The Odd Duck

On the Crosstalk mailing list, Andrew Smith notes that Secret Mark is the only (supposed) non-canonical fragment quoted by church fathers which doesn't contain an actual saying of Jesus. Stephen Carlson suggests this is all the more remarkable given that the Secret Mark fragment is longer than others, with plenty of missed opportunity -- no return dialogue from Jesus in response to, "Son of David, have mercy on me"; none explaining the "mystery of the kingdom of God".

"If the non-canonical gospels appear to us as odd ducks," says Carlson, "Secret Mark is the oddest duck of the lot." Morton Smith was a rather odd duck, wasn't he?