There is an implicit trust relationship between writers of historical fiction and their readers. Though this is a work of fiction, Teabing’s testimony has rocked the confidence of many Christians. The scrolls highlight glaring historical discrepancies and fabrications, clearly confirming that the modern Bible was compiled and edited by men who possessed a political agenda-to promote the divinity of the man Jesus Christ and use His influence to solidify their own power base” (231-234). And, of course, the Coptic Scrolls in 1945 at Nag Hammadi. The Dead Sea Scrolls were found in the 1950s in a cave near Qumran in the Judean desert. “Fortunately for historians,” Teabing said, “some of the gospels that Constantine attempted to eradicate managed to survive. The earlier gospels were outlawed, gathered up, and burned.” “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. From this sprang the most profound moment in Christian history.” Teabing paused, eyeing Sophie. To rewrite the history books, Constantine knew he would need a bold stroke. “Because Constantine upgraded Jesus’ status almost four centuries after Jesus’ death, thousands of documents already existed chronicling His life as a mortal man. “The twist is this,” Teabing said, talking faster now. “The vast majority of educated Christians know the history of their faith.” “And I assume devout Christians send you hate mail on a daily basis?” “A relatively close vote at that,” Teabing added. You’re saying Jesus’ divinity was the result of a vote?” “Jesus’ establishment as ‘the son of God’ was officially proposed and voted on by the Council of Nicaea.” “My dear,” Teabing declared, “until that moment in history, Jesus was viewed by His followers as a mortal prophet.a great and powerful man, but a man nonetheless. “At this gathering,” Teabing said, “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 Christ.” Sophie had heard of it only insofar as its being the birthplace of the Nicene Creed. “Constantine needed to strengthen the new Christian tradition, and held a famous ecumenical gathering known as the Council of Nicaea.” “The fundamental irony of Christianity! The Bible, as we know it today, was collated by the pagan Roman Emperor Constantine the Great.” “Who chose which gospels to include?” Sophie asked. “More than eighty gospels were considered for the New Testament, and yet only a relative few were chosen for inclusion-Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John among them.” “ life was recorded by thousands of followers across the land.” Teabing paused to sip his tea and then placed the cup back on the mantel. History has never had a definitive version of the book.” Man created it as a historical record of tumultuous times, and it has evolved through countless translations, additions, and revisions. The Bible did not fall magically from the clouds. Here are the “facts” related to us through Dan Brown’s character, the historian Sir Leigh Teabing: From this meeting “sprang the most profound moment in Christian history.” Jesus Gets an “Upgrade”Īccording to Brown, the epicenter of the massive deception foisted on Christians the world over is the Council of Nicea, which met in 325 A.D.
The Vatican lurks in the shadows, of course-maneuvering, manipulating, even murdering-suppressing the real truth for two millennia. Dan Brown’s tale is a frontal assault on the Jesus of Christianity that millions have placed their simple trust in for 2000 years.īrown dishes up a convoluted conspiracy of corrupted Gospels, doctrinal deception, theological suppression, book burning, the Holy Grail and, climactically, Jesus’ secret marriage to Mary Magdalene whose progeny remain to this day. No question about it, The Da Vinci Code is the blockbuster hit who’s only rival in publishing success is the Bible. The soft cover just came out with an initial release of five million. To date nearly 50 million copies of Dan Brown’s thriller have kept the midnight oil burning around the world. A talented reader was keeping me spellbound with a tale of murder, suspense, and intrigue. Instead, I was riveted to the words flowing from my in-dash CD player. The gridlock could continue all day as far as I was concerned.
There I was, at a dead standstill in the middle of the 405 in Los Angeles traffic, and I didn’t care. Robert Langdon, Harvard Religious Symbologist, The Da Vinci Code
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