Letter of Clement of Alexandria on Secret Mark
Translated by Morton Smith.
From the letters of the most holy Clement, the author of the Stromateis. To
Theodore.
You did well in silencing the unspeakable teachings of the Carpocrations. For
these are the "wandering stars" referred to in the prophecy, who wander from the
narrow road of the commandments into a boundless abyss of the carnal and bodily
sins. For, priding themselves in knowledge, as they say, "of the deep things of
Satan", they do not know that they are casting themselves away into "the nether
world of the darkness" of falsity, and boasting that they are free, they have
become slaves of servile desires. Such men are to be opposed in all ways and
altogether. For, even if they should say something true, one who loves the truth
should not, even so, agree with them. For not all true things are the truth, nor
should that truth which merely seems true according to human opinions be
preferred to the true truth, that according to the faith.
Now of the things they keep saying about the divinely inspired Gospel according
to Mark, some are altogether falsifications, and others, even if they do contain
some true elements, nevertheless are not reported truly. For the true things,
being mixed with inventions, are falsified, so that, as the saying goes, even
the salt loses its savor.
As for Mark, then, during Peter's stay in Rome he wrote an account of the Lord's
doings, not, however, declaring all of them, nor yet hinting at the secret ones,
but selecting what he thought most useful for increasing the faith of those who
were being instructed. But when Peter died a martyr, Mark came over to
Alexandria, bringing both his own notes and those of Peter, from which he
transferred to his former book the things suitable to whatever makes for
progress toward knowledge. Thus he composed a more spiritual Gospel for the use
of those who were being perfected. Nevertheless, he yet did not divulge the
things not to be uttered, nor did he write down the hierophantic teaching of the
Lord, but to the stories already written he added yet others and, moreover,
brought in certain sayings of which he knew the interpretation would, as a
mystagogue, lead the hearers into the innermost sanctuary of that truth hidden
by seven veils. Thus, in sum, he prepared matters, neither grudgingly nor
incautiously, in my opinion, and, dying, he left his composition to the church
in 1, verso Alexandria, where it even yet is most carefully guarded, being read
only to those who are being initiated into the great mysteries.
But since the foul demons are always devising destruction for the race of men,
Carpocrates, instructed by them and using deceitful arts, so enslaved a certain
presbyter of the church in Alexandria that he got from him a copy of the secret
Gospel, which he both interpreted according to his blasphemous and carnal
doctrine and, moreover, polluted, mixing with the spotless and holy words
utterly shameless lies. From this mixture is drawn off the teaching of the
Carpocratians.
To them, therefore, as I said above, one must never give way; nor, when they put
forward their falsifications, should one concede that the secret Gospel is by
Mark, but should even deny it on oath. For, "Not all true things are to be said
to all men". For this reason the Wisdom of God, through Solomon, advises,
"Answer the fool from his folly", teaching that the light of the truth should be
hidden from those who are mentally blind. Again it says, "From him who has not
shall be taken away", and "Let the fool walk in darkness". But we are "children
of Light", having been illuminated by "the dayspring" of the spirit of the Lord
"from on high", and "Where the Spirit of the Lord is", it says, "there is
liberty", for "All things are pure to the pure".
To you, therefore, I shall not hesitate to answer the questions you have asked,
refuting the falsifications by the very words of the Gospel. For example, after
"And they were in the road going up to Jerusalem" and what follows, until "After
three days he shall arise", the secret Gospel brings the following material word
for word:
"And they come into Bethany. And a certain woman whose brother had died was
there. And, coming, she prostrated herself before Jesus and says to him, 'Son of
David, have mercy on me.' But the disciples rebuked her. And Jesus, being
angered, went off with her into the garden where the tomb was, and straightway a
great cry was heard from the tomb. And going near, Jesus rolled away the stone
from the door of the tomb. And straightaway, going in where the youth was, he
stretched forth his hand and raised him, seizing his hand. But the youth,
looking upon him, loved him and began to beseech him that he might be with him.
And going out of the tomb, they came into the house of the youth, for he was
rich. And after six days Jesus told him what to do, and in the evening the youth
comes to him, wearing a linen cloth over his naked body. And he remained with
him that night, for Jesus taught him the mystery of the Kingdom of God. And
thence, arising, he returned to the other side of the Jordan."
After these words follows the text, "And James and John come to him", and all
that section. But "naked man with naked man," and the other things about which
you wrote, are not found.
And after the words, "And he comes into Jericho," the secret Gospel adds only,
"And the sister of the youth whom Jesus loved and his mother and Salome were
there, and Jesus did not receive them." But the many other things about which
you wrote both seem to be, and are, falsifications.
Now the true explanation, and that which accords with the true philosophy ...
THE TEXT THEN CUTS OFF
