Biblical argument in Manichaean missionary practice : the case of Adimantus and Augustine / by Jacob Albert van den Berg.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Berg, Jacob Albert van den, 1975-

Series:

Nag Hammadi and Manichaean studies ; 70.

Nag Hammadi and Manichaean studies, 0929-2470 ; v. 70

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Manichaeism.

Bible--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

Augustine, of Hippo, Saint, 354-430. Contra Adimantum.

Augustine.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (256 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The use and appreciation of Scripture by the Manichaeans is a field of research with many unanswered questions. This study offers an investigation into the role of the Bible in the writings of the important Manichaean missionary Addas Adimantus (flor. circa 250 CE), one of Mani's first disciples. A major part of the book is dedicated to the reconstruction of the contents of his Disputationes, in which writing Adimantus attempted to demonstrate that the Old and New Testaments are absolutely irreconcilable. The most important source in this connection is Augustine, who refuted a Latin translation of Adimantus’ work. A thorough analysis of the contents of the Disputationes brings to the fore that Adimantus was a Marcionite prior to his going over to Mani’s church.

Contents:

Introduction. Augustine, manichaeism, and Holy Scripture

Purpose

Outline of the study

Relevance

Adimantus : a manichaean missionary. Adimantus' identity

Augustine on Adimantus

The argument from the Greek abjuration formulae

The different regions of Adimantus' activity

The relationship between the names 'Adimantus' and 'Addas

Adimantus = Pappos?

Adimantus' biography

Adimantus' background

Adimantus as a member of Mani's church

Adimantus' missionary journeys

Mani's missionary precepts and Adimantus

Adimantus' missionary activities

Provisional conclusions

Adimantus' Disputationes : a reconstruction. Introduction

Augustine's acquaintance with the Disputationes

The years of Augustine's priesthood

The Manichaean years

Disputationes refuted in Contra adimantum

The structure of Contra adimantum

Double answers

(Parts of) sermons in Contra adimantum

Contra adimantum : preliminary conclusion

Adimantus' Disputationes in Contra adimantum

Disputationes disproved in sermons

Introduction

Sermons discussing disputations also refuted in Contra adimantum

Sermons discussing disputations not mentioned in Contra adimantum

The Disputationes in other works of Augustine

Contra faustum

De Genesi adversus Manichaeos

De Genesi ad litteram libri duodecim

Adimantus' Disputationes : a reconstruction of its contents

Analysis of the Disputationes : its method, contents, and purposes. Introduction

Bible texts

Method and limitations

The Old Testament quotations

The New Testament quotations

Exegetical methods of the Disputationes

The methodological application of 'antitheses'

The literal sense

Did Adimantus ignore the context?

Contents of the Disputationes

Subjects of the Disputationes

Arguments quoted in full

Evaluation

The form of the Disputationes

The target group of the Disputationes

The relevance of the Old Testament to Adimantus

The importance attached to the New Testament

The literary context of the Disputationes. Introduction

Method

The Contra faustum and the Capitula

Writings against the superstitio of the Jews

Writings against the deceit of the 'semi-christiani'

Faustus' introduction to his Capitula

Adimantus' fame as 'Paraclete'

Adimantus' criticism of Christ's genealogies

Adimantus' criticism of positive references to the Hebrew Bible

Concluding remarks

Other works

The Modion

Adimantus on the Manichaean myth

The Kephalaia

Conclusions and suggestions for further research.

Notes:

Revision of author's thesis (Ph. D.)--Radboud University of Nijmegen, 2009.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN:

1-282-95144-0

9786612951442

90-04-18090-7

OCLC:

701704126

Publisher Number:

10.1163/ej.9789004180345.i-242 DOI