False GospelsFalse Gospels

The InfamousThe Infamous

The Secret Gospel of MarkThe Secret Gospel of Mark

1. The Mystery-Background1. The Mystery-Background

Mark is the oldest and shortest gospel (most Mark is the oldest and shortest gospel (most likely but not certainly).likely but not certainly).

Mark was not used extensively by the early Mark was not used extensively by the early church fathers.church fathers.

Irenaeus tells us that Mark was used by Irenaeus tells us that Mark was used by Gnostics because:Gnostics because:– Spirit of God comes on Christ at baptismSpirit of God comes on Christ at baptism– Spirit seems to leave him at the cross Spirit seems to leave him at the cross

2. The Mystery-Question2. The Mystery-Question

Was there another version of the gospel of Was there another version of the gospel of Mark?Mark?

There are claims of another gospel of There are claims of another gospel of Matthew (see Eusebius).Matthew (see Eusebius).

Did this version have elements that the early Did this version have elements that the early church wanted out?church wanted out?

3. The Mystery-Main Player3. The Mystery-Main Player

Morton Smith was one of the most erudite Morton Smith was one of the most erudite scholars of Christian antiquity.scholars of Christian antiquity.

He was very skilled in Greek, Latin, He was very skilled in Greek, Latin, paleography, I Clement, etc.paleography, I Clement, etc.

He was a Ph.D. student at Harvard and He was a Ph.D. student at Harvard and spent time in Israel in the monastery of Mar spent time in Israel in the monastery of Mar SabaSaba

Years later he went back to Mar Saba while Years later he went back to Mar Saba while on sabbaticalon sabbatical

4. The Mystery-The Find4. The Mystery-The Find

While Smith was in Mar Saba he decided to While Smith was in Mar Saba he decided to catalog the books in the library.catalog the books in the library.

He found a seventeenth-century edition of He found a seventeenth-century edition of the seven letters of Ignatius.the seven letters of Ignatius.

Handwritten at the end of the end of the Handwritten at the end of the end of the book was a copy of a letter which claimed to book was a copy of a letter which claimed to be from Clement of Alexandria. be from Clement of Alexandria.

5. The Mystery-The Text5. The Mystery-The Text

This letter was unknown to any Clement This letter was unknown to any Clement scholars.scholars.

Clement addresses a question about the Clement addresses a question about the existence of a second version of Mark.existence of a second version of Mark.

Clement says that Mark had produced two Clement says that Mark had produced two versions, the second only for the spiritual versions, the second only for the spiritual elite.elite.

A sect called Carpocratians misused it.A sect called Carpocratians misused it.

The TextThe Text

Clement goes on to narrate two passages Clement goes on to narrate two passages from this secret gospel.from this secret gospel.

The passages have homo-erotic overtones.The passages have homo-erotic overtones.

6. The Mystery-The Book6. The Mystery-The Book

Smith photographed the letter from Clement Smith photographed the letter from Clement and spent the next 12 years studying itand spent the next 12 years studying it

He allowed paleographers to examine the He allowed paleographers to examine the writing, which did seem 18writing, which did seem 18thth century. century.

Experts in Clement agreed that it had Experts in Clement agreed that it had Clement’s style.Clement’s style.

Experts on Mark agreed that this did read Experts on Mark agreed that this did read like the gospel of Mark.like the gospel of Mark.

The BookThe Book

The real problem was that the book was The real problem was that the book was never seen and thus the letter was never never seen and thus the letter was never seen, by anyone else.seen, by anyone else.

Smith argued that this pericope did go back Smith argued that this pericope did go back to the historical Jesus.to the historical Jesus.

Smith wrote two books, one for laymen and Smith wrote two books, one for laymen and one for scholars.one for scholars.

7. The Mystery-A Forgery?7. The Mystery-A Forgery?

Few scholars were willing to say so during Few scholars were willing to say so during his lifetime, but more now are willing to say his lifetime, but more now are willing to say that this document may be a forgery, that this document may be a forgery, perhaps by Smith himself.perhaps by Smith himself.

No one has seen the manuscript.No one has seen the manuscript. Many have argued that the letter is “too Many have argued that the letter is “too

Clement.” It is as if someone went Clement.” It is as if someone went overboard trying to emulate his style.overboard trying to emulate his style.

A Forgery?A Forgery?

The book of Ignatius’s letters was the first The book of Ignatius’s letters was the first published edition to include only the seven published edition to include only the seven authentic letters and not the forged letters.authentic letters and not the forged letters.

On the facing page to where the Clement On the facing page to where the Clement letter is copied, the editor writes that later letter is copied, the editor writes that later scribes have incorrectly modified the original scribes have incorrectly modified the original text and added considerable historical drivel.text and added considerable historical drivel.

Smith dedicates his popular book to “The Smith dedicates his popular book to “The One who Knows” Who is this and what One who Knows” Who is this and what does he know?does he know?

Forgery?Forgery? The handwriting reveals what is called the The handwriting reveals what is called the

“Forgers Tremor” which occurs when a text “Forgers Tremor” which occurs when a text is not written so much as “drawn.”is not written so much as “drawn.”

The evidence of mildew in the photos may The evidence of mildew in the photos may show that the book was not a part of the Mar show that the book was not a part of the Mar Saba library (no mildew in the dry climate).Saba library (no mildew in the dry climate).

The entire story is foreshadowed in a novel The entire story is foreshadowed in a novel by James Hunter called by James Hunter called The Mystery of Mar The Mystery of Mar SabaSaba

ConclusionConclusion

This work is certainly not a cononical work.This work is certainly not a cononical work. If it is a forgery it is a brilliant piece of work, If it is a forgery it is a brilliant piece of work,

perhaps the best forgery in the last several perhaps the best forgery in the last several hundred years.hundred years.

For more work see B. Ehrman’s For more work see B. Ehrman’s Lost Lost ChristianitiesChristianities or Evens or Evens Fabricating JesusFabricating Jesus