Book Review – The Virgin and the Priest by Mark Gibbs

Scandalous, provocative and controversial are the theories and conclusions presented in this book, yet they may be absolutely true. At least they are definitely worth considering. Author Mark Gibbs has spent 30 years researching religious history and in this work he sheds light on the origins and development of Christianity.

Gibbs research is not limited to scripture alone, his knowledge of Hebrew and Gospel writing traditions, as well as culture and civilization in in the Middle East and Europe, and art history, come together to create a real life understanding of Jesus and the past 2000 years of Christianity. The first half of the book is dedicated to understanding the lineage of Jesus and the Holy Family. The second half of the book describes the development of Christian theology after the death of both John the Baptist and Jesus.

How Well Do You know Christian History?

I was fascinated, captivated and intrigued by the evidence presented and logical conclusions drawn, especially in the first half of the book. Although the concept of Jesus having a physical father is not a new one, it is helpful to see the patterns and parallels that Gibbs draws from the old and new testament scripture. The decoding of cryptic images from Renaissance paintings gives further evidence that there has always been a subculture of people who were aware of secrets about the Holy Family.

Some of Gibbs theories most certainly draw from his background at the Unification Theological Seminary, yet he has delved deep into a wide variety of both ancient and modern texts to offer proof of the central relationship the book is concerned with, that Jesus and John the Baptist were brothers. However, this is not a simple book with one theory to prove, it’s as complex as life can be.

What I enjoyed most about this book was learning in great detail how the thoughts, relationships and choices of people influence the development of religion and culture across vast distances and over a long period of time. History is far more fascinating when the motivations, secrets and little known facts of real people are revealed.

Keys to unlock an age old conflict

Throughout the book it is often hard to identify the author’s point of view. At times he seems to be playing devil’s advocate. Finally however, in the conclusion he lays his cards on the table. Gibbs presents this in depth study of “The Making of the Messiah” and other religious history, beginning in Genesis and ending with an understanding of modern geopolitical struggles, not simply to debunk accepted theological tenants. His purpose is to offer hope and liberation through understanding.

The Virgin and the Priest is rich with historical lessons we can apply to modern life. What if Sarah had loved Hagar and Ishmael instead of asking Abraham to cast them out? Would the current conflicts in the Middle East exist if the ancestors had behaved differently?

Is it possible that all the world’s conflicts can be traced back to a conflict between brothers? Differences of opinion that could not be resolved with compassion and unity for the sake of a higher purpose are as old as Cain and Abel. For me, reading this book highlighted the importance of seeking God’s viewpoint before my own, seeking to love as God loves, forgive as God forgives, and to be mindful that faith requires us to move beyond our limited concepts.

Life is about relationships and everything in life develops from our thoughts, beliefs and relationships. It would serve us well then to be careful of the direction of our thoughts, to seek the greater good in our beliefs, and to take good care of our relationships. This book highlighted the importance of of that to me, and although it’s not an easy read, I highly recommend it.