The Da Vinci Code and the Secrets of the Temple [Paperback]

Robin Griffith-Jones (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2006

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown continues to fascinate both conspiracy theorists and regular readers the world over. As Master of the Temple church in London, Robin Griffith-Jones lives at the hub of this excitement, and in this book he unveils the mysteries of The Da Vinci Code, answering questions like these:

Was Jesus married to Mary Magdalene?
Does the Priory of Sion really exist?
Is the Last Supper filled with hidden symbolism?
What did the Knights Templar discover about Jesus?
Is Opus Dei the Catholic Church’s secret service?
What exactly is the Holy Grail?

As The Da Vinci Code speeds towards its climax, the novel’s main characters — Robert Langdon, Sophie Neveu, and Sir Leigh Teabing — follow a string of clues to London’s ancient Temple Church, the spiritual home of the Knights Templar. This very church is where Robin Griffith-Jones has given hundreds of talks to the throngs of modern-day pilgrims on the "Da Vinci trail." In this book Griffith-Jones covers all the main elements of Dan Brown’s work — the Priory of Sion, Opus Dei, Leonardo’s Last Supper, Mary Magdalene, and more. An expert on the Knights Templar as well as a biblical scholar, Griffith-Jones unpacks Brown’s understanding of history and Christianity, exploring how much of his version is true, what is plausible, and what is fanciful.

A literate insider’s introduction, "The Da Vinci Code" and the Secrets of the Temple is perfect for anyone looking to unlock the mysterious secrets of Dan Brown’s runaway best-seller.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robin Griffith-Jones is Master of the Temple Church in London, England. He has worked with Mother Teresa’s sisters in Calcutta, as a chaplain at Oxford, and has appeared in TV specials produced by ABC, CNN, NBC, and the BBC. His other books include The Four Witnesses and The Gospel according to Paul.

Product Details

• Paperback: 130 pages
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (April 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802840388
• ISBN-13: 978-0802840387
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,032,168 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended to fans of The Da Vinci Code., October 3, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Da Vinci Code and the Secrets of the Temple (Paperback)

The Da Vinci Code And The Secrets Of The Temple by biblical scholar and Knights Templar expert Robin Griffith Jones (Master Of Temple Church In London, England) is a guide to the popular novel and movie "The Da Vinci Code", and the debate about how much history and accuracy exists in the story that purports Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene had a child. Literate, yet accessible to the lay reader, The Da Vinci Code And The Secrets Of The Temple explains biblical text, the novel's characters' quest, and what modern biblical archaeology and schools of thought have to say. An open discussion especially recommended to fans of The Da Vinci Code.

5 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Who does this book serve?, May 19, 2006

By 

Lee St Clair (Miami, FL, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Da Vinci Code and the Secrets of the Temple (Paperback)

Robin Griffith-Jones is a Christian minister. Let that be your guide when considering this book. I read The Four Witnesses, and it is an exquisitely fine piece of historical and theological writing. It doesn't pretend to be anything else. This book, as much as it might like to convince you prior to your purchase that it is a fair and balanced look at the facts of The Da Vinci Code, is anything but. It presents nothing that has not already been hashed and re-hashed by those Christians who oppose the plotlines of Dan Brown's book, so don't pick up this book thinking otherwise. Is the central plotline of Dan Brown's novel (novel is defined as a work of fiction, by the way) true? Who knows? Who cares? It's a novel. Isn't it time to let this go and move on? The Christian Church has survived 2,000 years of every conceivable theological and philosophical attack, and for some strange reason it is still here. I doubt this novel will do much to change that.