New "Deep Dive" Podcast Episode 24: Smith and Landau's The Secret Gospel of Mark: A Controversial Scholar, a Scandalous Gospel of Jesus, and the Fierce Debate over Its Authenticity (Part Six)

Podcast 24

Summary 

This text excerpts from a book that examines the controversy surrounding the discovery of a manuscript at Mar Saba, a monastery in the Judean desert, by Morton Smith. The manuscript, containing a "secret gospel" of Mark, was claimed to have been a letter from Clement of Alexandria to Theodore regarding a dispute with the Carpocratians. The text focuses on a debate about the authenticity of the manuscript, initiated by scholar Quentin Quesnell, who questioned the documentation of the manuscript and accused Smith of forgery. The excerpt examines Quesnell's argument and the evidence he used to support his theory, including Smith's photographic documentation of the manuscript, the security of the monastery, and Smith's communication with the patriarchate. It also examines Quesnell's motives and how he attempted to persuade Smith to reveal the manuscript as a forgery. 

Here are some factors that contributed to the controversy surrounding the Mar Saba manuscript: 

● Limited Access to the Manuscript: Scholars could not easily access the physical manuscript which was located in the tower library at Mar Saba monastery. This made it difficult to verify its authenticity. Gaining access to the monastery's private collection was challenging, even for those with proper credentials. 

● Inadequate Documentation: While Morton Smith, the discoverer of the manuscript, provided black-and-white photographs of the manuscript, some critics argued that he should have taken color photographs for better contrast. Additionally, Harvard University Press cropped the photographs, obscuring the edges of the book pages. These factors raised questions about the thoroughness of the documentation. 

● Quentin Quesnell's Accusations: Quentin Quesnell, a biblical studies professor, was the first scholar to accuse Smith of forging the manuscript. He argued that Smith had a responsibility to ensure the evidence was safe and readily available for examination, which Smith allegedly neglected. Quesnell pointed to discrepancies in the photographs and the lack of scientific testing as evidence for his claim. 

● Quesnell's Hidden Agenda: Although Quesnell denied accusing Smith of forgery in his published article, newly discovered documents reveal that he privately believed Smith to be the forger. He even drafted a letter to Smith outlining his suspicions but ultimately chose not to send it. This suggests that Quesnell may have had ulterior motives in publicizing his doubts about the manuscript's authenticity. 

● Smith's Response: Smith defended himself against Quesnell's accusations, arguing that he had taken appropriate measures to document his discovery and that the circumstances surrounding the manuscript's location and accessibility made further testing difficult. He also pointed out that the monastery lacked the necessary equipment for scientific analysis. 

● Political and Logistical Challenges: The manuscript's location in Jordanian-controlled East Jerusalem in 1958 presented political obstacles to scientific testing, as it would have required bringing the manuscript into Israeli-controlled West Jerusalem. This highlights the complex geopolitical context surrounding the controversy. 

● Lack of Widespread Support for Quesnell: While Quesnell's accusations sparked debate, most scholars did not immediately accept his forgery hypothesis. It would be several years before others publicly argued against the manuscript's authenticity. This suggests that Quesnell's claims were not initially considered conclusive. 

The controversy surrounding the Mar Saba manuscript is complex and multifaceted, with factors such as limited access, questionable documentation, accusations of forgery, hidden agendas, and political challenges contributing to the debate.