Gnosticism, Mary Magdalene, Jesus Christ, Mani, The Parthian Manichean hymn of the Crucifixion

Abstract

As most of Manichean researchers have asserted, Mani has been influenced by Gnostic thoughts, and the study of Manichean and Gnostic texts and beliefs reveals the common characteristics between the Manicheans and the Gnostics. In the present Study, one of these common characteristic, i.e., the similar position of Mary Magdalene in Gnostic texts (the Gospels of Thomas, Philip, Truth, Mary, etc.) and Manichean texts, has been investigated relying on the Parthian Text M6281+M6246. Finally, it has been found that that as Gnostics glorify Mary and know her as the true successor of Jesus Christ and his first visitor after the resurrection. Likewise, in Manichean text, Mary is the first person who meets Jesus after her rising from the dead, and she unfolds the mystery of the world for the Apostles, especially for the saint Peter, who is considered as the successor of Jesus Christ in Orthodox sect. In this text Mary is found as the master of the Apostles as well as the successor of Jesus Christ

Keywords

• gnosticism
• mary magdalene
• jesus christ
• mani
• the parthian manichean hymn of the crucifixion