Coptic Manichaean text from the 3rd or 4th centuries
Manichaean Psalter Religion Manichaeism Language Coptic Period late 3rd century, the mid-4th century
The Manichaean Psalm Book Manichaean Psalter Manichaean text written in Coptic. It is believed to have been compiled in the late 3rd century or the mid-4th century. Excavated in 1929 as part of the Medinet Madi library , the Psalm Book is believed to contain remnants of some of the earliest extant Manichaean literature.
History
The Psalm Book was discovered at Medinet Madi in Egypt. Like other works discovered at this site, it was written in a Coptic dialect typical of the Lycopolis region. After its discovery, it was edited and published by Charles Allberry in 1938–9 from manuscripts in the Chester Beatty collection [ 7] Prussian Academy of Sciences .[citation needed
Contents
It contains references to Old Testament apocrypha and references the Acts of Thomas Acts of John Acts of the Apostles approvingly. It refers to some events believed to be derived from the Acts of Andrew Adam through Seth and Enoch to Mani . One author has described one of the hymns as containing a "deep love of Jesus".
Citations
References
Barnstone, W.; Meyer, M. (2009). The Gnostic Bible: Revised and Expanded Edition ISBN 978-0-8348-2414-0 Corrigan, K.; Rasimus, T. (2013). Gnosticism, Platonism and the Late Ancient World: Essays in Honour of John D. Turner ISBN 978-90-04-25476-3 Elliott, J.K. (1993). The Apocryphal New Testament: A Collection of Apocryphal Christian Literature in an English Translation ISBN 978-0-19-152032-7 Klauck, H.J. (2008). The Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles: An Introduction ISBN 978-1-60258-159-3 MacNeil, B. (1988). One City, One Bishop?: Ecclesiological Reflections on the Eastern Catholic Churches (The Placid Lectures 1987) Richter, S.G.; Horton, C.; Ohlhafer, K. (2015). Mani in Dublin: Selected Papers from the Seventh International Conference of the International Association of Manichaean Studies in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, 8â€"12 September 2009 ISBN 978-90-04-28912-3 Stroumsa, G.G. (2015). The Making of the Abrahamic Religions in Late Antiquity ISBN 978-0-19-105912-4
