Clement Of Alexandria And A Secret Gospel Of Mark -

The original book was moved to Athens and the letter has since "disappeared," leaving only Smith’s photographs.

Morton Smith created the entire thing as an academic prank or to stir controversy.

The letter is a genuine copy of a lost work by Clement, proving multiple versions of Mark existed. Clement of Alexandria and a Secret Gospel of Mark

Many scholars suspect Smith forged the letter himself to support his theories about the "historical Jesus."

The letter quotes two passages, including a story of Jesus raising a young man from the dead (similar to Lazarus). The Controversy The original book was moved to Athens and

The letter's authenticity is hotly debated for several reasons:

Some experts argue the Greek used matches Clement’s unique vocabulary perfectly, making a forgery difficult. Many scholars suspect Smith forged the letter himself

It mentions a "more spiritual" version of the Gospel of Mark.