Secret Gospel of Mark — Disputed Witness Appendix

Secret Gospel of Mark - Disputed Witness Appendix

[This witness survives only through the Letter to Theodore attributed to Clement of Alexandria. The Gospel itself is not independently preserved. The manuscript witness is disputed, and the original letter breaks off before the explanation is completed.]

From the letters of Clement, the author of the Stromata, to Theodore.

You did well to silence the unspeakable teachings of the Carpocratians. They are the wandering stars spoken of in prophecy, turning away from the narrow way of the commandments into the measureless depth of bodily and fleshly sins. Boasting that they possess knowledge of the deep things of Satan, they do not know that they are casting themselves into the lower darkness of falsehood. Claiming to be free, they have become slaves of desires that make a human being servile.

Such people must be resisted in every way. Even if they say something true, the one who loves truth must not give agreement to them on that account. Not every true thing is the truth, and what appears true according to human opinion must not be placed above the true truth that belongs to faith.

Concerning what they keep saying about the God-inspired Gospel according to Mark: some things are entirely false, and other things, even when they contain something true, are not reported truthfully. True things, when mixed with invented things, become falsified, so that even the salt loses its taste.

As for Mark, while Peter was in Rome, he wrote an account of the Master’s actions. He did not set down everything, nor did he disclose the hidden matters, but chose what he judged useful for strengthening the faith of those being instructed.

After Peter’s death as a witness, Mark went to Alexandria, bringing both his own notes and the notes of Peter. From these he transferred into his earlier book the things suitable for those who were advancing toward knowledge. In this way he composed a more spiritual Gospel for those being brought to maturity.

Even so, he did not reveal the things not to be spoken, nor did he write down the sacred teaching of the Master reserved for initiation. Rather, to the stories already written he added other stories, and he also added certain sayings. He knew that their interpretation, as a guide into mystery, would lead the hearers into the innermost sanctuary of the truth hidden behind seven veils.

Thus, as I understand it, he arranged these things neither grudgingly nor carelessly. When he died, he left this writing to the assembly in Alexandria, where it is still guarded with great care and read only to those being initiated into the great mysteries.

But because foul spirits are always devising destruction for the human race, Carpocrates, instructed by them and using deceitful arts, enslaved a certain elder of the assembly in Alexandria and obtained from him a copy of the secret Gospel. He interpreted it according to his blasphemous and fleshly teaching, and also corrupted it by mixing shameless falsehoods with the spotless and set-apart words. From this mixture came the teaching of the Carpocratians.

Therefore, as I said, one must never yield to them. When they present their falsifications, one should not admit that the secret Gospel is by Mark, but should even deny it under oath. For not all true things are to be spoken to all people.

For this reason the Wisdom of God teaches through Solomon, 'Answer the fool according to his folly,' showing that the light of truth should be hidden from those whose minds are blind. Again it says, 'From the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken,' and, 'Let the fool walk in darkness.' But we are children of light, having been illuminated by the rising of the Breath of the Master from above. And where the Breath of the Master is, there is freedom; for all things are clean to the clean.

Therefore I will not hesitate to answer the questions you asked, refuting the falsifications by the very words of the Gospel.

After the words, 'And they were on the road going up to Jerusalem,' and the things that follow, down to, 'After three days he will rise,' the secret Gospel adds this material word for word:

And they came into Bethany. A certain woman was there whose brother had died. Coming near, she fell down before Yeshua and said to him, 'Son of David, have mercy on me.' But the disciples rebuked her. Yeshua became angry and went away with her into the garden where the tomb was. Immediately a great cry was heard from the tomb. Yeshua came near and rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb.

Immediately he went in to the place where the young man was. He stretched out his hand and raised him, taking hold of his hand. The young man looked at him, loved him, and began asking to remain with him. They went out from the tomb and came into the young man’s house, for he was rich.

After six days, Yeshua instructed him. In the evening the young man came to him wearing a linen cloth over his bare body. He remained with him that night, for Yeshua taught him the mystery of the Kingdom of God. From there, rising, he returned to the other side of the Jordan.

After these words follows the text, 'And James and John came to him,' and the rest of that passage. But the words 'naked man with naked man,' and the other things about which you wrote, are not found.

After the words, 'And he came into Jericho,' the secret Gospel adds only this:

The sister of the young man whom Yeshua loved was there, together with his mother and Salome. But Yeshua did not receive them.

The many other things about which you wrote both seem to be, and are, falsifications.

Now the true explanation, and the one that accords with the true philosophy...

[The letter breaks off here.]