Description
Manichaeism was a dualistic religious system with Christian, Gnostic and pagan elements, founded in Persia in the third century by Manes. This is the first full-length study of the Manichaean Jesus, since the publication of several major Manichaean texts such as the Homilies, Psalm Book and Kephalaia in the 1930s and 1940s. A knowledge of Manichaean Christology is important for any understanding of the development of Christologies in the early cen-turies CE, whether within mainstream Christianity or within associated het-erodox groups. This book undertakes a comprehensive study of six distinct figures of Jesus that can be found in both Eastern and Western Manichaean lit-erature. Previous partial studies of Manichaean Christology have tended to restrict their focus to texts from either Eastern or Western traditions alone. Majella Franzmann argues that a single Manichaean Jesus can be discerned behind the many different representations to be found.
Table of Contents
Preface
Abbreviations
I Manichean Christology
II I Mani, Apostle of Jesus Christ
III Jesus the Splendour
IV Jesus the Apostle of Light
V Jesus the Judge
Interim Summary I: Jesus the Splendour, Apostle and Judge
VI The Immanent and Suffering Jesus (Patabilis)
VII Jesus the Youth
VIII Jesus the Moon
Interim Summary II: Jesus, Patabilis and Youth
Final Summary: Six Jesus Figures - One Jesus
IX Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
Author(s)
Majella Franzmann, Majella Franzmann is Professor of Comparative Religion at the University of New England, Australia.