Jesus under fire
So, we’ve got “The Da Vinci Code” movie, based on the best-selling book, coming out in May. And, there are all the spinoffs that have come or are planned. And, the TV specials feeding the craze …
Some misrepresenting Jesus and the Church, and some attempting to set the record straight on Jesus and Mary Magdalene, and Opus Dei and the Catholic Church …
Now, the attacks continue, and assuredly so will the corrections to the errors upon which those attacks base themselves. The Gnostic text The Gospel of Judas, found in Egypt in 1970, says that Jesus asked Judas to betray Him. Of course, the Gnostic Gospels, such as The Gospel of Mary, are used to give credence to theories that most trusted scholars reject.
However, America’s leading expert on ancient texts has said it will have little impact. And that’s how it should be. But, everyone loves a conspiracy — as Dan Brown’s novel proved.
Irenaeus said the writings came from a “Cainite” Gnostic sect that jousted against orthodox Christianity. He also accused the Cainites of lauding the biblical murderer Cain, the Sodomites and Judas, whom they regarded as the keeper of secret mysteries.
And, then there’s scientist who has said that Jesus walked on ice, not water.
Darrell Bock, a professor of New Testament studies at the Dallas Theological Seminary, lightheartedly dismissed the idea that Jesus walked on ice.
“I’m just cold to the theory,” said Bock, author of “Breaking the Da Vinci Code,” which defends traditional Christian beliefs challenged in Dan Brown’s “Da Vinci Code.”
Of course, its not the first time that someone has challenged the miracle. Some have said that Jesus was walking on the shore line and the disciples thought he was walking on water.
The thing about Jesus walking on the water is that the Bible says that Peter did it also … that he got out of the boat which was quite a ways out into the lake. And, that Jesus walked up, got Peter and they climbed into the boat together. Certainly they would have known of the ice, and wouldn’t have trembled at such a thing.
Yes, this release will certainly stir up some controversy, but most likely not as much as people may want! The Gnostic teachings found in the ‘Gospel’ of Judas were addressed previously by Ireneus (bishop of Lyons) in AD 180, in his treatise ‘Against Heresies.’ Liberal scholar Elaine Pagel’s statement in regards to the release of ‘Judas’ seems to indicate that there was no orthodoxy at the time, which is quite incorrect. Though Gnosticism presented some difficulties to Orthodox Christianity, it should be noted that this trend came after the establishment of the church and represents a syncretism of philosophy rather than an authentic teaching. I’ve written a bit more in response to ‘Judas’ on my blog- take a look if you’re interested. - a fellow apologist
CB said this on April 6th, 2006 at 11:30 pm