| ἐκ τῶν ἐπιστολῶν τοῦ ἁγιωτάτου Κλημεντος τοῦ Στρωματεως · Θεοδωρω · |
From the letter of Saint Clement, the author of the Stromata. To Theodore. |
| καλῶς ἐποίησας ἐπιστομίσας τὰς ἀρρήτους διδασκαλιας τῶν Καρποκρατιανων · | You did well in silencing the unspeakable teachings of the Carpocratians. |
| οὗτοι γὰρ οἱ *προφητευθεντες ἀστέρες πλανῆται · οἱ ἀπό τῆς στενῆς τῶν ἐντολῶν ὁδοῦ εἰς ἀπέρατον ἄβυσσον πλανώμενοι τῶν σαρκικῶν καὶ ἐνσωμάτων ἁμαρτιῶν · | For these are the "wandering stars" referred to in the prophecy, who wander from the narrow road of the commandments into a boundless abyss of the carnal and bodily sins. |
| πεφυσιωμένοι γὰρ εἰς γνῶσιν · ὡς λέγουσι · τῶν βαθεων τοῦ σατανᾶ · λανθάνουσιν εἰς τὸν ζόφον τοῦ σκότους σκότους τοῦ ψευδοῦς ἑαυτούς απορριπτοντες · καὶ καυχώμενοι ἐλευθέρους εἶναι · δοῦλοι γεγόνασιν ανδραποδωδων ἐπιθυμιῶν · | For, priding themselves in knowledge, as they say, "of the deep things of Satan," they do not know that they are casting themselves away into "the nether world of the darkness" of falsity, and boasting that they are free, they have become slaves of servile desires. |
| τούτοις οὖν ἀντιστατέον πάντῃ τέ καὶ πάντως · | Such men are to be opposed in all ways and altogether. |
| εἰ γὰρ καὶ τί ἀληθές λέγοιεν · οὐδ’ οὕτω συμφωνοιη ἄν αὐτοῖς ὁ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐραστής · | For, even if they should say something true, one who loves the truth should not, even so, agree with them. |
| οὐδὲ γὰρ πάντα τἀληθῆ ἀλήθεια · οὐδὲ τήν κατά τὰς ἀνθρωπίνας δόξας φαινομένην ἀλήθειαν προκριτέον τῆς ἀληθοῦς ἀληθείας τῆς κατά τήν πίστιν · | For not all true things are the truth, nor should that truth which merely seems true according to human opinions be preferred to the true truth, that according to the faith. |
| τῶν τοίνυν θρυλουμένων περί τοῦ θεοπνεύστου κατά Μάρκον εὐαγγελίου · τά μέν ψεύδεται παντελῶς · τά δὲ · εἰ καὶ ἀληθῆ τινά - περιέχει οὐδ’ οὕτως ἀληθῶς παραδίδοται · συγκεκραμενα γὰρ τἀληθῆ | Now of the things they keep saying about the divinely inspired Gospel according to Mark, some are altogether falsifications, and others, even if they do contain some true elements, nevertheless are not reported truly. |
| τοῖς πλάσμασι παραχαρασσεται ὥστε · τοῦτο δή τὸ λεγόμενον · καὶ τὸ ἅλας μωρανθηναι · | For the true things, being mixed with inventions, are falsified, so that, as the saying goes, even the salt loses its savor. |
| ὁ γοῦν Μάρκος · κατά τήν τοῦ Πέτρου ἐν Ῥώμη διατριβήν · ἀνέγραψε τὰς πράξεις τοῦ κυρίου · οὐ μέντοι πάσας ἐξαγγέλλων · οὐδὲ μήν τὰς μυστικὰς ὑποσημαίνων · ἀλλ’ ἐκλεγόμενος ἃς χρησιμωτατας ἐνόμισε πρὸς αὖ ζῆσιν τῆς τῶν κατηχουμένων πίστεως · | As for Mark, then, during Peter's stay in Rome he wrote an account of the Lord's doings, not, however, declaring all of them, nor yet hinting at the secret ones, but selecting what he thought most useful for increasing the faith of those who were being instructed. |
| τοῦ δὲ Πέτρου μαρτυρήσαντος · παρῆλθεν εἰς Ἀλεξάνδρειαν ὁ Μάρκος · κομιζων καὶ ταταυτου καὶ τά τοῦ Πέτρου ὑπό μνήματα · ἐξ ὧν/ὤν μεταφέρων εἰς τὸ πρῶτον αὐτοῦ βιβλίον τά τοῖς προκοπ τουσι περί τήν γνῶσιν κατάλληλα · | But when Peter died a martyr, Mark came over to Alexandria, bringing both his own notes and those of Peter, from which he transferred to his former book the things suitable to whatever makes for progress toward knowledge. |
| συνέταξε πνευματικωτερον εὖ - εὐαγγέλιον εἰς τήν τῶν τελειουμενων χρῆσιν · | Thus he composed a more spiritual Gospel for the use of those who were being perfected. |
| οὐδέπω ὅμως αὐτά τά ἀπόρρητα εξωρχησατο · οὐδὲ κατέγραψε τήν ιεροφαντικην διδασκαλίαν τοῦ κυρίου · ἀλλά ταῖς προγεγραμμεναις πραξεσιν ἐπιθείς καὶ ἄλλας · ἔτι προσε πηγαγε λογία τινά ὧν/ὤν ἠπίστατο τήν εξηγησιν μυσταγωγησειν τούς ακροα τὰς εἰς τὸ ἄδυτον τῆς ἑπτάκις κεκαλυμμενης ἀληθείας · | Nevertheless, he yet did not divulge the things not to be uttered, nor did he write down the hierophantic teaching of the Lord, but to the stories already written he added yet others and, moreover, brought in certain sayings of which he knew the interpretation would, as a mystagogue, lead the hearers into the innermost sanctuary of that truth hidden by seven veils. |
| οὕτως οὖν - προπαρεσκευασεν · οὐ φθονερως οὐδ’ ἀπροφυλάκτως · ὡς ἐγώ οἶμαι · καὶ ἀποθνήσκων κατέλιπε τὸ αὐτοῦ σύγγραμμα τῇ ἐκκλησία τῇ ἐν Ἀλεξανδρείᾳ · ὅπου εἰσέτι νῦν ἀσφαλῶς εὖ μάλα τηρεῖται · αναγινως κομενον πρὸς αὐτούς μόνους τούς μυουμενους τά μεγάλα μυστήρια · | Thus, in sum, he prepared matters, neither grudgingly nor incautiously, in my opinion, and, dying, he left his composition to the church in 1, verso Alexandria, where it even yet is most carefully guarded, being read only to those who are being initiated into the great mysteries. |
| τῶν δὲ μι ἀρῶν δαιμόνων ὄλεθρον τῷ τῶν ἀνθρώπων γένει πάντοτε μηχανωντων · ὁ Καρποκρατης · ὑπ’ αὐτῶν διδαχθείς · καὶ ἀπατηλοῖς τέχναις χρησάμενος · οὕτω πρεσβυτερον τινά τῆς ἐν Ἀλεξανδρείᾳ ἐκκλησίας κατεδουλωσεν ὥστε παρ’ αὐτοῦ ἐκόμισεν απογραφον τοῦ μυστικου εὐαγγελίου · ὁ καὶ ἐξηγήσατο κατά τήν βλάσφημον καὶ σαρκικήν αὐτοῦ δόξαν · ἔτι - δὲ καὶ ἐμίανε · ταῖς ἀχράντοις καὶ ἁγίαις λεξεσιν αναμιγνυς αναιδε στατα ψεύσματα · | But since the foul demons are always devising destruction for the race of men, Carpocrates, instructed by them and using deceitful arts, so enslaved a certain presbyter of the church in Alexandria that he got from him a copy of the secret Gospel, which he both interpreted according to his blasphemous and carnal doctrine and, moreover, polluted, mixing with the spotless and holy words utterly shameless lies. |
| τοῦ δὲ κράματος τούτου εξαντληται τὸ τῶν Καρποκρατι ανων δόγμα · | From this mixture is drawn off the teaching of the Carpocratians. |
| τούτοις οὖν · καθώς καὶ προείρηκα · οὐδέποτε εἰκτέον · οὐ δὲ προτεινουσιν αὐτοῖς τά κατεψευσμενα συγχωρητέον τοῦ Μάρκου εἰ ναί τὸ μυστικον εὐαγγέλιον · ἀλλά καὶ μεθ’ ὅρκου αρνητεον · | To them, therefore, as I said above, one must never give way; nor, when they put forward their falsifications, should one concede that the secret Gospel is by Mark, but should even deny it on oath. |
| οὐ γὰρ ἅπασι πᾶν τά ἀληθῆ λεκτεον · | For, "Not all true things are to be said to all men." |
| διά τοῦτο ἡ σοφία τοῦ θεοῦ διά Σολομῶντος παραγ γελλει · ἀποκρίνου τῷ μωρῷ ἐκ τῆς μωρίας αὐτοῦ · πρὸς τούς τυφλούς τὸν νοῦν τὸ φῶς τῆς ἀληθείας δεῖν ἐπικρύπτεσθαι διδάσκουσα · | For this reason the Wisdom of God, through Solomon, advises, "Answer the fool from his folly," teaching that the light of the truth should be hidden from those who are mentally blind. |
| αὐτίκα φησι · τοῦ δὲ μὴ ἔχοντος ἀρθήσεται · καὶ · ὁ μωρός ἐν σκότει πορευέσθω · | Again it says, "From him who has not shall be taken away," and "Let the fool walk in darkness." |
| ἡμεῖς δὲ υἱοί φωτός ἐσμέν · *πεφωτισμενοι τῇ ἐξ ὕψους ἀνατολή τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ κυρίου · οὐ δὲ τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ κυρίου · φησίν · ἐκεῖ ἐλευθερία · πάντα γὰρ καθαρά τοῖς καθαροῖς · | But we are "children of Light," having been illuminated by "the dayspring" of the spirit of the Lord "from on high," and "Where the Spirit of the Lord is," it says, "there is liberty," for "All things are pure to the pure." |
| σοί τοίνυν οὐκ ὀκνήσω τά ἠρωτημένα ἀποκρίνασθαι · δι’ αὐτῶν τοῦ εὐαγγελίου λέξεων τά κατεψευσμενα ἐλέγχων · | To you, therefore, I shall not hesitate to answer the questions you have asked, refuting the falsifications by the very words of the Gospel. |
| ἅ μέλει μετά τὸ · ἦσαν δὲ ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ ἀναβαίνοντες εἰς Ἰεροσόλυμα · καὶ τά ἑξῆς ἕως · μετά τρεῖς ἡμέρας ἀναστήσεται · ὧδε ἐπιφέρει κατά λέξιν · | For example, after "And they were in the road going up to Jerusalem" and what follows, until "After three days he shall arise," the secret Gospel brings the following material word for word: |
| καὶ ερχονται εἰς Βηθανίαν καὶ ἥν/ἦν ἐκεῖ μία γυνή ἧς/ᾖς/ἦς ὁ ἀδελφός αὐτῆς ἀπέθανεν · | "And they come into Bethany. And a certain woman whose brother had died was there. |
| καὶ ἐλθοῦσα προσεκύνησε τὸν Ἰησοῦν καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ · υἱέ Δᾶβιδ ἐλέησον μέ · | And, coming, she prostrated herself before Jesus and says to him, 'Son of David, have mercy on me.' |
| οἱ δὲ μαθηται ἐπετίμησαν αὐτή · | But the disciples rebuked her. |
| καὶ ὀργισθείς ὁ Ἰησοῦς απἦλθεν μετ’ αὐτῆς εἰς τὸν κῆπον ὅπου ἥν/ἦν τὸ μνημεῖον · εὐθύς ἠκούσθη ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου φωνή μεγάλη · | And Jesus, being angered, went off with her into the garden where the tomb was, and straightway a great cry was heard from the tomb. |
| καὶ καὶ προσελθών ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἀπ’ ἐκύλισε τὸν λίθον ἀπό τῆς θύρας τοῦ μνημείου · | And going near, Jesus rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb. |
| καὶ εἰσελθών εὐθύς ὅπου ἥν/ἦν ὁ νεανίσκος ἐξέτεινεν τήν χεῖρα καὶ ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν · κρατήσας - τῆς χειρός · | And straightaway, going in where the youth was, he stretched forth his hand and raised him, seizing his hand. |
| ὁ δὲ νεανίσκος ἐμβλέψας αὐτῷ ἠγάπησεν αὐτὸν καὶ - ἤρξατο παρακαλεῖν αὐτὸν ἵνα μετ’ αὐτοῦ ἡ · | But the youth, looking upon him, loved him and began to beseech him that he might be with him. |
| καὶ ἐξελθόντες ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου ἦλθον εἰς τήν οἰκίαν τοῦ νεανίσκου · ἥν/ἦν γὰρ πλούσιος · | And going out of the tomb, they came into the house of the youth, for he was rich. |
| καὶ μεθ’ ἡμέρας ἐξ ἐπέταξεν αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς · καὶ ὀψίας γενομένης ἔρχεται ὁ νεανίσκος πρὸς αὐτὸν · περιβεβλημένος σινδόνα ἐπὶ γυμνοῦ · | And after six days Jesus told him what to do, and in the evening the youth comes to him, wearing a linen cloth over his naked body. |
| καὶ ἔμεινε σύν αὐτῷ τήν νύκτα ἐκείνην · ἐδίδασκε γὰρ αὐτὸν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὸ μυστήριον τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ · | And he remained with him that night, for Jesus taught him the mystery of the Kingdom of God. |
| ἐκεῖθεν δὲ ἀναστάς - ἐπέστρεψεν εἰς τὸ πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου · | And thence, arising, he returned to the other side of the Jordan." |
| ἐπὶ μέν τούτοις ἕπεται τὸ · καὶ προσπορεύονται αὐτῷ Ἰάκωβος καὶ Ἰωάννης · καὶ πᾶσα ἡ περί κοπή · | After these words follows the text, "And James and John come to him," and all that section. |
| τὸ δὲ γυμνός γυμνῷ καὶ τἄλλα περί ὧν/ὤν ἔγραψας οὐκ εὖρισκεται · | But "naked man with naked man," and the other things about which you wrote, are not found. |
| μετά δὲ τὸ · καὶ ἔρχεται εἰς Ἰεριχώ ἐπάγει μόνον · καὶ ἡ σαν ἐκεῖ ἡ ἀδελφή τοῦ νεανίσκου ὅν/ὄν ἠγάπα αὐτὸν ὁ Ἰησοῦς · καὶ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ καὶ Σαλώμη · καὶ οὐκ ἀπεδέξατο αὐτάς ὁ Ἰησοῦς · | And after the words, "And he comes into Jericho," the secret Gospel adds only, "And the sister of the youth whom Jesus loved and his mother and Salome were there, and Jesus did not receive them." |
| τά δὲ ἀλλά τά πολλά ἅ ἔγραψας ψεύσματα καὶ φαίνεται καὶ ἐστίν · | But the many other things about which you wrote both seem to be, and are, falsifications. |
| ἡ μέν οὖν ἀληθής καὶ κατά τήν ἀληθῆ φιλοσοφίαν ἐξήγησις … | Now the true explanation, and that which accords with the true philosophy … |
Secret Mark