultuous times, and it has evolved through countless translations, additions, and

revisions. History has never had a definitive version of the book.”

(p231)


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“There’s an enormous difference between

hypothetically discussing an alternate history of Christ,

and…” He paused. . . . “And presenting to the world thousands of ancient

documents as scientific evidence that the New

Testament is false.” (p. 341)


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2 Peter 1:21 (NKJV) for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,


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1. 66 books . . . 1,500+ years . . . about 40 different writers

2. Written in three languages . . . Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic

3. Written by writers from very different backgrounds – shepherds, fishermen, doctors, lawyers, kings, tax collectors

4. From Genesis to Revelation,. a harmonious unfolding story of sin and redemption.

Jesus Christ is the focus!!


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Dr. Norman Geisler stated it this way, “A book is not the Word of

God because it is accepted by the people of God. Rather, it was

accepted by the people of God because it is the Word of God. That is, God gives the book its

divine authority, not the people of God. They merely recognize the divine authority which God gives

to it.” [General Introduction to the Bible,

210].


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The very Evidence Disallowed By

Unbelievers, (i.e. the scriptures, over 5,000

manuscripts), Would Become Scientific Proof If They Were

NOT SCRIPTURE!!!!


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“every faith in the world is based on fabrication. That is the definition of faith - acceptance of

what we imagine to be true, that which we

cannot prove.” (p. 341)


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A FAITH based upon A FAITH based upon fabrication and lies is a fabrication and lies is a

wrong, UNSUBTANTIATED wrong, UNSUBTANTIATED FAITH!! FAITH!!

FAITH based upon FAITH based upon credible and sufficient credible and sufficient

evidence is different – it evidence is different – it can be proved beyond a can be proved beyond a

reasonable doubt!!reasonable doubt!!


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Hebrews 11:1,13 (NKJV)Hebrews 11:1,13 (NKJV)

Now faith is the substance of Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence things hoped for, the evidence

of things not seen. . . . [13] of things not seen. . . . [13] These all died in faith, not These all died in faith, not

having received the promises, having received the promises, but having seen them afar off but having seen them afar off

were assured of them, were assured of them, embraced them and confessed embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and that they were strangers and

pilgrims on the earth. pilgrims on the earth.


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Romans 10:17 (NKJV) Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

So then faith comes So then faith comes by hearing, and by hearing, and

hearing by the word hearing by the word of God. of God.


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1 Peter 1:23-25 (NKJV)1 Peter 1:23-25 (NKJV) having been born again, not having been born again, not

of corruptible seed but of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the incorruptible, through the

word of God which lives and word of God which lives and abides forever, . . . [25] . . . abides forever, . . . [25] . . .

the word of the Lord the word of the Lord endures forever."endures forever."


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Matthew 24:35 Matthew 24:35 (NKJV) (NKJV)

Heaven and Heaven and earth will pass earth will pass away, but My away, but My

words will by no words will by no means pass away.means pass away.


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Jesus IS The Son of God - John Jesus IS The Son of God - John 20:30-31; Col 1:13-22; John 20:30-31; Col 1:13-22; John 3:34-363:34-36

God Has Warned that Some God Has Warned that Some Would Deny Christ - Acts Would Deny Christ - Acts 20:28-30; 2 Pet 2:1; 3:1-220:28-30; 2 Pet 2:1; 3:1-2

God has said that there would God has said that there would be Doctrines Denying the be Doctrines Denying the Nature and Role of Jesus - Nature and Role of Jesus - 1 John 1:1-5; 2:18-19; 22; 1 John 1:1-5; 2:18-19; 22; 4:1-3; 5:20-214:1-3; 5:20-21


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GOD?John 17:17 (NKJV) Sanctify them by

Your truth. Your word is truth.


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1 Peter 3:151 Peter 3:15……sanctify Christ as Lord sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always in your hearts, always

being ready being ready to make a defense to to make a defense to

everyone who asks you everyone who asks you to give an account for to give an account for the hope that is in you, the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and yet with gentleness and

reverence; reverence;


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Don McClain W 65th St church of Christ - 5/21/2006 1 “Dan Brown's best-selling novel The Da Vinci...

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