The Mandaean Book of John: Critical Edition, Translation and Commentary

FAIN: RQ-50649-12

Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8559)
Charles George Haberl (Project Director: December 2011 to June 2016)
James Frank McGrath (Co Project Director: December 2011 to June 2016)

The preparation for publication of a print and online critical edition and translation of the Mandaean Book of John, a central ancient text of the only Gnostic group to survive from antiquity. (24 months)

The Book of John is one of two central texts of the Mandaean religion, and yet it has never been translated into English in its entirety. The Mandaeans are the only Gnostic group from the ancient world to have survived until the present day, and their texts are the only Gnostic texts composed solely in a Semitic language (Mandaic is a dialect of Aramaic). The Book of John mentions figures from Judaism such as Adam, Seth and Moses, as well as figures central to early Christian writings, such as Jesus and John the Baptist. The proposed project will produce a critical edition of the Mandaic text typeset in Mandaic font, together with an English translation and commentary. Our work will provide an invaluable resource to scholars studying the Mandaeans, other Gnostic groups and their literature, ancient Judaism, Christianity and Islam, as well as the Mandaeans themselves, as they increasingly struggle to preserve their heritage in an English-speaking Diaspora.

Associated Products

The Mandaean Book of John (Web Resource)
Title: The Mandaean Book of John
Author: C.G. Haberl
Author: J.F. McGrath
Abstract: Translation of the Mandaean Book of John into English, posted periodically in the form of a WordPress blog.
Year: 2010
Primary URL: http://rogueleaf.com/book-of-john/

Mandaic.org (Web Resource)
Title: Mandaic.org
Author: C.G. Haberl
Abstract: Selection of digital resources on Mandaic, including the project-funded digital Mandaic lexicon.
Year: 2006
Primary URL: http://mandaic.org/

Revisiting the Mandaeans and the New Testament (Article)
Title: Revisiting the Mandaeans and the New Testament
Author: J.F. McGrath
Abstract: The Mandaeans have been known to scholars for as long as there has been modern scholarship. Thanks to advances in technology, you can now find some of their ancient texts online, and videos of their baptismal rituals on YouTube. Yet as fascinating as the Mandaeans are, and as much as modern technologies can facilitate greater familiarity with them, the amount of attention that they receive is surprisingly sparse – although there are encouraging signs that that is at least beginning to change.
Year: 2013
Primary URL: http://www.bibleinterp.com/articles/2013/08/mcg378026.shtml
Access Model: Open access
Format: Journal
Periodical Title: The Bible and Interpretation

Mandaeism in Antiquity and the Antiquity of Mandaeism (Article)
Title: Mandaeism in Antiquity and the Antiquity of Mandaeism
Author: C.G. Haberl
Abstract: The evidence for a history of Mandaeism during the period of Late Antiquity (3rd–8th c. CE) and its evolution as a religious tradition prior to and immediately following the advent of Islam is surveyed. This evidence includes the Mandaean manuscript tradition, the testimony of outside witnesses, and the corpus of incantation texts from Late Antique Mesopotamia. It is noted that the study of this evidence has typically been subsumed under the study of related traditions, and that it could bene?t from a reassessment. The issues addressed include Mandaeism’s relationship to other religions, such as Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Manichaeism, the antiquity and authenticity of its traditions, and the extent of Islamic in?uence upon them.
Year: 2012
Primary URL: https://www.academia.edu/4041522/Mandaeism_in_Antiquity_and_the_Antiquity_of_Mandaeism
Access Model: Open access
Format: Journal
Periodical Title: Religion Compass
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing, Ltd

Tense, Aspect, and Mood in the Doctrine of John (Article)
Title: Tense, Aspect, and Mood in the Doctrine of John
Author: C.G. Haberl
Abstract: On a foundation of earlier research using qualitative cues (e.g. references to the Islamic conquest or historical events that subsequently happened), I propose to establish the outline of a relative chronology of the texts that were eventually redacted into the Mandaean Book of John (Draša ?-Iahia), one of the central texts of the Mandaean scriptural canon. Among the features to be analyzed are the frequencies of the predicative uses of the active participle in place of the imperfect (e.g. abid ana “I am doing” = Impf. ebud) and the passive participle with the preposition l- in place of the perfect (e.g. ebid li “I have done” = Perf. abdit).
Year: 2015
Primary URL: http://www.academia.edu/11210095/Tense_Aspect_and_Mood_in_the_Doctrine_of_John
Access Model: Open access
Format: Other
Publisher: Gorgias Press (Piscataway, NJ)

11. Pleasantville Religions (Book Section)
Title: 11. Pleasantville Religions
Author: April D. DeConick
Abstract: Description of the Mandaeans including quotes from the online translation, as well as discussion of Mandaean origins informed by project findings.
Year: 2016
Access Model: Print
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Book Title: The Ancient New Age: How Gnostic Spirituality Revolutionized Religion

Mandaic Book of John (Sample) (Book Section)
Title: Mandaic Book of John (Sample)
Author: James McGrath
Author: Charles Haberl
Abstract: Sample English language translation of chapters 18, 26, and 27 of the Mandaic Book of John with original text on facing pages, formatted according to the De Gruyter style sheet (accepted for publication).
Year: 2015
Access Model: Open Access
Publisher: De Gruyter
Book Title: The Mandaean Book of John, vol. I: Text and Translation

18. A Child Was Transplanted from Heaven (Book Section)
Title: 18. A Child Was Transplanted from Heaven
Author: James McGrath
Author: Charles Haberl
Abstract: Sample commentary for Chapter 18 of the Mandaean Book of John, formatted according to the De Gruyter Style Sheet.
Year: 2015
Access Model: Print Publication
Publisher: De Gruyter
Book Title: The Mandaean Book of John, vol. II: Commentary

26. The Ages Do Not Love Me (Book Section)
Title: 26. The Ages Do Not Love Me
Author: James McGrath
Author: Charles Haberl
Abstract: Sample commentary on chapters 26 and 27 of the Mandaean Book of John, formatted according to the De Gruyter Style Sheet.
Year: 2015
Access Model: Print Publication
Publisher: De Gruyter
Book Title: The Mandaean Book of John, vol. II: Commentary

The Mandaean Book of John (Book)
Title: The Mandaean Book of John
Author: John the Baptist
Editor: James McGrath
Editor: Charles Haberl
Abstract: The Mandaean Book of John is a Mandaean holy book in Mandaic Aramaic which is believed by the Mandean sect to have been written by their chief prophet John the Baptist. Mandaeanism , also known as Sabaeanism, is a monotheistic and gnostic religion with a strongly dualistic cosmology. Its adherents, the Mandaeans, revere Adam, Abel, Seth, Enos, Noah, Shem, Aram, and especially John the Baptist. The Mandaeans have been counted among the Semites and speak a dialect of Eastern Aramaic known as Mandaic. The book contains accounts of John's life and miracles, as well as a number of polemical conversations with Jesus and tractates mimicking Jesus's deeds in Jerusalem. Chapter seven of the Mandaean Book of John contains traditions attributed to John the Baptist.
Year: 2020
Primary URL: https://www.academia.edu/41868126/The_Mandaean_Book_of_John_Open_Access_Version_
Primary URL Description: Academia download site, using either Google or Academia log-in to download.
Access Model: Open-Access eBook
Publisher: Academia.edu
Type: Translation
Type: Scholarly Edition
Translator: Charles Haberl
Translator: James McGrath
Copy sent to NEH?: No

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