ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We would like to acknowledge several people and organizations that have
helped in the production of this volume. For a number of years Chapman
University has given generous encouragement to the scholarly research of
Marvin Meyer on gnostic texts by providing sabbatical leaves and financial as-
sistance, and the work on this volume has been undertaken with the support
of the Griset Chair in Bible and Christian Studies at Chapman University.
Nathaniel Deutsch and Paul Mirecki have contributed insightful introduc-
tions to Mandaean and Manichaean literature in this volume, and Heather
Terjung has produced an English translation of the German version of the
Mother of Books. Linden Youngquist has provided essential computer expert-
ise for formatting the texts and preparing the bibliography. The editorial staff
of Shambhala Publications has taken on this large publishing project with
creativity and resourcefulness. Joel Segel has brought his editorial vision to the
creation of the book and has been a model of patience, persistence, and pro-
fessionalism. Kendra Crossen Burroughs and Dave O'Neal have seen the man-
uscript successfully through press. Lastly, we recognize our colleagues, friends,
and family members who have long endured our preoccupations and have
offered us, in many ways, insights into wisdom and gnosis.
Willis Barnstone
Marvin MeyerIX