Drawing on Manichaean Middle Iranian texts and adopting a textual approach, the present article tries to define the meaning and usage of some technical terms (termini tecnichi) in Manichaean theology, especially the words “angel” (frystg, fryštg) and “apostle, messenger” (frystg, fryštg). The use of a word for two meanings and/ or two concepts in the Manichaica was a result of the redefinition that each of the different Manichaean communities presented for the concepts of ‘angel’ and ‘apostle, messenger’. The article shows that the Iranian term frys/štg has been redefined and expanded in meaning in Manichaean literature under the influence of Syriac writings; a redefinition that could generate an angel from an apostle / a messenger and a king from the angel. Here, we also examined the technical terms xwdʾy/ xwdʾwn ‘lord’, by / bg ‘god’, yzd ‘god’ and bgpwhr / βγpšy / βγpšʾk ‘son of God’ (βγpwryšt / βγpšyt ‘the sons of God’) βγpwr(ʾ)yc ‘daughter of God’ showing the contexts in which these terms appear and what examples they refer to. Our study shows that some of them were used not only for angels and historical figures (like Mani and Manichaean leaders and electi, as well as previous apostles), but also included at least one of Manichaean gods, i.e. ‘Third Messenger’.
