Mike Koke continues his series “The Dating Game” by turning his attention to the Secret Gospel of Mark.
In thinking about a work, it is indeed important to have a clear sense of what the range of genuinely possible dates for its composition are, and then proceed from there.
As the terminus post quem, the earliest possible date, we have perhaps AD 40 or so, if the work is authentic and Smith’s suggestion that it represents an earlier version of Mark is correct.
As the terminus ante quem, the latest possible date, presumably 1958 is the absolute latest we can date it, if Morton Smith not only forged the work but did so while at the Mar Saba monastery.
So we’ve narrowed the range of possible dates for Secret Mark to roughly 40-1958. Hopefully this information will be helpful in contextualizing the work!
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