I. Sources.
The following bibliography of Manichæism is taken from Schaff’s History of the Chris-
tian Church, vol. II. pp. 498–500 (new edition). Additions are indicated by brackets.
1. Oriental Sources: The most important, though of comparatively late date.
(a) Mohammedan (Arabic): Kitâb al Fihrist. A history of Arabic literature to 987, by
an Arab of Bagdad, usually called Ibn Abi Jakub An-Nadîm; brought to light by Flügel, and
published after his death by Rödiger and Müller, in 2 vols. Leipz. 1871-’72. Book IX. section
first, treats of Manichæism. Flügel’s translation, see below. Kessler calls the Fihrist a
"Fündstätte allerersten Ranges." Next to it comes the relation of the Mohammedan philo-
sopher, Al-Shahrastani (d. 1153), in his History of Religious Parties and Philosophical Sects,
Ed. Cureton, Lond. 1842, 2 vols. (I. 188–192); German translation by Haarbrücker, Halle,
1851. On other Mohammedan sources, see Kessler in Herzog, IX., 225 sq.
(b) Persian Sources: relating to the life of Mani, the Shâhnâmeh (the King’s Book) of
Firdausi; ed. by Jul. Mohl, Paris, 1866 (V. 472–475). See Kessler, ibid. 225.
[Albiruni’s Chronology of Ancient Nations, tr. by E. Sachau, and published by the Ori-
ental Translation Fund, Lond. 1879. Albîrunî lived 973–1048, and is said to have possessed
vast literary resources no longer available to us. His work seems to be based on early
Manichæan sources, and strikingly confirms the narrative preserved by the Fihrist. See also
articles by West and Thomas in Journal of the Asiatic Society, 1868, 1870, 1871.]
(c) Christian Sources: In Arabic, the Alexandrian Patriarch Eutychius (d. 916). Annales,
ed. Pococke, Oxon. 1628; Barhebræus (d. 1286), in his Historia Dynastiarum, ed. Pococke.
In Syriac: Ephraem Syrus (d. 393), in various writings. Esnig or Esnik, an Armenian bishop
of the 5th Century, who wrote against Marcion and Mani (German translation from the
Armenian by C. Fr. Neumann, in Illgen’s Zeitschrift für die Hist. Theologie, 1834, pp.77–78).
2. Greek Sources: [Alexander of Lycopolis: The Tenets of the Manichæans (first pub-
lished by Combefis, with a Latin version, in the Auctararium Novissimum, Bibl. S. S. Patrum;
again by Gallandi, in his Bibl. Patrum, vol. IV. p. 73 sq. An English translation by Rev. James
B.H. Hawkins, M .A ., appeared in Clark’s Ante-Nicene Library, Vol. XIV. p. 236 sq.; Am.
ed. vol. VI. p. 237 sq. Alexander represents himself as a convert from Paganism to
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Manichæism, and from Manichæism to Orthodoxy. He claims to have learned Manichæism
from those who were intimately associated with Mani himself, and is, therefore, one of the
earliest witnesses.1] Eusebius (H. E. VII. 31, a brief account). Epiphanius (Haer. 66). Cyril
of Jerusalem (Catech. VI. 20 sq.). Titus of Bostra (πρὸσ Μανιχαίουσ, ed P. de Lagarde,
1859). Photius: Adv. Manichæos (Cod. 179, Biblioth.). John of Damascus: De Haeres. and
Dial. [Petrus Siculus, Hist. Manichæorum.]
1 Baur discredits this claim on internal grounds (Das Manich. Religionssystem, p. 7).
Sources.
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Sources.