Seek the Truth -- The Da Vinci Code (IV)

Everyone loves a good conspiracy theory. In The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown creates a gripping story by masterfully weaving together our human fondness for cover-up stories, society’s current distrust of organized religion in general and the Catholic Church in particular, and the intriguing idea of “lost books of the Bible”. Allegedly, by suppressing the true Gospels (the Gnostic Gospels), the Catholic Church covered up the true story about Jesus, i.e., that he was a mere man who wedded Mary Magdalene and with whom he had a child. To many readers, the story sounds plausible, especially since Brown claims that the historical aspects of the Code are true. But is there any evidence for this wild claim? Was Jesus married? Did he have a relationship at all with Mary Magdalene, beyond that of a Teacher to a disciple? Did they have a child together?

There has always been a certain mystique to Mary Magdalene, simply because the Bible tells us so little about who she is. We know that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her and that she was one of several women who traveled with and supported Jesus and His disciples (Lk 8.1-3; Mk 15.41). Along with these other women, Mary was present at Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. Jesus first appeared to these women after his resurrection, but to Mary first of all (Mk 16.9; Jn 20.11-18). Unlike the other women, however, she is never connected with any male, suggesting that she was not married. If she had been married to Jesus, the Gospel writers could easily have mentioned it, just as they mentioned the husbands of others. Yet there is no hint of any kind of relationship between Mary and Jesus beyond that of Teacher and disciple.

If Jesus had been married, there was plenty of opportunity for the Bible writers to say so. The Gospels mention Jesus’ mother, brothers and sisters, but never a wife (Mt 12.46-47; 13.55-56). At the cross, Jesus showed concern for the future care of his mother, but said nothing of Mary Magdalene, though she was likewise present (Jn 19.26-27). The apostle Paul also had a perfect opportunity to speak of it, in 1 Cor 9.5-6. In this passage, in order to prove the right of a gospel preacher to be financially supported so that he could take care of his wife, Paul appealed to the wives of Peter and the other apostles and even Jesus’ brothers. If Jesus had had a wife, this would have sealed Paul’s argument, but there is no mention of it. The Biblical Gospels are silent about Jesus being married simply because Jesus was not married.

For further details. see the Power Point presentations on this website.

© 2006 Randy Hohf