Unraveling the Mystery of the "Secret Gospel of Mark": Insights from Stephen Carlson's The Gospel Hoax (Part 2)

In his groundbreaking book, The Gospel Hoax, Stephen Carlson delves deep into the controversies surrounding the Secret Gospel of Mark and the authenticity of the manuscript known as the Letter to Theodore. His meticulous analysis challenges the widely accepted notions about this ancient text. Here, we summarize Carlson's main points, highlighting why he believes the Letter to Theodore is a modern forgery and not a genuine work of Clement of Alexandria.

1. Questionable Authenticity of the Manuscript

One of Carlson's primary arguments is that the Secret Gospel of Mark, purportedly discovered by Morton Smith, lacks substantial physical evidence to support its authenticity. Smith’s treatment of the manuscript involved minimal scrutiny, with only three pages and three cropped photographs dedicated to authenticating it. The manuscript's unavailability for physical testing has further compounded the issue, leaving researchers reliant solely on Smith’s photographs.

2. Informal and Oral Expert Opinions

Carlson points out that the expert opinions Smith relied upon were informal and oral. Smith did not preserve any written reports, making it impossible to verify whether he accurately understood their opinions. Moreover, the circumstances under which these opinions were given are unclear, raising doubts about their reliability.

3. Inconsistencies in Handwriting Analysis

Carlson scrutinizes the handwriting of the manuscript, noting several forensic red flags, including unnatural hesitations, "forger's tremor," and anomalies in letter shapes. These features suggest the writing was executed slowly and deliberately, indicating it might be a modern imitation rather than an authentic eighteenth-century hand.

4. Anachronisms and Modern References

Carlson identifies several anachronisms in the Letter to Theodore. For instance, the imagery used in the letter presupposes salt-making technology that did not exist in Clement’s time. The reference to "salt losing its savor" aligns more with modern table salt, which includes anti-caking agents, than with ancient forms of salt. This discrepancy suggests a modern origin for the letter.

5. Suspicious Provenance and Lack of Historical Evidence

The manuscript's provenance is highly questionable. There is no evidence to trace its existence before 1958, the year of Smith’s visit to the Mar Saba monastery. Smith’s ambiguous statements about the discovery and his failure to document any prior presence of the manuscript at Mar Saba further cast doubt on its authenticity.

6. Hyper-Clementine Style

Carlson argues that the Letter to Theodore 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 the forger had access to modern tools, such as Stählin’s concordance, which would have facilitated the creation of a convincing imitation.

7. Incongruities with Known Clementine Works

Carlson highlights 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. Such inconsistencies undermine the letter’s authenticity.

8. Embedded Clues Suggesting Modern Forgery

Carlson suggests that the letter contains embedded clues hinting at its modern forgery. For example, he points to the connection between Morton Smith and Morton Salt, implying that the forger might have left intentional hints within the text and commentary.

Conclusion

Stephen Carlson's The Gospel Hoax presents a compelling case against the authenticity of the Letter to Theodore and the Secret Gospel of Mark. Through rigorous analysis of the manuscript's handwriting, stylistic features, and historical inconsistencies, Carlson argues that the letter is a modern forgery rather than a genuine work of Clement of Alexandria. His work invites scholars 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 analysis, you can refer to Stephen Carlson’s book, The Gospel Hoax.