Mar Saba Letter - Text

Text

See also: Secret Gospel of Mark

The letter, addressed to one Theodore, discusses a Secret Gospel of Mark and quotes two excerpts from this gospel, one of which mentions "the mystery of the kingdom of God." Clement begins by commending Theodore's actions against the Carpocratians, a heretical sect. He then turns to address questions posed by Theodore regarding the Gospel of Mark, a secret variant of which the Carpocratians claim to have. Clement admits to knowledge of a second secret or mystical version of the gospel, written by Mark for "those being perfected". However, he asserts that the version promoted by the Carpocratians is not an accurate representation of this; they have corrupted the original with their own false additions. To illustrate this, two ostensibly genuine excerpts from the gospel are supplied. The letter breaks off abruptly as Clement begins to explain the passages.

Read more about this topic:  Mar Saba Letter

Famous quotes containing the word text:

    “Don Pedro. But when shall we set the savage bull’s horns on the sensible Benedick’s head?
    Claudio. Yes, and text underneath, “Here dwells Benedick, the married man?””
    —William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

    “I am so glad you have been able to preserve the text in all of its impurity.”
    —Samuel Beckett (1906–1989)

    “I would define the poetic effect as the capacity that a text displays for continuing to generate different readings, without ever being completely consumed.”
    —Umberto Eco (b. 1932)