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The Da Vinci Code and Church History
by Dr. Darryl DelHousayeWhat on earth is the Church? Take this study to find out
“The church’s version of the Christ story is inaccurate, and that the greatest story ever told is, in fact, the greatest story ever sold.” (Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code p.267)
The Da Vinci Code claims: Did Constantine make up the deity of Jesus?
The Council of Nicea from where we get the Nicene Creed was controlled by Constantine to consolidate his power. Establishing Christ’s divinity was critical to the further unification of the Roman Empire and to the new Vatican power base. By officially endorsing Jesus as the Son of God, Constantine turned Jesus into a deity who existed beyond the scope of the human world, an entity whose power was unchallengeable.” (Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code p.232, 233)
History's version:
In 325 AD there was a council of Nicea where Constantine permitted some 300 church leaders representing the consensus of the church to meet. The council was convened to address a fragment teaching that was in conflict with the teaching of the New Testament scriptures.
The heresy was Arianism, named after Arius who was teaching that Jesus was not completely divine. Arius taught that Jesus was not fully God because God created Him, and yet even Arius did not believe Jesus was a mere “mortal.”
Constantine convened the Council to address this problem and restore peace in the church. The Council of Nicea was convened to define the faith based on the consensus of early church and let the debate take place. Athanasius represented the consensus and Arius and his supporters were overwhelmingly defeated and banished.
Now here’s the rest of the story. Constantine began to waver and within three years the Arians denying full divinity were restored to their office, while Athanasius and those who affirmed the full diety of Jesus were exiled. When Constantius succeeded Constantine as emperor he renewed the persecution of those who believed in the divinity of Jesus.
The question of history is who was oppressed and persecuted: not those who rejected the Lord’s divinity, as Brown claims, but those who believed in it.
Dr. Darryl DelHousaye is the president of Phoenix Seminary. He earned his B. A. degree from California State University at Northridge, his M. Div. degree from Talbot School of Theology, and his doctorate degree from Western Seminary. He teaches in the areas of pastoral theology and New Testament at Phoenix Seminary, and he maintains a rigorous schedule of preaching and teaching in Arizona and nationally.
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