The Da Vinci Deception [Paperback]

Erwin Lutzer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 4, 2006

2005 Gold Medallion Award finalist!
Was Jesus really married to Mary Magdalene? Did they actually have children who intermarried with the French royal family? Has the church been hiding the truth for centuries? In his best-selling work of fiction, The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown blurs the lines between history and fiction, giving the impression they are one and the same and that Christianity is based on a lie. In The Da Vinci Deception, Erwin Lutzer, renowned theologian and pastor of the world-famous Moody Church in Chicago, examines the "facts" behind the best-selling novel, clarifies the issues involved in the deception, and equips readers with the truth. Mass paper edition includes study guide.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Could it be possible? Did Leonardo Da Vinci really disguise the most amazing secret of all within his world-famous paintings? Did the early church initiate and perpetuate one of the biggest cover-ups of all time in an effort to promote male dominance and superiority? And what about the Holy Grail? Could it be, as some believe, the actual remains of Mary Magdalene? And if all this is true, what does it mean for us as Christians?

If you’ve read the best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code, you may be asking yourself these questions. In The Da Vinci Deception, respected Bible teacher Erwin W. Lutzer gives you the answers in his reader-friendly, accessible style. He exposes the myths behind these and other legends, uncovers the historical distortions presented in the novel, and equips you with the real story behind this story. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Was Jesus really married to Mary Magdalene?
Did they actually have children who intermarried with the French royal family?
Has the church been hiding the truth for centuries?

In his best-selling novel, The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown blurs the lines between history and fiction, leaving readers wondering, Could this really be true? And if it is true, what does it mean for us as Christians? By distorting the truth, Brown implies that Christianity is based on a lie.

In The Da Vinci Deception, respected Bible teacher Erwin W. Lutzer gives you the “facts” behind the fiction in his reader-friendly, accessible style. He exposes the myths behind these and other legends, uncovers the historical distortions presented in the novel, and equips you with the real story behind this story.

Whether or not you have read Brown’s novel, you will learn the historical basis of early Christianity and gain clear and authoritative answers to the confusion surrounding the life of Jesus and the Christian faith.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (January 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414306334
• ISBN-13: 978-1414306339
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,292,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Erwin W. Lutzer is senior pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago. A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and Loyola University, he is the author of numerous books, including the Gold Medallion Award winner "Hitler's Cross" and the best seller "One Minute After You Die". He is also a teacher on radio programs heard on more than 700 stations throughout the United States and the world, including "Songs in the Night," "The Moody Church Hour," and the daily feature "Running to Win." He and his wife, Rebecca, live in the Chicago area and have three married children and seven grandchildren.


Rebecca Lutzer

Rebecca Lutzer is the wife of Erwin W. Lutzer, senior pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago, where they have enjoyed 28 years of ministry. For more than 30 years, Rebecca has been a pastor's wife and has used her gifts of hospitality, mercy, and teaching to minister to many women. She has taught Bible studies, counseled and discipled women, organized conferences and seminars, and spoken to women's groups. Rebecca was born and grew up in Dallas, Texas, where she attended Dallas Bible College. She is an RN and enjoyed working as a surgical nurse for several years. God provided numerous opportunities for her to bring comfort and peace to those going into surgery by sharing the love of Christ with them. It has always been Rebecca's passion to teach women how to grow in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. The heart of her message focuses on helping women learn how to live faithfully in the seasons of life, waiting for God to meet their needs in His time and way. She is the mother of three lovely married daughters and the grandmother of six adorable grandchildren. Rebecca and her husband coauthored "Jesus, Lover of a Woman's Soul," a book about Jesus' real relationships with women throughout His life--and how He changed their worlds.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent treatment of FACTS, February 26, 2005

By 

Susie Q "Susie Q" (Southern USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Da Vinci Deception (Hardcover)

Lutzer's book is straightforward and easy to read. He points out all of the blatant lies and more subtle half-truths found in Dan Brown's book. People already opposed to true Christianity won't like this book because, through careful examination of the facts, it shows why the Bible is accurate and true. Lutzer demonstrates that what the Bible tells us about Jesus is much more based on fact than Dan Brown's work of fiction. I highly recommend it to anyone who is seeking answers to the questions raised by The DaVinci Code.

53 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Quick, Helpful Read, June 21, 2004

By 

Brad Shorr "Brad Shorr" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Da Vinci Deception (Hardcover)

This handy little tract does a fairly nice job of debunking the novel. It's easy to read and hits some very important historical points people should understand before reading "The Da Vinci Code". In particular, the author pokes so many holes in the Gnostic gospels (upon which most of Dan Brown's bizarre speculations rest) that in the end they seem about as convincing as Swiss cheese. Lutzer,from the Moody Bible Institute, draws heavily from Catholic Tradition to make his case, so I applaud his ecumenical spirit.

48 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the Best of the Genre, March 14, 2005

By 

R. Kirkham "jrkirkham" (Rushville, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Da Vinci Deception (Hardcover)

With an attack on Christianity of the size spawned by "The Da Vinci Code" one might expect a mass of apologetic works to roll off the shelf, which is exactly what happened. This little book is one of those. It is easy to read and does it job plainly, but it is not the best of its type out there. I would urge the serious reader toward either "Cracking Da Vinci's Code" by James L. Garlow & Peter Jones or "Breaking the Da Vinci Code" by Darrell L. Bock.