New "Deep Dive" Podcast Episode 16: Was There a Collection of Letters at the End of the Original Stromateis? (Part Three)

 

Podcast 16

Summary 

The provided text explores the possibility that Clement of Alexandria's work, Stromateis, was originally structured around a series of letters. The author argues that Clement's use of Plato's letters in Stromateis and the similarities between a text known as To Theodore and Plato's letters suggest a connection between Clement's epistolary work and his larger literary composition. The author further suggests that To Theodore resembles a “secret gospel” that Clement may have discussed in Stromateis, and that both texts reflect a common tradition of using letters to discuss hidden divine mysteries. The author contends that Morton Smith, who claimed to have discovered a “secret gospel” of Mark, mistakenly attributed the source of To Theodore to Clement without recognizing its connection to the letters of Plato. Clement of Alexandria uses the Epistles of Plato to understand the "mystery" of the Gospel of Mark by highlighting the limitations of written texts in conveying profound spiritual truths. Clement draws a parallel between Plato's concept of "speaking in enigmas" and Mark's description of the "mystery of Christ." 

Let's examine how Clement establishes this connection: 

● Clement points out that both Plato and Mark recognized the inadequacy of written words in fully expressing divine mysteries. He quotes Plato's Epistles, where Plato emphasizes the need for caution in writing about important matters to avoid misunderstandings or misuse, stating that "every serious man must be very careful not to ever write down among men anything about what is truly important". This aligns with Mark's approach of presenting the "mystery of Christ" through parables and veiled language. 

● Clement argues that both Plato and Mark employed a degree of secrecy or hiddenness in their writings, not to exclude but to protect the deeper truths from those who were not yet ready to comprehend them. He emphasizes that these mysteries were meant to be revealed gradually through spiritual guidance and initiation. 

● Clement draws a parallel between the "secret gospel" mentioned in relation to Mark and the esoteric nature of Plato's Epistles. He suggests that both alluded to hidden teachings that were not explicitly revealed in their writings. 

In essence, Clement uses Plato's Epistles to illuminate the idea that Mark's Gospel, particularly its presentation of the "mystery of Christ," operates on multiple levels of understanding. While the surface level is accessible to all, the deeper truths require spiritual maturity and guidance to grasp fully.