Why Should Anyone Care What Craig Evans Has to Say About Whether or Not Clement Really Wrote the Letter to Theodore?

I am serious about this. Let's acknowledge that the authenticity of the Letter to Theodore is disputed by many. Now there are three basic ways to examine the question of whether or not a text is authentic:

1. physical evidence from the document
2. circumstantial evidence associated with the discovery or discoverer of the document
3. literary evidence from the text

I don't see what makes Craig Evans an authority on any of these subjects. He's not a forensic document examiner or a paleographer.  He has no special insight into the person of Morton Smith (other than being an intimate of Jacob Neusner).  He has never written a paper on Clement of Alexandria, Alexandrian Christianity or any topic that might possible be related to the literary culture behind the production of the letter claiming to be from a late second century Alexandrian Christian writer.

Here's his resume taken from his own personal webite. I don't see a single reference to anything related to Clement:

Principal Publications


Editor, with W. F. Stinespring, Early Jewish and Christian Exegesis: Studies in Memory of William Hugh Brownlee (Homage 10; Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1987).
Life of Jesus Research: An Annotated Bibliography (NTTS 13; Leiden: Brill, 1989).
To See and Not Perceive: Isaiah 6.9-10 in Early Jewish and Christian Interpretation (JSOTSup 64; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1989).
Luke (NIBC 3; Peabody: Hendrickson, 1990; hardcover reprint, 1999).
Noncanonical Writings and New Testament Interpretation (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1992).
Luke and Scripture: Essays on the Function of Authoritative Tradition in Luke-Acts, with James A. Sanders (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993; repr. Eugene: Wipf and Stock, 2001).
Editor, with James A. Sanders, Paul and the Scriptures of Israel (JSNTSup 83; SSEJC 1; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1993).
Editor, with Donald A. Hagner, Anti-Semitism and Early Christianity: Issues of Polemic and Faith (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993).
Editor, with Robert L. Webb and Richard A. Wiebe, Nag Hammadi Texts and the Bible: A Synopsis and Index (NTTS 18; Leiden: Brill, 1993).
Word and Glory: On the Exegetical and Theological Background of John’s Prologue (JSNTSup 89; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1993).
Editor, with James H. Charlesworth, The Pseudepigrapha and Early Biblical Interpretation (JSPSup 14; SSEJC 2; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1993).
Editor, with Bruce D. Chilton, Studying the Historical Jesus: Evaluations of the State of Current Research (NTTS 19; Leiden: Brill, 1994).
Editor, with W. R. Stegner, The Gospels and the Scriptures of Israel (JSNTSup 104; SSEJC 3; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1994).
Jesus and His Contemporaries: Comparative Studies (AGJU 25; Leiden: Brill, 1995).
Editor, with Stanley E. Porter, The Historical Jesus: A Sheffield Reader (BibSem 33; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995).
Editor, with Stanley E. Porter, The Synoptic Gospels: A Sheffield Reader (BibSem 31; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995).
Editor, with Stanley E. Porter, The Johannine Writings: A Sheffield Reader (BibSem 32; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995).
Editor, with Stanley E. Porter, The Pauline Writings: A Sheffield Reader (BibSem 34; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995).
Life of Jesus Research: An Annotated Bibliography (NTTS 24; Leiden: Brill, 1996).
Jesus in Context: Temple, Purity, and Restoration, with Bruce Chilton (AGJU 39; Leiden: Brill, 1997).
Editor, with Craig C. Broyles, Writing and Reading the Scroll of Isaiah: Studies of an Interpretive Tradition (2 vols., VTSup 70; FIOTL 1; Leiden: Brill, 1997).
Editor, with Peter W. Flint, Eschatology, Messianism, and the Dead Sea Scrolls (Studies in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Literature 1; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997).
Editor, with Stanley E. Porter, The Scrolls and the Scriptures: Qumran Fifty Years After (Roehampton Institute London Papers 3; JSPSup 26; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997).
Editor, with Stanley E. Porter, New Testament Interpretation and Methods: A Sheffield Reader (BibSem 45; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997).
Editor, with Stanley E. Porter, New Testament Backgrounds: A Sheffield Reader (BibSem 43; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997).
Editor, with Stanley E. Porter, New Testament Text and Language: A Sheffield Reader (BibSem 44; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997).
Editor, with Shemaryahu Talmon, The Quest for Context and Meaning: Studies in Biblical Intertextuality in Honor of James A. Sanders (BIS 28; Leiden: Brill, 1997).
Editor, with James A. Sanders, Early Christian Interpretation of the Scriptures of Israel: Investigations and Proposals (JSNTSup 148; SSEJC 5; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997).
Editor, with Bruce Chilton, Authenticating the Words of Jesus (NTTS 28.1; Leiden: Brill, 1998).
Editor, with Bruce Chilton, Authenticating the Activities of Jesus (NTTS 28.2; Leiden: Brill, 1998).
Editor, with James A. Sanders, The Function of Scripture in Early Jewish and Christian Tradition (JSNTSup 154; SSEJC 6; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1998).
Editor, with Bruce Chilton, James the Just and Christian Origins (NovTSup 98; Leiden: Brill, 1999).
Editor, The Interpretation of Scripture in Early Judaism and Christianity: Studies in Language and Tradition (JSPSup 33; SSEJC 7; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2000).
Editor, with Stanley E. Porter, Dictionary of New Testament Background (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2000). [winner of the ECPA Gold Medallion]
Mark 8:27-16:20 (WBC 34b; Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2001). [winner of the ECPA Silver Medallion]
Editor, with Paul Copan, Who Was Jesus? A Jewish-Christian Dialogue (Louis­ville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001).
Editor, with Bruce Chilton and Jacob Neusner, The Missing Jesus: Rabbinic Judaism and the New Testament (Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2002).
The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: Vol. 1 Matthew-Luke (Colorado Springs: Cook Publications, 2003).
Jesus and the Ossuaries (Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2003).
Editor, The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: Vol. 2 Acts-Philemon (Colorado Springs: Cook Publications, 2004).
Editor, From Prophecy to Testament (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2004).
Editor, The Historical Jesus (4 vols., Routledge Reference Library; London: Routledge, 2004).
Editor, Of Scribes and Sages: Studies in Early Jewish Interpretation and Trans­mission of Scripture (2 vols., LSTS 50-51; SSEJC 9-10; London and New York: T & T Clark, 2004).
Ancient Texts for New Testament Studies: A Guide to the Background Literature (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2005).
Editor, with Bruce Chilton, The Missions of James, Peter, and Paul: Tensions in Early Christianity (NovTSup 115; Leiden: Brill, 2005).
Editor, The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary. Volume 3: John's Gospel, Hebrews-Revelation (Colorado Springs: Cook Publications, 2005).
Editor, with John J. Collins, Christian Beginnings and the Dead Sea Scrolls (Acadia Studies in Bible and Theology; Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006).
Fabricating Jesus: How Modern Scholars Have Distorted the Gospels (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).
Editor, with William H. Brackney, From Biblical Criticism to Biblical Faith (Macon GA: Mercer University Press, 2007).
Editor, The Encyclopedia of the Historical Jesus (New York: Routledge Press, 2008).
Editor, with Emanuel Tov, Exploring the Origins of the Bible: Canon Formation in Historical, Literary, and Theological Perspective (Acadia Studies in Bible and Theology; Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008).
Jesus, The Last Days, with N. T. Wright (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009).
Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls (Nashville: B&H Publishing) forthcoming.
Matthew (New Cambridge Bible Commentary; Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press) in preparation.
The Dead Sea Scrolls and Christian Faith (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic) in preparation.
Jesus and the Fall of Satan (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans) in preparation.
Pesharim (Eerdmans Commentaries on the Dead Sea Scrolls; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans) in preparation.
Mark 1:1-8:26 (WBC 34a; Nashville: Thomas Nelson) in preparation.
Editor, with W. F. Stinespring, Early Jewish and Christian Exegesis: Studies in Memory of William Hugh Brownlee (Homage 10; Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1987).
Life of Jesus Research: An Annotated Bibliography (NTTS 13; Leiden: Brill, 1989).
To See and Not Perceive: Isaiah 6.9-10 in Early Jewish and Christian Interpretation (JSOTSup 64; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1989).
Luke (NIBC 3; Peabody: Hendrickson, 1990; hardcover reprint, 1999).
Noncanonical Writings and New Testament Interpretation (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1992).
Luke and Scripture: Essays on the Function of Authoritative Tradition in Luke-Acts, with James A. Sanders (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993; repr. Eugene: Wipf and Stock, 2001).
Editor, with James A. Sanders, Paul and the Scriptures of Israel (JSNTSup 83; SSEJC 1; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1993).
Editor, with Donald A. Hagner, Anti-Semitism and Early Christianity: Issues of Polemic and Faith (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993).
Editor, with Robert L. Webb and Richard A. Wiebe, Nag Hammadi Texts and the Bible: A Synopsis and Index (NTTS 18; Leiden: Brill, 1993).
Word and Glory: On the Exegetical and Theological Background of John’s Prologue (JSNTSup 89; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1993).
Editor, with James H. Charlesworth, The Pseudepigrapha and Early Biblical Interpretation (JSPSup 14; SSEJC 2; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1993).
Editor, with Bruce D. Chilton, Studying the Historical Jesus: Evaluations of the State of Current Research (NTTS 19; Leiden: Brill, 1994).
Editor, with W. R. Stegner, The Gospels and the Scriptures of Israel (JSNTSup 104; SSEJC 3; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1994).
Jesus and His Contemporaries: Comparative Studies (AGJU 25; Leiden: Brill, 1995).
Editor, with Stanley E. Porter, The Historical Jesus: A Sheffield Reader (BibSem 33; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995).
Editor, with Stanley E. Porter, The Synoptic Gospels: A Sheffield Reader (BibSem 31; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995).
Editor, with Stanley E. Porter, The Johannine Writings: A Sheffield Reader (BibSem 32; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995).
Editor, with Stanley E. Porter, The Pauline Writings: A Sheffield Reader (BibSem 34; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995).
Life of Jesus Research: An Annotated Bibliography (NTTS 24; Leiden: Brill, 1996).
Jesus in Context: Temple, Purity, and Restoration, with Bruce Chilton (AGJU 39; Leiden: Brill, 1997).
Editor, with Craig C. Broyles, Writing and Reading the Scroll of Isaiah: Studies of an Interpretive Tradition (2 vols., VTSup 70; FIOTL 1; Leiden: Brill, 1997).
Editor, with Peter W. Flint, Eschatology, Messianism, and the Dead Sea Scrolls (Studies in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Literature 1; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997).
Editor, with Stanley E. Porter, The Scrolls and the Scriptures: Qumran Fifty Years After (Roehampton Institute London Papers 3; JSPSup 26; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997).
Editor, with Stanley E. Porter, New Testament Interpretation and Methods: A Sheffield Reader (BibSem 45; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997).
Editor, with Stanley E. Porter, New Testament Backgrounds: A Sheffield Reader (BibSem 43; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997).
Editor, with Stanley E. Porter, New Testament Text and Language: A Sheffield Reader (BibSem 44; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997).
Editor, with Shemaryahu Talmon, The Quest for Context and Meaning: Studies in Biblical Intertextuality in Honor of James A. Sanders (BIS 28; Leiden: Brill, 1997).
Editor, with James A. Sanders, Early Christian Interpretation of the Scriptures of Israel: Investigations and Proposals (JSNTSup 148; SSEJC 5; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997).
Editor, with Bruce Chilton, Authenticating the Words of Jesus (NTTS 28.1; Leiden: Brill, 1998).
Editor, with Bruce Chilton, Authenticating the Activities of Jesus (NTTS 28.2; Leiden: Brill, 1998).
Editor, with James A. Sanders, The Function of Scripture in Early Jewish and Christian Tradition (JSNTSup 154; SSEJC 6; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1998).
Editor, with Bruce Chilton, James the Just and Christian Origins (NovTSup 98; Leiden: Brill, 1999).
Editor, The Interpretation of Scripture in Early Judaism and Christianity: Studies in Language and Tradition (JSPSup 33; SSEJC 7; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2000).
Editor, with Stanley E. Porter, Dictionary of New Testament Background (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2000). [winner of the ECPA Gold Medallion]
Mark 8:27-16:20 (WBC 34b; Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2001). [winner of the ECPA Silver Medallion]
Editor, with Paul Copan, Who Was Jesus? A Jewish-Christian Dialogue (Louis­ville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001).
Editor, with Bruce Chilton and Jacob Neusner, The Missing Jesus: Rabbinic Judaism and the New Testament (Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2002).
The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: Vol. 1 Matthew-Luke (Colorado Springs: Cook Publications, 2003).
Jesus and the Ossuaries (Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2003).
Editor, The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: Vol. 2 Acts-Philemon (Colorado Springs: Cook Publications, 2004).
Editor, From Prophecy to Testament (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2004).
Editor, The Historical Jesus (4 vols., Routledge Reference Library; London: Routledge, 2004).
Editor, Of Scribes and Sages: Studies in Early Jewish Interpretation and Trans­mission of Scripture (2 vols., LSTS 50-51; SSEJC 9-10; London and New York: T & T Clark, 2004).
Ancient Texts for New Testament Studies: A Guide to the Background Literature (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2005).
Editor, with Bruce Chilton, The Missions of James, Peter, and Paul: Tensions in Early Christianity (NovTSup 115; Leiden: Brill, 2005).
Editor, The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary. Volume 3: John's Gospel, Hebrews-Revelation (Colorado Springs: Cook Publications, 2005).
Editor, with John J. Collins, Christian Beginnings and the Dead Sea Scrolls (Acadia Studies in Bible and Theology; Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006).
Fabricating Jesus: How Modern Scholars Have Distorted the Gospels (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).
Editor, with William H. Brackney, From Biblical Criticism to Biblical Faith (Macon GA: Mercer University Press, 2007).
Editor, The Encyclopedia of the Historical Jesus (New York: Routledge Press, 2008).
Editor, with Emanuel Tov, Exploring the Origins of the Bible: Canon Formation in Historical, Literary, and Theological Perspective (Acadia Studies in Bible and Theology; Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008).
Jesus, The Last Days, with N. T. Wright (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009).
Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls (Nashville: B&H Publishing) forthcoming.
Matthew (New Cambridge Bible Commentary; Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press) in preparation.
The Dead Sea Scrolls and Christian Faith (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic) in preparation.
Jesus and the Fall of Satan (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans) in preparation.
Pesharim (Eerdmans Commentaries on the Dead Sea Scrolls; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans) in preparation.
Mark 1:1-8:26 (WBC 34a; Nashville: Thomas Nelson) in preparation.

Craig Evans might think that because he is generally familiar with Patristic literature and that because of that we should all accept him as some sort of authority on Clement of Alexandria. But that is absolute nonsense. Alexandrian Christianity was completely different that Roman Christianity. There are certainly many evangelicals that would like to blur the distinction between Clement and Irenaeus but nothing short of a chasm stands between these two figures.

One could make a very persuassive argument that Irenaeus would have labelled Clement a 'heretic.'

But here's this guy with no expertise on any subject related to the Mar Saba controversy and I am supposed to shell a thousand bucks to here what insight he might bring to a controversy which should even exist in the first place? The bottom line is - the organizers should have brought Bogdan Bucur from Pittsburgh which is a six hour drive from Toronto. This would utterly fascinating. Here is an unquestionable authority on the writings of Clement. I am sure he believes that the Letter to Theodore is a fake but at the very least I might walk away from the conference having my presuppositions rocked by someone who knows more about Clement than I do.