Among the oldest manuscripts of texts by Manichaeans (ca. 4th century), one found at Kellis begins:
"I Mani, the Apostle of [Je]su[s] Chrestos and all the other brethren that are with me ... Peace through God the Father and our Lord Jesus Chrestos ..."
Alexander of Lycopolis was a Platonist (generally considered to have been a non-Christian philosopher, sometimes believed to be a 'crypto-Christian') writing against Manichaeism around 300 CE. It should perhaps be noted that Manichaeism was often considered to be a Christian heresy. As shown above, in their texts, Mani claimed to be an apostle of Jesus Chrestos.
Alexander provides this notice (An Alexandrian Platonist against dualism, pp. 91-92):
"Christos, however -- whom they do not even know, but whom they call Chrestos, introducing a new meaning instead of the generally received one by changing the i into e -- they hold to be Intellect."
Alexander delivers this as an aside, without elaborating on the "new meaning" behind the term Chrestos.
This does provide direct attestation of there being a perceived difference in meaning between "Christos" and "Chrestos."
It also places the latter term (Chrestos) among Manichaeans, contrasted with the "generally received one" (presumably, of most Christians known to Alexander). Elsewhere, Alexander is aware of (other) speculative heterodox Christians. I wouldn't read Alexander as claiming that this was limited solely to Manichaeans but rather as saying that (perhaps among others) Manichaeans were among those who made a point of using the name Chrestos and who understood it to have a different meaning.
There's also an implication that Alexander considered that to be a secondary development, with the original word being Christos (according to him). That explains why he says that they had "changed the i into e," because he thought that their spelling was not the original one.
"I Mani, the Apostle of [Je]su[s] Chrestos and all the other brethren that are with me ... Peace through God the Father and our Lord Jesus Chrestos ..."
Alexander of Lycopolis was a Platonist (generally considered to have been a non-Christian philosopher, sometimes believed to be a 'crypto-Christian') writing against Manichaeism around 300 CE. It should perhaps be noted that Manichaeism was often considered to be a Christian heresy. As shown above, in their texts, Mani claimed to be an apostle of Jesus Chrestos.
Alexander provides this notice (An Alexandrian Platonist against dualism, pp. 91-92):
"Christos, however -- whom they do not even know, but whom they call Chrestos, introducing a new meaning instead of the generally received one by changing the i into e -- they hold to be Intellect."
Alexander delivers this as an aside, without elaborating on the "new meaning" behind the term Chrestos.
This does provide direct attestation of there being a perceived difference in meaning between "Christos" and "Chrestos."
It also places the latter term (Chrestos) among Manichaeans, contrasted with the "generally received one" (presumably, of most Christians known to Alexander). Elsewhere, Alexander is aware of (other) speculative heterodox Christians. I wouldn't read Alexander as claiming that this was limited solely to Manichaeans but rather as saying that (perhaps among others) Manichaeans were among those who made a point of using the name Chrestos and who understood it to have a different meaning.
There's also an implication that Alexander considered that to be a secondary development, with the original word being Christos (according to him). That explains why he says that they had "changed the i into e," because he thought that their spelling was not the original one.
Statistics: Posted by Peter Kirby — Thu Feb 15, 2024 9:34 am