For the 1956 "The Gospel of the Prophet Mani", see Duncan Greenlees.
The Living Gospel (also Great Gospel, Gospel of the Living and variants) was a 3rd-century gnostic gospel written by the Manichaean prophet Mani. It was originally written in Syriac and called the Evangelion (Classical Syriac: ܐܘܢܓܠܝܘܢ), from the Greek εὐαγγέλιον ("good news")[1] and was one of the seven original scriptures of Manichaeism. A number of fragments are preserved in the Cologne Mani-Codex (discovered 1969) and on manuscript fragments found in Turfan beginning in 1904.[2] Some Coptic manuscript fragments recovered at Fayyum appear to contain a sort of commentary or homily on the gospel.
The Iranian scholar Al-Biruni (973–after 1050), who still had access to the full text at his time of writing, commented that it was a "gospel of a special kind", unlike any of the gospels of the Christians, and that the Manichaeans insisted that theirs was the only true gospel, and that the various gospels of the Christians misrepresented the truth about the Messiah.[3]
There is a tendency in historical scholarship to confuse the Mani's Living Gospel with another of his works,[4] known as Ertenk or Ardhang/Arzhang (ancient Persian: artha-thanha, approximately "message of truth") or The Picture Book. The Ardhang was in fact a picture-book,[5] given the name of Eikōn in Greek and Coptic. This was a book containing illustrations to accompany and facilitate the understanding of Mani's cosmology. Photius (or pseudo-Photius) comments on the text, saying that it contains a falsified account of some of the acts of Jesus,[6] while Peter of Sicily insists that it contained no such material.[7]
It is known that the gospel had 22 parts, each labelled by a different letter of the Aramaic alphabet. The combination of two Turfan fragments allows the reconstruction of the text of the first part (alaph). The section deals with the nature of the "King of the World of Light" who resides at the "Navel of the World" but is also present on his whole earth, from without as from within, having no limits except where his earth borders on that of his enemy, the "Kingdom of Darkness". Schneemelcher (1990) suggests tentatively that the text may have been designed as a gospel of the gnostic type, perhaps intended to comment on or replace the Christian gospel.
^G. Haloun and W.B. Henning, "The Compendium of the Doctrines and Styles of the Teaching of Mani the Buddha of Light", Asia Major, N. S. 3 (1952), 182-212, p. 205.
^Wilhelm Schneemelcher, New Testament Apocrypha: Gospels and related writings, Westminster John Knox Press, 2nd ed. 1990, 2003, ISBN9780664227210, 404-409.
^Schneemelcher, Wilhelm (ed); Wilson, Robert McLachan (English transl.1991; 2003): New Testament Apocrypha: Gospels and related writings.' Cambridge: James Clark; Louisville, Kentucky: John Knox Press. Pp 406-411. (Link and website checked 2012-04-30.)
^Schneemelcher, Wilhehelm (ed); Wilson, Robert McLachan (English transl.1991; 2003): New Testament Apocrypha: Gospels and related writings.' Cambridge: James Clark; Louisville, Kentucky: John Knox Press. Pp 409. (Link and website checked 2012-04-30.)
^Skjærvø, Prods Oktor (2006): An Introduction to Manicheism. Early Iranian Civilizations 103 ', p 42. (Link and website checked 2012-04-30.)
^Lardner, Nathaniel (1857): The works of Nathaniel Lardner in five volumes, Vol II. London: Thomas Hamilton, pp 151-157 (Link and website checked 2012-04-30.)
^Lardner, Nathaniel (1857): The works of Nathaniel Lardner in five volumes, Vol II. London: Thomas Hamilton, pp 151-157 (Link and website checked 2012-04-30.)
External links
The Opening Words of the Living Gospel
March 06, 2023
gospel, mani, 1956, gospel, prophet, mani, duncan, greenlees, living, gospel, also, great, gospel, gospel, living, variants, century, gnostic, gospel, written, manichaean, prophet, mani, originally, written, syriac, called, evangelion, classical, syriac, ܐܘܢܓܠ. For the 1956 The Gospel of the Prophet Mani see Duncan Greenlees The Living Gospel also Great Gospel Gospel of the Living and variants was a 3rd century gnostic gospel written by the Manichaean prophet Mani It was originally written in Syriac and called the Evangelion Classical Syriac ܐܘܢܓܠܝܘܢ from the Greek eὐaggelion good news 1 and was one of the seven original scriptures of Manichaeism A number of fragments are preserved in the Cologne Mani Codex discovered 1969 and on manuscript fragments found in Turfan beginning in 1904 2 Some Coptic manuscript fragments recovered at Fayyum appear to contain a sort of commentary or homily on the gospel The Iranian scholar Al Biruni 973 after 1050 who still had access to the full text at his time of writing commented that it was a gospel of a special kind unlike any of the gospels of the Christians and that the Manichaeans insisted that theirs was the only true gospel and that the various gospels of the Christians misrepresented the truth about the Messiah 3 There is a tendency in historical scholarship to confuse the Mani s Living Gospel with another of his works 4 known as Ertenk or Ardhang Arzhang ancient Persian artha thanha approximately message of truth or The Picture Book The Ardhang was in fact a picture book 5 given the name of Eikōn in Greek and Coptic This was a book containing illustrations to accompany and facilitate the understanding of Mani s cosmology Photius or pseudo Photius comments on the text saying that it contains a falsified account of some of the acts of Jesus 6 while Peter of Sicily insists that it contained no such material 7 It is known that the gospel had 22 parts each labelled by a different letter of the Aramaic alphabet The combination of two Turfan fragments allows the reconstruction of the text of the first part alaph The section deals with the nature of the King of the World of Light who resides at the Navel of the World but is also present on his whole earth from without as from within having no limits except where his earth borders on that of his enemy the Kingdom of Darkness Schneemelcher 1990 suggests tentatively that the text may have been designed as a gospel of the gnostic type perhaps intended to comment on or replace the Christian gospel See also EditList of Gospels Father of Greatness Prince of Darkness Manichaeism References Edit G Haloun and W B Henning The Compendium of the Doctrines and Styles of the Teaching of Mani the Buddha of Light Asia Major N S 3 1952 182 212 p 205 Wilhelm Schneemelcher New Testament Apocrypha Gospels and related writings Westminster John Knox Press 2nd ed 1990 2003 ISBN 9780664227210 404 409 Schneemelcher Wilhelm ed Wilson Robert McLachan English transl 1991 2003 New Testament Apocrypha Gospels and related writings Cambridge James Clark Louisville Kentucky John Knox Press Pp 406 411 Link and website checked 2012 04 30 Schneemelcher Wilhehelm ed Wilson Robert McLachan English transl 1991 2003 New Testament Apocrypha Gospels and related writings Cambridge James Clark Louisville Kentucky John Knox Press Pp 409 Link and website checked 2012 04 30 Skjaervo Prods Oktor 2006 An Introduction to Manicheism Early Iranian Civilizations 103 p 42 Link and website checked 2012 04 30 Lardner Nathaniel 1857 The works of Nathaniel Lardner in five volumes Vol II London Thomas Hamilton pp 151 157 Link and website checked 2012 04 30 Lardner Nathaniel 1857 The works of Nathaniel Lardner in five volumes Vol II London Thomas Hamilton pp 151 157 Link and website checked 2012 04 30 External links EditThe Opening Words of the Living Gospel Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gospel of Mani amp oldid 1087422822, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
