User:Nebulousquasar/Gospel of John

The Gospel of John (Sidra ḏ-Yuhana) from a Mandaean perspective (based on the NRSV)

Introduction[edit]

Parts of the Gospel of John bear striking resemblances to Mandaean texts, including many sections of the Ginza Rabba. I have provided a rendition of the Gospel of John, based from the NRSV translation of the Bible, and given it a Mandaean "flavor" by replacing certain words with Mandaean equivalents, such as "God" with "the Life" and "truth" with "kushta." Many of the motifs and metaphors have direct parallels in Mandaean texts, and many words can be directly translated into equivalent Mandaic terms that are frequently used in Mandaean texts.

John 1[edit]

The Mana Became Flesh[edit]

1 In the beginning was the Mana, and the Mana was with the Life, and the Mana was the Life. 2 He was in the beginning with the Life. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life (hiia), and the life (hiia) was the light (nhura) of all people (ama). 5 The light (nhura) shines in the darkness (hšuka), and the darkness did not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from the Life, whose name was Yuhana. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light (sahdia b-nhura), so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light (nhura), but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light (nhura ḏ-kušṭa), which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world (alma).

10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power (haila) to become children of the Life (bnia ḏ-hiia), 13 who were born, not of blood (zma) or of the will of the flesh (bisra) or of the will of man, but of the Life.

14 And the Mana became flesh (bisra) and lived among us, and we have seen his glory (ʿqara), the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace (ṭabuta) and kushta.

The Maṣbuta of Jesus[edit]

29 The next day he saw Jesus (ʿšu) coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of the Life who takes away the sin of the world (haṭaiia ḏ-alma)! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 And Yuhana testified, “I saw the Spirit (Ruha) descending from heaven like a dove (ba), and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit (Ruha) descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit (Ruha ḏ-Qudša).’ 34 And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of the Life (Br ḏ-Hiia).”

John 3[edit]

Nicodemus Visits Jesus[edit]

1 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night (b-lilia) and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from the Life; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of the Life.”

3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly [In kushta, b-kušṭa], I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of the Life [World of Light] without being born from above.”

4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?”

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly [In kushta, b-kušṭa], I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of the Life [World of Light] without being born of water (mia) and Spirit (Ruha). 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh (bisra), and what is born of the Spirit (Ruha) is spirit (ruha). 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8 The wind (ziqa) blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit (Ruha).”

John 4[edit]

Jesus and the Woman of Samaria[edit]

7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (His disciples (tarmidia) had gone to the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of the Life (ṭabuta ḏ-hiia), and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water (mia hiia).”

11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water (mia hiia)? 12 Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?”

13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water (aina ḏ-mia) gushing up to eternal life (hiia la-baṭla).”

...

23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father (Aba) in spirit and kushta (b-ruha u-kušṭa), for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. 24 The Life is spirit (ruha), and those who worship him must worship in spirit and kushta.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah (Mšiha) is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.”

John 8[edit]

The Light of the World[edit]

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world (nhura ḏ-alma). Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness (hšuka) but will have the light of life (nhura ḏ-hiia).”

True Tarmidia[edit]

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word (mamlalai), you are truly my disciples (tarmidai); 32 and you will know the kushta, and the kushta will make you free.”

John 14[edit]

The Father's House[edit]

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in the Life, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many shkinta. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place (atra) for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.”

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way (ʿuhra), and the kushta, and the life (hiia). No one comes to the Father (Aba) except through me. 7 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

John 15[edit]

The True Vine[edit]

1 “I am the true vine (gupna ḏ-kušṭa), and my Father is the vinegrower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit (pira). Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.