Freethought & Rationalism Archive

stephan huller · 09-21-2013, 10:38 AM

The traditional reading of a passage in Eusebius which reports a lost tradition of Clement that the gospels with genealogies had been produced 'first' - i.e. prograthein - was challenged by Stephen Carlson arguing instead that the same word should be interpreted as meaning 'openly.' I would argue that the implications of Carlson's arguments assumes that Matthew and Luke were preached 'publicly' and that Mark was done 'in secret.' We should read then:

Quote:

Again, in the same books Clement set forth, in the following manner, a tradition of the early elders about the order of the gospels: Clement said that those of the gospels which contain genealogies have been published openly, but that the Gospel according to Mark had this arrangement: after Peter had preached the word publicly in Rome, and expressed the gospel by the spirit, those who were present, being many, urged Mark, since he had followed Peter from way back and remembered what had been said [by him],to write down what was said. After doing so, Mark imparted the gospel to those who were asking him [for it]. When Peter learned of this, he used his powers of persuasion neither to hinder nor to encourage it.

In other words, there is no reference to which gospel was published first or last but instead Matthew and Luke as 'openly published' and Mark as essentially a text developed in secret. Of course Stephen Carlson - like Francis Watson - does not want to admit that the passage in Clement supports the idea that Mark wrote a specifically 'secret' gospel. While Carlson admits that "Clement explained that Mark’s gospel was initially distributed to a limited number of people without the awareness or endorsement of Peter" and that "the adversative conjunction de implies that the passage about Mark contrasts in some way with the statement on Matthew and Luke" he is unwilling to admit that the specific contrast extended to the idea that Mark wrote in secret or mystic gospel while Matthew and Luke were public gospels.

Nevertheless we learn about 'secret' gospels from other sources - the Prescript. Haer. 22 - and of course the Letter to Theodore ...

aa5874 · 09-21-2013, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephan huller

In other words, there is no reference to which gospel was published first or last but instead Matthew and Luke as 'openly published' and Mark as essentially a text developed in secret. Of course Stephen Carlson - like Francis Watson - does not want to admit that the passage in Clement supports the idea that Mark wrote a specifically 'secret' gospel. While Carlson admits that "Clement explained that Mark’s gospel was initially distributed to a limited number of people without the awareness or endorsement of Peter" and that "the adversative conjunction de implies that the passage about Mark contrasts in some way with the statement on Matthew and Luke" he is unwilling to admit that the specific contrast extended to the idea that Mark wrote in secret or mystic gospel while Matthew and Luke were public gospels.

Nevertheless we learn about 'secret' gospels from other sources - the Prescript. Haer. 22 - and of course the Letter to Theodore ...

According to Church History gMatthew was written first, gMark second, gLuke 3rd, gJohn was Last and was supposedly documented by Origen.

Church History 6.25. 4

Quote:

. Among the four Gospels, which are the only indisputable ones in the Church of God under heaven, I have learned by tradition that the first was written by Matthew, who was once a publican, but afterwards an apostle of Jesus Christ, and it was prepared for the converts from Judaism, and published in the Hebrew language.

5. The second is by Mark, who composed it according to the instructions of Peter, who in his Catholic epistle acknowledges him as a son, saying, 'The church that is at Babylon elected together with you, salutes you, and so does Marcus, my son.'

6. And the third by Luke, the Gospel commended by Paul, and composed for Gentile converts. Last of all that by John.

See also Origen's Commentary on Matthew 1.

Origen's Commentary on Matthew

Quote:

Concerning the four Gospels which alone are uncontroverted in the Church of God under heaven, I have learned by tradition that the Gospel according to Matthew, who was at one time a publican and afterwards an Apostle of Jesus Christ, was written first; and that he composed it in the Hebrew tongue and published it for the converts from Judaism.

The second written was that according to Mark, who wrote it according to the instruction of Peter, who, in his General Epistle, acknowledged him as a son, saying, “The church that is in Babylon, elect together with you, salutes you; and so does Mark my son.”

And third, was that according to Luke, the Gospel commended by Paul, which he composed for the converts from the Gentiles.

Last of all, that according to John.

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