"Unraveling the Modernity of Secret Mark": Insights from Stephen Carlson's "The Gospel Hoax"

In Stephen Carlson's compelling book, The Gospel Hoax, he scrutinizes the authenticity of the Secret Gospel of Mark, a text purportedly discovered by Morton Smith. Carlson's analysis casts significant doubt on the manuscript's origins, arguing convincingly that it is a modern forgery. Here, we summarize the key points of Carlson's arguments, as presented in The Gospel Hoax.

The Questionable Authenticity of the Manuscript

Carlson begins by questioning the very foundation of the Secret Gospel of Mark's authenticity. The only evidence for its existence is a letter attributed to Clement of Alexandria, which Smith claimed to have discovered in the Mar Saba monastery. However, this letter and its manuscript have never been subjected to rigorous physical examination, leaving their authenticity highly dubious.

Informal and Oral Expert Opinions

One of Carlson's critical points is the informal nature of the expert opinions that Smith relied on to authenticate the manuscript. These opinions were mostly oral and not documented in writing, making it impossible to verify their accuracy or the conditions under which they were given. This lack of formal documentation casts further doubt on the manuscript's authenticity.

Inconsistencies in Handwriting Analysis

Carlson meticulously analyzes the handwriting of the manuscript, identifying several forensic red flags. These include unnatural hesitations in pen strokes, a phenomenon known as "forger's tremor," and anomalies in letter shapes. Such features suggest that the manuscript was written slowly and deliberately, indicative of a modern forgery rather than an authentic eighteenth-century document.

Anachronisms and Modern References

One of the most compelling arguments Carlson presents is the presence of anachronisms within the text. For instance, the manuscript contains references to salt-making technology that did not exist in Clement's time. The phrase "spend the night with" is another example, which in mid-twentieth-century American English was a euphemism for casual sex. This euphemism would have been too sexually charged to be coincidental, pointing towards a modern origin for the text.

Suspicious Provenance and Lack of Historical Evidence

The provenance of the manuscript is another major issue. There is no evidence tracing its existence before Smith's visit to Mar Saba in 1958. Smith's ambiguous statements about the manuscript's discovery and his failure to document any prior presence of the manuscript at the monastery further question its authenticity.

Hyper-Clementine Style

Carlson argues that the Letter to Theodore, which contains the Secret Gospel of Mark, is too Clementine to be true. The text exhibits an excessive concentration of Clement's stylistic features, suggesting it is a deliberate imitation. This over-reliance on Clement's known vocabulary and writing style indicates that the forger had access to modern tools, such as Stählin's concordance, which would have facilitated the creation of a convincing imitation.

Incongruities with Known Clementine Works

There are also contradictions between the content of the Letter to Theodore and Clement's recognized works. For example, the letter's interpretation of Jesus' saying about salt losing its flavor diverges significantly from Clement's known explanations. These inconsistencies undermine the letter's authenticity and suggest a modern forgery.

Embedded Clues Suggesting Modern Forgery

Carlson identifies embedded clues within the manuscript that hint at its modern forgery. For instance, the manuscript's references and language align more closely with mid-twentieth-century contexts than with the second century. The detailed description of a young man wearing a linen cloth over his naked body, and the implication that Jesus spent the night with him, suggest a euphemism that resonates with modern understandings of sexuality rather than ancient ones.

Conclusion

Stephen Carlson's The Gospel Hoax presents a thorough and convincing case against the authenticity of the Secret Gospel of Mark. Through meticulous analysis of the manuscript's handwriting, stylistic features, and historical inconsistencies, Carlson argues that the letter is a modern forgery, likely authored by Morton Smith himself. His work invites scholars and readers alike to reassess the evidence and consider the possibility that one of the most intriguing discoveries in biblical scholarship might be an elaborate hoax.

For a more detailed exploration of these arguments, you can refer to Stephen Carlson's book, The Gospel Hoax.