Mandaean Book of John

The Mandaean Book of John, or Drāšā ḏ-Yahyā, is a Mandaean religious text containing teachings and discourses attributed to John the Baptist.

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Mandaeism: A Gnostic religious tradition whose communities preserve Mandaic scriptures and rituals. The Book of John belongs to this living religious tradition.
Mandaean baptism: A repeated immersion rite performed in flowing water as a central Mandaean act of purification and worship. The book’s religious world gives baptism a central role in spiritual life.
Mandaean literature: The body of religious writings composed or transmitted in the Mandaic language by Mandaean communities. The Book of John is one major work within this literary tradition.
Gospel of John: The canonical Christian gospel that presents Jesus as the incarnate Word and recounts his ministry and resurrection. Despite sharing a name associated with John, it belongs to a distinct Christian scriptural tradition.
Mandaic: An Eastern Aramaic language used in Mandaean scriptures and religious practice. The text’s original language carries its distinctive religious vocabulary.
Mandaean priesthood: The hereditary religious leadership responsible for Mandaean ritual, liturgy, and transmission of sacred knowledge. Priests preserve and perform traditions associated with the text.
Mandaean manuscript tradition: The copying and preservation of Mandaean religious texts in handwritten manuscripts. The book survives through manuscript transmission rather than an authorial original.
Synoptic Gospels: The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, which share substantial narrative and structural material. Their accounts of John the Baptist differ in purpose and setting from the Mandaean book.
John the Baptist: A Jewish preacher who baptized people in the Jordan River and appears in Christian and Mandaean traditions. The book presents its teachings and discourses under his name.
Mandaean ethics: Mandaean moral teachings emphasizing truth, charity, reverence for life, and opposition to evil. The book links religious knowledge with conduct and moral instruction.