How to Detect a Forgery: The Secret Gospel of Mark

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New manuscripts discoveries in Biblical studies are often outed as forgeries, But sometimes -- rarely -- they turn out to be authentic. How do scholars distinguish between fact and fiction, especially when they only have access to photographs or copies? Is it possible for a text to pass all authenticity tests and still be a clever forgery? Today we’re back with Dr. Morton Smith and the Secret Gospel of Mark to discuss he discovered an actual ancient document with unknown information about Jesus, or turned up a forgery of some kind, or possibly even forged it himself.

Megan asks Bart:

Just to refresh our memories, what is the “secret” gospel of Mark?

Could you remind us how it was discovered?

How did Morton Smith go about trying to determine its authenticity?

What did those steps to authentication entail?

What were the original doubts of the authenticity of the letter?

Why hasn’t the manuscript itself been analysed to see how old it is?

While chemical analysis hasn’t been possible, Smith did have experts look at photographs of the handwriting, and he analyzed the language himself. What was the outcome of these studies?

Is there anything suspicious about the book it was allegedly copied into?

Scholars sometimes make personal attacks on others who take a controversial position. DId that happen in this case?

Is there a consensus?