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  Click here to explore some of the different stories and issues raised by The Da Vinci Code. Warning: this material contains plot spoilers! Left: A medieval tile shows a story from one of the infancy gospels. On the left, a boy falls dead while playing by the River Jordan with Jesus. On the right, Jesus receives a telling off from the Virgin Mary, and raises the boy back to life with his foot. |
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| INTRODUCING THE SECRET GOSPELS The Gospels of Judas and Mary have been in the news recently. Lost to the world for some 1,700 years, they were redicovered in the 20th century and have now been published for everyone to read. Below are short introductions to some of the main non-biblical gospels, with links to sites where you can discover more about them, and read the actual text for yourself. For introductions and downloads for the four gospels of the Bible, click here. The Gospel of Thomas Thought by some to have been written as early as AD 50, and by others as late as AD 180. There is no narrative, simply a list of 114 sayings of Jesus. Some of the sayings are very like the sayings of Jesus found in the biblical Gospel of Mark, while others are more mystical and less practical. In some ways, the Gospel of Thomas is like a secret Gnostic gospel, but it is more down-to-earth and has a considerable overlap with the biblical gospels. Some say Thomas regurgitates the biblical gospels, while others say it is the other way round. Click here for more info and to read the Gospel of Thomas. The Gospel of Judas Written sometime in AD 130-170. A manuscript for this gospel only came to light in the 1970s, and a translation was published in 2006. Its unique features are that Judas received secret teaching from Jesus. "Step away from the others," says Jesus to Judas, "and I shall tell you the mysteries of the kingdom." The gospel also portrays the betrayal of Jesus by Judas as a positive act, one that was arranged between the two of them beforehand. By betraying Jesus, Judas helps Jesus fulfil his mission. Click here for more info and to read the Gospel of Judas. The Gospel of Mary Written sometime in AD 150-200. Only fragments of this gospel have survived, but they contain a passage of Jesus' teaching, followed by Mary Magdalene trying to convince the male disciples of the mystical secrets he revealed to her. It famously includes a confrontation between Mary and Peter, who asks the other disciples: "Did he really speak with a woman in private, without our knowledge? Shall we all turn and listen to her? Did he prefer her to us?" The book was only accepted in Gnostic churches. Click here for more info and to read the Gospel of Mary. The Gospel of Peter Written sometime in AD 100-200. The story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus – though the book may once have been bigger and included more. This gospel is like Mark's gospel, but includes more miracles and anti-Judaism. It is highly critical of the Jews, blaming them entirely for the crucifixion, and absolving Pilate. Jesus is more spirit than flesh and blood, and the cross has a speaking part. In the early centuries of the Christian faith, the gospel of Peter was popular in many churches, but was eventually rejected. Click here for more info and to read the Gospel of Peter. The Infancy Gospel of Thomas Thought to have been written AD 100-170, and possibly much later. This book, like the Infancy Gospel of James, tells the story of Jesus' childhood, with an account that is full of often purposeless and vindictive miracles. For example, Jesus makes birds out of mud and then brings them to life, and he kills a friend while playing by the river Jordan, and then brings him back to life. These books were popular in the early years of the church, but were eventually rejected as fiction. Click here for more info and to read the Infancy Gospel of Thomas. The Gospel of Philip Written in AD 180-250. There is no narrative or teaching, just a sermon about obscure cosmological mysteries. The book is a meditation on salvation in which the author urges his readers not only to follow Christ but to become Christ themselves. This gospel was only ever accepted in Gnostic churches. Click here for more info and to read the Gospel of Philip. |
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