THE MANICHAEAN VERSION OF GENESIS 2-4
Translated from the Arabic text of Ibn al-Nadīm, Fihrist, as reproduced by G. Flügel, Mani: Seine Lehre und seine Schriften (Leipzig, 1862; reprinted, Osnabrück: Biblio Verlag, 1969) 58.11-61.13. For a detailed commentary, see J.C. Reeves, Heralds of That Good Realm: Syro-Mesopotamian Gnosis and Jewish Traditions (NHMS 41; Leiden: Brill, 1996) 100-104.
(Heading): The Beginning of Sexual Reproduction According to the Teaching of Mani.
He (Mani) said, ‘Then one of those archons, the stars, urgent force, desire, lust, and sin had sexual intercourse, and the result of their intercourse was the first man, who was Adam. That which produced this (was the union of) two archons, male and female. Then intercourse took place once more, and its result was the beautiful woman, who was Eve.’
He (Mani) said, ‘When the five angels saw the divine Light and Goodness which Desire had plundered and bound as captive within those two who had been born, they asked al-Bashīr (= the Messenger), the Mother of Life, Primal Man, and the Living Spirit to send to this first-born creature someone to release and deliver him, to teach him knowledge and piety, and to deliver him from the satans.’
He (Mani) said: ‘They thus sent Jesus, along with (another) deity. They approached the two archons, confined them, and rescued the two who had been born.’
He (Mani) said: ‘Then Jesus came and spoke to the one who had been born, who was Adam, and explained to him (about) the gardens (of Paradise), the deities, Gehenna, the satans, earth, heaven, sun, and moon. He also made him fear Eve, showing him how to suppress (desire) for her, and he forbade him to approach her, and made him fear to be near her, so that he did (what Jesus commanded). Then that (male) archon came back to his daughter, who was Eve, and lustfully had intercourse with her. He engendered with her a son, deformed in shape and possessing a red complexion, and his name was Cain, the Red Man. Then that son had intercourse with his mother, and engendered with her a son of white complexion, whose name was Abel, the White Man. Then Cain again had intercourse with his mother, and engendered with her two girls, one of whom was named akimat al-Dahr and the other Ibnat al- irê . Then Cain took Ibnat al- irê as his wife and presented akimat al-Dahr to Abel, and he took her as his wife.’
He (Mani) said: ‘In akimat al-Dahr there was a residue of the Light of God and His Wisdom, but there was none of this (present) in Ibnat al- irê . Then one of the angels came to akimat al-Dahr and said to her, "Watch yourself, for you will give birth to two girls who will fulfill the pleasure of God." He had sexual intercourse with her and she gave birth because of him to two girls, and she named one of them (Rau)-Faryād and the other Bar-Faryād. When Abel learned of this, rage filled (him) and grief overcame him. He said to her, "From whom did you produce these two children? I think they are from Cain; it was he who consorted with you!" Although she described to him the form of the angel, he left her and came to his mother, Eve, and complained to her about what Cain had done. He said to her, "Have you heard what he did to my sister and wife?" When Cain learned this, he went to Abel and struck him with a rock, killing him. Then he took akimat al-Dahr for a wife.’
Mani said: ‘Then those archons and this al-ª indīd and Eve were troubled at (the behavior) they saw (exhibited) by Cain. Al-ª indīd then taught Eve magical syllables in order that she might infatuate Adam. She proceeded to act (by) presenting him with a garland from a flowering tree, and when Adam saw her, he lustfully united with her, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a handsome male child of radiant appearance. When al-ª indīd learned about this, he was distressed and fell ill, and said to Eve, “This infant is not one of us; he is a stranger." Then she wished to kill him, but Adam seized him and said to Eve, "I will feed him cow’s milk and the fruit of trees!" Thus taking him he departed. But al-ª indīd sent the archons to carry off the trees and cattle, moving them away from Adam. When Adam saw this, he took the infant and encircled him within three rings. He pronounced over the first (ring) the name of the King of the Gardens, over the second the name of Primal Man, and over the third the name of the Living Spirit. He spoke to and implored God, may His name be glorified, saying, "Even though I have sinned before you, what offense has this infant committed?" Then one of the three (invoked deities) hurried (to Adam bearing) a crown of radiance, extending it in his hand to Adam. When al-ª indīd and the archons saw this, they departed (and went) away.’
He (Mani) said, ‘Then there appeared to Adam a tree called the lotus, and milk flowed from it, and he fed the boy with it. He named him (the boy) after its name, but sometime later he renamed him Sh
āthil (i.e., Seth). Then that al-ª indīd declared enmity against Adam and those who were born, and said to Eve, "Reveal (yourself) to Adam; perhaps you may restore him to us." Then she made haste and seduced Adam, who lustfully united with her. When Shāthil saw him, he admonished and rebuked him (Adam), and said to him, “Arise, let us go to the East, to the Light and Wisdom of God.” So he left with him and resided there until he died and came to the Gardens (of Paradise). Then Shāthil with Rau-Faryād and Bar-Faryād and akimat al-Dahr, their mother, practiced ê iddīqūt, following one way and one path until the time of their deaths, but Eve, Cain, and Ibnat al- iriê went to Gehenna.’"