The Nag Hammadi Codices and their Ancient Readers: Exploring Textual Materiality and Reading Practice

Paul Linjamaa

doi:10.1017/9781009441483

The Nag Hammadi Codices and their Ancient Readers

Exploring Textual Materiality and Reading Practice

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Paul Linjamaa, Lunds Universitet, Sweden

Publisher:: Cambridge University Press
Online publication date:: January 2024
Print publication year:: 2024
Online ISBN:: 9781009441483
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009441483
Creative Commons:: This content is Open Access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence CC-BY-NC 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/creativelicenses

Subjects:: Biblical Studies - New Testament, History of Religion, Religion

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Since their discovery in 1945, the Nag Hammadi Codices have generated questions and scholarly debate as to their date and function. Paul Linjamaa contributes to the discussion by offering insights into previously uncharted aspects pertinent to the materiality of the manuscripts. He explores the practical implementation of the texts in their ancient setting through analyses of codicological aspects, paratextual elements, and scribal features. Linjamaa's research supports the hypothesis that the Nag Hammadi texts had their origins in Pachomian monasticism. He shows how Pachomian monks used the texts for textual edification, spiritual development and pedagogical practices. He also demonstrates that the texts were used for perfecting scribal and editorial practice, and that they were used as protective artefacts containing sacred symbols in the continuous monastic warfare against evil spirits. Linjamaa's application of new material methods provides clues to the origins and use of ancient texts, and challenges preconceptions about ancient orthodoxy. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

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