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Manichaean Psalm Book

The Manichaean Psalm Book (Manichaean Psalter) is a collection of 289 numbered psalms and groups of unnumbered psalms in Coptic, found at Medinet Madi, Egypt. It contains hymns for worship and liturgy.|||Coptic papyrus codex, 4th century CE. Found at Medinet Madi, Egypt, in 1929. The Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, holds the major portion.|||Compiled in the late 3rd or mid-4th century CE.|||Canonical in Manichaeism. Not recognized by any other religious tradition.|||The primary hymnbook of the Manichaean church. Contains psalms for worship, including the Psalms of Thomas and the Psalms of Herakleides. Essential for understanding Manichaean liturgy and piety.|||Allberry, C. R. C. A Manichaean Psalm-Book, Part II. Kohlhammer, 1938.|||Wurst, G. The Manichaean Coptic Papyri in the Chester Beatty Library: Psalm Book Part II. Brepols, 1996.|||Manichaean Psalm Book — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manichaean_Psalm_Book|Background and scholarly discussion.

Collection: Mandaean & Manichaean Canon: varies

Canon Status

Canonical in Manichaeism. Not recognized by any other religious tradition.

Date & Provenance

Compiled in the late 3rd or mid-4th century CE.

Language & Manuscripts

Coptic papyrus codex, 4th century CE. Found at Medinet Madi, Egypt, in 1929. The Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, holds the major portion.

Why It Matters for Study

The primary hymnbook of the Manichaean church. Contains psalms for worship, including the Psalms of Thomas and the Psalms of Herakleides. Essential for understanding Manichaean liturgy and piety.

" Praise to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." — Manichaean Psalm (paraphrase)

Read the Text & External Resources

Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.

  • " Praise to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." — Manichaean Psalm (paraphrase) " Praise to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." — Manichaean Psalm (paraphrase)

External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.

Further Reading

Allberry, C. R. C. A Manichaean Psalm-Book, Part II. Kohlhammer, 1938.
Wurst, G. The Manichaean Coptic Papyri in the Chester Beatty Library: Psalm Book Part II. Brepols, 1996.
Manichaean Psalm Book — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manichaean_Psalm_Book|Background and scholarly discussion.