The Unintended Exoneration of Morton Smith: Insights from Quesnell's Photographic Enlargements

One of the key insights provided by Quentin Quesnell's photographic enlargements of the Letter to Theodore manuscript is the potential exoneration of Morton Smith—an outcome that Quesnell himself likely did not anticipate. This significant development centers on a critical line in the manuscript, "γυμνοὶ γυμνῷ," which contrasts with Smith's transcription of "γυμνὸς γυμνῷ." If Agamemnon Tselikas’s interpretation is correct, the forgery hypotheses are significantly undermined. The plural form "γυμνοὶ" could include women, deviating from the primary focus of many of the forgery theories that connect Smith to homoerotic themes.

Investigating the Manuscript

To investigate this discrepancy, I began by sending a high-resolution scanned copy of the word that preceded "γυμνῷ" in the manuscript to about fifty experts in the field of post-Byzantine paleography. Along with this, I provided scanned high-resolution images of the entire manuscript. I simply asked each of them whether the final letter of this word was an iota or a sigma. This methodology mirrored Quesnell’s own suggestions with respect to his “blow-up” images of the manuscript, which he referenced in his 1988 funding application:

"If ink tests cannot be performed, the second-best possibility is to get paleographic experts in 18th-century Greek working on the negatives and slides which I now possess. Under magnification, many small corrections are visible in the text and many inconsistencies in the formation of certain letters in various parts of the manuscript. Only a professional paleographer can make acceptable judgments as to whether these anomalies are consistent with genuineness. I would have to contact two or three of them, supply them with copies, and preferably be present to answer their questions as they worked."

Expert Analysis

Of the twenty experts who responded to my initial inquiry, none identified the letter as a sigma, and all but one confirmed the letter as an iota. This near-unanimous agreement among paleographic experts provides compelling evidence that the manuscript reads "γυμνοὶ" (gymnoi) rather than "γυμνὸς" (gymnos).

Implications for Morton Smith

This finding significantly challenges the forgery theories surrounding Morton Smith. Many of these theories have speculated that Smith, who discovered the manuscript, had an interest in homoerotic themes and might have forged the document to align with these interests. The plural form "γυμνοὶ," which could include women, undermines this line of argumentation by suggesting a broader and less specific interpretation of the text.

Quesnell’s Contributions

Quesnell's meticulous work, particularly his photographic enlargements, played a crucial role in facilitating this new understanding of the manuscript. Despite his initial suspicions and efforts to expose a potential forgery, his contributions have inadvertently supported the authenticity of the Letter to Theodore. Quesnell’s 1983 trip to Jerusalem, the detailed photographs he arranged, and his comprehensive notes have become invaluable resources for ongoing scholarly investigation.

Conclusion

The unintended exoneration of Morton Smith through the analysis of Quesnell’s photographic enlargements highlights the importance of thorough and objective scholarly inquiry. The collective efforts of paleographic experts, building on Quesnell’s foundational work, have provided new insights into the authenticity of the Letter to Theodore. While the debate surrounding the manuscript continues, these findings represent a significant step forward in understanding this controversial document.