On Jesus Christ's Personality in Manichean Texts

Manichaeism was one of the important movements in the Sasanian age which was established in the early of third century B. C. From the beginning, they faced with oppositions on the part of Zoroastrians. Moreover, orthodox Christians fought and opposed this religion while Mani tried to preach it in Rome.Mani religion is a combination of religions such as Iranian, Buddha, Sámi and Christianity religions.The efforts of Mani followers to preach his religion resulted in collecting and providing a rich work of Manichaean which also adds richness to Persian language and literature.Mani believed that his knowledge and tradition is an abstract of previous religious schools. He believed that in contrast with the previous religious views which were oral and were supposed to be written by their followers, his viewpoints are written by him. Therefore, there was emphasis on written tradition on the part of Manichaean in contrast with Zoroastrians. Mani introduced himself as the last prophet and the one who completes the doctrine of other great leaders such as Zoroastrian, Buddha and Christ. He promised people the presence of the Jesus Christ. He presumed himself as the "savior" whose presence has been annunciated by Jesus. In his religion Christ is the son of God and the messenger of light and brightness. Finally he appeared in the form of human beings and was crucified to represent symbolically the annoyances of soul in the prison of skeleton.